Church of Saint Denis, Catholics Returning Home

The Church of Saint Denis

Catholics Returning Home

Parable of the Lost Sheep:

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, leaves the 99 sheep to seek the One that's lost. And when He finds it He brings it homeand calls everyone to REJOICE over finding the lost sheep. Even so, there will be more REJOICING in heaven over ONE REPENTANT SINNER than 99 just who have no need of repentance.

Gospel of St. Luke 14: 3-7

What is this? A strong phenomenon of our time is some Catholics, at one point or another in their life leave the Church. Often, at a later time, there is the desire to return to the Church.

Can you or someone you know answer ‘yes’ to any of the following questions?

Were you raised Catholic but do not come or seldom come to Church anymore?
Are you a Catholic who now feels separated from the Church?
Would you like to know more about the Catholic Church as it is today?
Would you like to feel at home in the Catholic Church again?

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 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. Secondly, we need to extend a personal invitation to them to come home to the Catholic Church. Many non-practicing Catholics are waiting for an invitation to return. Many mistakenly think they are excommunicated and are not welcome to return for a variety of reasons. Many non-practicing Catholics carry a tremendous amount of guilt and misinformation 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. St. Denis Church will offer a six-week series entitled "Catholics Returning Home" beginning April 6, 7:30-9:00 pm, in the Rectory Meeting Room. The sessions are for non-practicing Catholics who are seeking answers to questions about returning to the Church. If you know someone who has left the Church, please invite them to join us. For more information, call Deacon Enrico at 227-8382, ext. 12. Brochures will soon be available - please take a few of them and distribute to family and friends, or place them so that they are available to those who may have an interest in the program.

Prayer of Thomas Merton:

My God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, I will trust You always though I may seem to be lost in the shadow of death. I will not fear for You are ever with me and You will never leave me to face my perils alone.