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Roots

Roots was created in response to a need in the Church to welcome back inactive Catholics. Its main component is home visiting.

In 1995 in St Joseph’s Parish in Upminster, Essex, RCIA leaders noticed that a number of returning Catholics were joining the RCIA group. Some had left the Church many years previously and were bringing along with them a lot of ‘baggage’ which did not help to build up the non-Catholic enquirers following the Rite. It was therefore decided that a special group for non Church-going Catholics should be started. Local advertising attracted twelve people to the first meeting.

During the next two years about two dozen Catholics passed through the Roots programme as part of their journey back to the practice of their faith. It soon became clear, however, that many non Church-going Catholics were reluctant to come to meetings, so the Roots team decided to visit them in their homes: a daunting task in a parish of about 3,000 (900 Mass-goers)! Working closely with the parish priest and secretary, the team identified 400 households unknown to them which they felt they could visit.

Before visiting, the team sent each home a letter of introduction, giving them the option of refusing a visit if they wished. As the front door opened the usual introductory phrase used was, ‘We have you on our list as a Catholic and just came to say hello.’ Those visited were often surprised and delighted to hear that they belonged and contact details were left with them in case they ever needed information or help of any kind from the Church. Many were content with this, but it often happened that Roots visitors were invited in to share stories and talk through difficulties, and follow-up visits were not uncommon.

People shared their shock at abuses in the Church, their opposition to aspects of Church teaching, the hurts they had received, especially as a result of the Church’s rules on marriage and sexuality. The team discovered that they shared some of these experiences themselves (the hurts, the shock, the questions and doubts), but received support and strength from the Sacraments and the faith community, whereas those visited have to cope alone.

Roots experienced a further expansion when Church-going parishioners asked to be visited too. Every home in the parish was visited by summer 2005. This has helped to build a far stronger sense of community in the parish.

Although the programme started at St Joseph’s, an article about Roots in The Tablet in 2003 provoked a lot of interest from all over the world. A book (costing £4.50) outlining the process is available. About eighty parishes in the UK have requested the materials. A copy of the book can be ordered from Sheila Keefe (s.keefe@btopenworld.com)) or from Portsmouth diocese.

Contact Information

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