God Needs You!
Catholics Returning Home
The Catholics Returning Home programme was written and developed by Sally Mews from Chicago, USA. A wife, mother, tax consultant by profession and herself a returning Catholic, Sally created the programme because she wanted to be instrumental in helping other Catholics rediscover the riches of the Catholic tradition, especially the Sacraments, and become active in their faith.
The programme lasts for six weeks and can be offered two to three times a year by a parish. A lot of energy is channelled into making returners feel welcome, accepted and comfortable, so they can rejoin their local Catholic community and participate in its sacramental life. The programme includes a sharing of stories, changes in the Church since Vatican II, walking through the Mass, an explanation of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Creed.
A small team of two to three people, who have a heart of compassion and mercy and a non-judgmental attitude towards others, can run such a programme. Those who have been returning Catholics themselves or have experienced the marriage annulment process are seen as being ideally suited to such a ministry.
It is not necessary that team members are theologically trained, but rather that they have a gentle, listening spirit that is welcoming and affirming of others. The book Inviting Catholics Home by Sally Mews and a supporting team training video / DVD and resource kit provide all the necessary input for this programme.
The published materials are available in Catholic bookshops but CASE is not yet aware of any parish running this programme in England and Wales at present, although we are aware of considerable promotion of it in Australia.
Contact:
Sally Mews of Chicago, Illinois
Tel: +1 847 855 0629
Email: ssmews@msn.com
Contact Information
- Jan or Kathy: Catholics Returning Home Programme
- A Ministry Outreach of Petrie Catholic Community,
38 Armstrong St., Petrie Queensland. 4502,
Brisbane,
Australia
Tel: +61 (0)732 856233 Tue and Thur mornings 9am-12pm (GMT +10:00) - Fax: +61 (0)732 856243
- erdu@hotkey.net.au
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