Deacon Wayne Zimmerman was recently on the Mary Griffith Show explaining the Catholics Returning Home program beginning soon at St. Francis. To listen to the Podcast recording of the show, please click here:
https://staradio-podcasts.s3.amazonaws.com/WTAD/MaryGriffith/2021/MG8_25_21.mp3
Catholics Returning Home
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, but we don’t know how to help them. Obviously, most of them are searching, but how can we help them find their way 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. Next, 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 excommunicated and are not welcome for a variety of reasons.
Many non-practicing Catholics carry with them a tremendous amount of guilt and misinformation about the Church and 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 and telling them that they are missed and we would like for them to come back home to our Church family.
Here at St. Francis Solanus we have a special program to help non-practicing Catholics return to the Church entitled “Catholics Returning Home.” The next series begins Wednesday, September 8 in the Parish Hall at 6:30 pm. Please pass this article on to anyone who might be interested.
For more information, call Deacon Wayne Zimmerman, 217-430-7792.