Catholics Coming Home

The Road Ahead

My Lord 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 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 will I 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.

 -Thomas Merton
You Can Always Come Home

People are drawn to Catholics Coming Home for many reasons. Some simply want to update their understanding of their faith, while others have very serious issues that may be painful to discuss. Some have been wounded by their church experience, yet find the courage to reach out for new understanding of what it means to be Catholic. We try to respect all viewpoints and ask participants to do the same.

Whether your journey has just begun or you have already taken significant steps, we are eager to walk with you and guide the way whenever necessary:

The Call to Stop

He heard this and said, "those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' I did not come to call the righteous but sinners." Matthew 9:12-13

Your call may come in any number of forms: perhaps a moral crisis such as the conciousness of sin and the desire of forgiveness (which the sacraments assure), an intellectual crisis after wandering in the desert of agnosticism, or a physical crisis such as illness, accident or loss of a loved one. Rest assured, you are being called home if you've been given the sign to stop and reconsider your current path.

The Call to Yield

It is time to evaluate a renewed commitment to the Catholic faith. You stand before crossroads that invite you to join in the process of reflection on your relationship with the church. We do not intend to pull you back into the church but invite you to consider that possibility. We begin with the assumption that God meets us wherever we are on our faith journey. And, we assume that the word "catholic" defines us as the setting for all who want to celebrate their Christianity within our faith community.

I myself will pasture my sheep;
I myself will give them rest, says the Lord God.
The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back,
the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal.
Ezekiel, 34:15-16

The Call to Reassess

We have put together a program in an adult format that will help you reassess your own spirituality and the teachings of the church. We do not have the answers for all questions, nor can we undo hurt that has occurred. We can only offer hope and information, along with acceptance and reassurance, that will assist you in the journey back or in the decision that you have a right to go in peace. For issues of healing that go beyond our skills, we will guide you to available resources. Know that our ministry is committed to respect and confidentiality.

Journeys must begin with a plan - a destination. We will take time out with you to discern your next steps.

It is our primary hope that this connection with the Church and whatever reason brings you here, will result in an increased awareness that God does love you and wants you to come home!

The Call to Resolve

After discerning your path, a clear direction will emerge. Embrace your future and begin your journey.

"A highway will be there, called the holy way; No one unclean may pass over it, nor fools go astray on it. No lion will be there, nor beast of prey go up to be met upon it. It is for those with a journey to make, and on it the redeemed will walk. Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; They will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee." Isaiah 35:8-10

The Call to Work

As you walk on your journey, you may experience road blocks and detours. These are natural delays in the journey. They should be expected and met with faith.

Fr. William J. Bausch writes, "Our faith journey is seldom smooth and uninterrupted. At times it fluctuates between belief and unbelief... The community chorus sustains such people until they can come to faith once more. Your parish community is like that. We sing for one another and supply strength for one another's weaknesses... No one believes it all and no one believes all the time - that's why a faith community is so important on our journey."

Jesus said to them in reply, "Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours." Mark 12:22-24

The Call to Look Both Ways

As your journey approaches its destination, you'll be able to reflect on where've you been and where you're headed in your Catholic faith. Rejoice and celebrate the distance you have traveled and grace you have been granted.

Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to who shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:67-69

The Call to Merge

At last, it is time to rejoin the Church!

Don't stop at Sunday mass. There are dozens of ways to practice your faith. Heed these words of caution from authors Alice Camille and Joel Schorn:

Mere church attendance isn't enough to sustain a vital life of faith. Your spirituality must become your lifestyle...

  • Embrace the sacraments, especially Reconciliation and Eucharist. They are metaphors for understanding your path in this world.
  • Turn to God in prayer - through Scripture, Liturgy of the Hours, the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, intercession of the saints, contemplation and mediation.
  • Take a retreat.

    • St. John the Evangelist parish offers all of these suggestions and more! From bible studies to fellowship groups, Eucharstic Adoration to adult faith formation, marriage enrichment to social justice...we are confident you will find the spiritual direction you need. We look forward to celebrating your homecoming!

    The Call to Run

    The journey is never over. Pope John Paul II spoke of a new evangelization:

      This passion will not fail to stir in the Church a new sense of mission, which cannot be left to a group of "specialists" but must involve the responsibility of all the members of the People of God. Those who have come into genuine contact with Christ cannot keep him for themselves, they must proclaim him. A new apostolic outreach is needed, which will be lived as the everyday commitment of Christian communities and groups.

    Share your story and inspire the lives of those around you.We'll train you to run the rest of your life to live and present the Good News of Jesus Christ to a very needy world.

    For more information about the Catholics Coming Home program, please contact Ed Bodley at 219-365-7784 or by e-mail: ebodley4@sbcglobal.net.

    Upcoming Events:

    Catholics Coming Home will launch a month long journey back home to the Church beginning in March, 2010. Our four evening sessions are scheduled for March 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th.

    For detailed information about the Catholics Coming Home program, please contact Ed Bodley at 219-365-7784 or by e-mail: ebodley4@sbcglobal.net.

    Recommended Reading :

    Each of the following titles listed below have been read by a member of our Catholics Coming Home team. If you would like to discuss the books in further detail, we are happy to connect you with the appropriate person. To arrange a discussion or borrow a title from our lending library, please contact Pastoral Associate Robert Viviano at 219-365-5678 ext. 254 or by e-mail: rviviano@stjohnparish.org.

    A Faith Interrupted: An Honest Conversation with Alienated Catholics by Alice L. Camille & Joel Schorn (loyolabooks.org)

    Good News About Sex & Marriage: Answers to Your Honest Questions about Catholic Teachings by Christopher West (christopherwest.com)

    New American Bible

    Rediscovering Catholicism: Journeying Toward Our Spiritual North Star by Matthew Kelly (matthewkelly.org)

    Remaining Catholic: Six Good Reasons for Staying in an Imperfect Church by Rev. Martin Pable (actapublications.com)

    Theology of the Body for Beginners: A Basic Introduction to Pope John Paul II’s Sexual Revolution by Christopher West (christopherwest.com)

    While You Were Gone: A Handbook for Returning Catholics and those thinking about it by William J. Bausch (twentythirdpublications.com)