Do you know someone who has left the Church? Most of us do not have to look very far to find non-practicing Catholics in our circle of family and friends. Many of us are concerned about these loved ones; however, we don’t know how to help them. Obviously, most of them are searching, but how can we help them find their home?

As baptized, practicing Catholics, we have a precious gift of faith and love from the Lord that needs to be shared with our non-practicing brothers and sisters. First, we need to pray for them. Secondly, we need to extend a personal invitation to them to come home to the Catholic Church. Most non-practicing Catholics are waiting for an invitation to return. Many mistakenly think they are not welcome to return for a variety of reasons.

Many non-practicing Catholics carry a tremendous amount of guilt and mis-information about the Church so they are afraid of approaching the Church for fear of being rejected. You can make a tremendous difference in someone’s life simply by reaching out to them and telling them that we miss them and would like for them to come back home to our Church family.

Here at Sacred Heart Parish we have a special program to help non-practicing Catholics to return to the Church called Catholics Can Always Come Home. This program is led by parishioners who, themselves, have left the Church and returned. This one hour time together is non-threatening and non-judgmental. We hold a what-is-said-here-stays-here environment. Please pass this information on to anyone who might be interested. For more information, call 846-5301 or 846-5584.

No matter how long you have been away and no matter what reason, we invite you to consider renewing your relationship with the Catholic Church. Catholics Can Always Come Home sessions are offered throughout Lent in a non-threatening, non-judgmental support-group type format. The program is led by parishioners who themselves have left the church and have returned.  Call 846-5301 or 846-5584.

COME and TAKE ANOTHER LOOK at the CHURCH: 

There are as many reasons for leaving the Church as there are inactive Catholics. Would you help us by extending a loving hand and a warm smile to someone you know that might be inactive, and let them know that we have a wonderful program? Invite them to come and take another look at the Church. It is an informal gathering and sharing led by parishioners who themselves have left the church (former active Catholics) and have returned. The topics of discussion are determined by the interest and questions of the participants. Call the Rectory (846-5584) for more information.

Catholics Can Always Come Home is a program to help people who have been away from the Church to come back and feel welcomed.  It is designed for people who have left the Church because of past hurt, misunderstandings, or un-reconciled marriage situations.  It is also for adults who have just drifted away from active participation in the Church and would like to begin again and may need some information or support.

We encourage you to invite friends, family or neighbors who might like an invitation to return.