People leave the Catholic Church for many reasons. Some leave because of boredom, indifference, ignorance and misunderstanding of the basic beliefs of the Church. There are a huge group of disconnected Catholics out there. The Roman Catholic denomination is the largest in the United States. What is the second largest denomination in the United States??? The answer: non-practicing Catholics. There are approximately twenty million inactive Catholics in the United States. In any given Catholic parish, approximately fifty percent of the registered parishioners do not attend Mass on any regular, weekly basis.
Most inactive Catholics are open to an invitation to return to the Church if it’s done in a kind, compassionate, nonjudgmental manner. Nagging, chasing, and hounding an inactive Catholic will not work to bring someone back. In fact, it will drive them away all the more. Accusing someone of abandoning the faith or of being immoral or evil will never work.
If we look to the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15,11-32), the returning son was welcomed, fully restored to his position as a son, and his family threw a party for him and had a huge celebration. As disciples, shouldn’t we try to model this parable when we welcome returning Catholics? They need to be made to feel welcome by the Church, made to feel that they’re missed, that they’re special, and that they belong. There isalways a place for you here.
Here at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church we have a special program to help non-practicing Catholics reconnect to their Catholic faith entitled “Catholics Returning Home.” For more information call Josh Perello at 337-256-2660 ([email protected]) or call the church office at 337-364-4439.


We are Family,
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