National Initiative To Reach Out To Lapsed

A new initiative is being launched to encourage parishes to reach out to non church-going (lapsed) Catholics.

Called ‘Where are they now?’, the project aims to equip Catholics to extend an invitation to those who for many different reasons have stopped attending Church. It’s being sponsored by the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation (CASE) which has sent resource packs to every parish and religious house in the diocese and across England and Wales. The hope is that it will complement local outreach ministries which are already up and running.

Mgr Keith Barltrop, Director of CASE, said:

“Most Catholic families have members who, for different reasons, no longer go to Mass: some lost contact during their teenage years, others drifted away after a broken marriage, whilst some have had painful experiences with the Catholic community. Our initiative aims to encourage Catholics to listen respectfully and lovingly to people’s stories and invite them back. A simple invitation could make all the
difference in the world.”

Meanwhile, Mgr Gerard Dasey, Diocesan Administrator, said:

“Dear Friends, When you hear the dismissal at the end of the celebration of Holy Mass, ‘Go in peace to love an serve the Lord’ perhaps our love and service might be to warmly and prayerfully invite and support those whom we know who have become separated from the from the Body of Christ, and are longing to find their way home.”

A recent report highlighted that three million people in England and Wales would come to Church if invited. It is estimated that at least two thirds of the Catholic community are lapsed. CASE is therefore inviting every practising Catholic to go out in search of the lost sheep like Jesus himself. Research suggests, for example, that if you invite seven people to a parish event, it is probable that one person will attend.

Dave (not his real nome) is twenty six years old and recently came back to Church after an absence of ten years. One Sunday, having received previous invitations, he felt an overwhelming desire to go to Mass. He said:

“I never stopped believing in God, nor the teachings of the Church. I felt that I didn’t have to go to Church to believe in God and could do it on my own. Since returning, I’ve gradually come to appreciate that the Church has so much to offer. It’s great, but also challenging.”

The resource packs to support this initiative are timed to arrive in parishes for Home Mission Sunday which falls on September 16 , a special day when Catholics are invited to pray for and support the work of evangelisation in England and Wales. Materials provided include: bidding prayers, homily notes, a “welcome home” booklet, poster and sample outreach leaflet. More resources are available online: www.caseresources.org.uk

The September initiative will climax at the beginning of Advent when a national media campaign will be launched called Come Home For Christmas. It’s hoped that parishes will issue invitations and put on local events; the September launch therefore gives parishes three months to prepare, supported by CASE’S materials.

His Eminence, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, said in support of this project:

“My Dear Friends, I urge you to take part in this initiative. All of us know someone who no longer attends Mass. This is a great sorrow for so many of us. In a non-judgemental way, as the Body of Christ, let’s go out to the lost sheep this Advent and New Year, with a message of love, acceptance, welcome and reconciliation.”

For more information please contact CASE at tel. 020 8458 3316. E-mail: SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "National Initiative To Reach Out To Lapsed", url: "http://middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk/archives/3" });