Inviting Catholics Home from a Team Member’s Perspective

Mark S. Roberti, Director of Stewardship

Heartland Parishes of Ellis County

I, like most Catholics these days, have had siblings and other relatives who have either become inactive or have chosen a Christian denomination or non-denomination over their Catholic faith/heritage.  In my family circumstances, either a sibling and/or a sibling’s spouse, in-turn, tried to evangelize the family, and “bring us to Christ.”  This resulted in certain words and disunity in a family which had always been quite close.  

Although years have passed and the tensions have subsided substantially, I think it fair to say that nothing has done more to divide my own family than these family micro-schisms.  Our understanding of and relationship with God is an important issue.  There is no watering that down.

When one truly understands Catholicism, we understand that we journey as a faith community, as the New Israel.  It’s not just about me and my relationship with Jesus.  It’s about much, much, more.  It’s about you, me, and our relationship with God through the community of God, the Church. This Catholic (universal) Church is meant to be one united family of faith journeying in the same direction through the desert to the Promised Land! 

Yes, other Christians (and non-Christians) are members of that family, but they have taken divergent paths through the desert.  Catholicism is the fullness of that truth which God revealed through His Son Jesus Christ.  Jesus has shown us the safest path and sustains us on the “new manna”, the Eucharist.

How do we know that?  Jesus said, “Blessed are you Simon Barjona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.  And I tell you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the power of death will not prevail against it.  I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matt 17-19). 

Catholics Returning Home is about Christians who have drifted from the fullness of the faith and want to journey again by the safest path.  Some have been wounded by circumstances of life; others have been wounded by lay and clergy members.  Some have wounded themselves.  There are often divorce and annulment issues.  There are sometimes present relationship issues.  There are misunderstandings.  There are anger issues. 

There are also many questions! Some people have asked, “Are my children considered illegitimate in the eyes of the Church?” I explain that everyone is legitimate in God’s eyes.  Others have asked, “Why should I be punished, when it was my spouse who cheated on, or left me?”  An annulment, I explain, is meant to help us respect Christ’s teaching and help in the healing process; it is not a punishment of any kind. Another common misunderstanding among participants is, “My church ex-communicated me.” 

The sessions can become pretty passionate. It’s wonderful!  I cannot explain the joy of sharing with these Catholic brothers and sisters what the true faith teaches and just how receptive “Mother Church” is to having them return.  I cannot explain how beautiful it is to see healing take place before your very eyes. 

I wish I could articulate the satisfaction I feel when going to daily Mass and a returned Catholic is there…or when I see them as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, or involved in another parish ministry.    Some, I call “summa cum laude” graduates of Catholics Returning Home. They’re now among the most faithful and participative Catholics we have. 

“We have a 100% success rate.”  That doesn’t, however, mean every CRH candidate comes home.  In Hays, we’re closer to about a 50% return rate (Salina, I understand, is higher).  Yet, in each and every case, some very significant healing has clearly taken place.  Those who don’t come back immediately, we continue to pray for.  This is God’s work, not ours.  God, alone, knows the future, but I speculate they will all eventually come home.

            If you are interested in doing something in your parish or vicariate with CRH, call me at 785-625-7356 or email me at stjstewardship@eaglecom.net.  If you want to donate to help with promotions in either Salina or Hays, I’ll steer you in the right direction.  CRH promotions and materials do cost money.  

            Personally, I look at it this way: if I can be an instrument in bringing a dear one back to the Church for you, maybe God will bless me and my family in that someone else will, someday, help bring my loved ones back. 

            “Stewardship + evangelization = discipleship.”  If you think stewardship is about money and not discipleship, we still have some work to do on you, too.