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Welcoming Catholics back ‘home’
By James Cavanagh
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CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec: |
“While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.”—Lk 15:20
Evangelization isn’t just one task among many, it is the very reason the Church exists. Everything we do—building projects, religious education, sacramental preparation, finance and stewardship, music and liturgy, everything—has as its end the proclamation of the kingdom of God and the redemption of all people.
This was the clear message of Vatican II, a message that was embraced by Pope Paul VI and taken up by his successors. “The task of evangelizing all people,” Paul VI said, “constitutes the essential mission of the Church. Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity” (“Evangelii Nuntiandi,” 14).
An unprecedented opportunity for evangelization is coming this Christmas. From Dec. 17 through Jan. 9 “Catholics Come Home” will launch a nationwide television ad campaign aimed at those who have been away from the Church as well as those who might be interested in joining the Catholic Church.
Our participation is vital if this effort is to be fruitful. All of us have a part to play: clergy, staff and parishioners. Vatican II taught that the laity has a unique role in the life and mission of the Church—a role that no one else can play. Baptized into Christ and nourished by his body and blood, the laity are sent forth to share the Gospel with others. “All Christians,” the Council Fathers taught, have “the preeminent responsibility of working to make the divine message of salvation known and accepted by all men throughout the world” (Decree on the Laity, 3)
Many Catholics, perhaps you’re one of them, aren’t inclined to evangelize and even if they were, don’t feel equipped. They just can’t see themselves knocking on doors or preaching on street corners. Few of us are called to that kind of evangelization. But all of us are called, in the words of one of the new dismissals to “glorify the Lord by your life.”
The beauty of “Catholics Come Home” is that you don’t have to be an expert in all things Catholic. You don’t even have to be particularly outgoing. All you have to do is visit their website, invite others to Mass when the opportunity presents itself and welcome those who come. But how, you may ask, will I know who’s visiting as a result of the ad campaign and who is simply another parishioner I don’t know? The answer is simple: Be friendly to everyone. It’s not that hard. Oh, one more thing. Please don’t leave before the dismissal. It’s rude.
Your response to those who “come home” is crucial. Think about it. Imagine that you’ve been away from the Church for 25 years. You see an ad on TV and your conscience stirs and you think, “Maybe I should go to Mass.” After a couple of weeks you work up the courage to go to Mass only to find parishioners who aren’t very friendly and don’t really care about the monumental step that you’ve just taken. How would you feel? This is a unique opportunity. We should do everything we can to make the most of it.
What you can do? Here are some ideas:
• Acquaint yourself with “Catholics Come Home” by visiting www.catholicscomehome.org.
• Tell others about this ad campaign and direct them to the website.
• Invite those you know who haven’t been to church in awhile to go to Mass with you.
• Be ready to respond to those who might visit your church as a result of this campaign.
• Be hospitable and welcome those who have decided to “come home.”
• Ask your pastor to host an inquirer’s class for returning Catholics and newcomers.
• Celebrate the return of your brothers and sisters with a feast.
In the parable of the prodigal son the climax of the story comes when the father runs to meet and embrace his errant son “while he was still a long way off.” You probably know someone who’s been away from the Church and is spiritually still “a long way off.” No matter. The fact that they have decided to “come home” is cause for rejoicing.
At the end of Mass we are dismissed and told to go and put into practice that which we have just received. “The love that we celebrate in the sacrament,” Pope Benedict XVI said, “is not something we can keep to ourselves. By its very nature it demands to be shared with all.” In the Eucharist “The love of God has been poured into our hearts” (Rom 5:5) and so we are sent forth into the world to share that love with others.
James Cavanagh is director of Evangelization and Catechesis for metro-area parishes of the Denver Archdiocese.
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