 |
Diocese Invites Catholics Home |
 |
 |
Prayer-Soldier writes "On 8 Jan 10, Bishop Michael Sheridan commented in the Colorado Catholic Herald Online that, “I sometimes believe that the only thing that is more difficult to comprehend than the incarnation of God is why so many who have been saved by Christ so readily abandon him. It is said that the 'denomination' that is second only to Catholicism is that made up of former Catholics.” Bishop Sheridan's comments prefaced his review of the Diocese campaign to invite “inactive Catholics to rediscover their faith and return to church.”
Bishop Sheridan said, “It is my prayer that this program will touch the hearts of many who have drifted from the practice of the Catholic faith, and drifted also from the Eucharist, the sacrament of our very salvation.” He observed, “What rejoicing there will be in heaven over one lost sheep that is found!”
Bishop Sheridan's comments mark the half way point of a four-week television campaign being conducted by the diocese called "Catholics Come Home." According to a 21 Oct 09 Colorado Catholic Herald report, the Catholics Come Home campaign was developed by Roswell, GA based VirtueMedia. The report related that Catholics Come Home was piloted in two dioceses in the southwestern United States and were proven to be very effective.
The report quoted Pope Benedict XVI as saying, "The greatest crisis facing our world, is that the world has forgotten God." Tom Peterson, founder and president of VirtueMedia, said, “The vast majority of non-practicing Catholics were lured away from church by the perceived glitter of the world — too busy, slept in on Sunday, soccer practice, began missing Mass on vacation, etc.,”
According to the Colorado Catholic Herald report, “The program was tested in the Diocese of Phoenix, Ariz., in Lent 2008, and it resulted in approximately 92,000 inactive Catholics returning to the church over the next year — an increase in Mass attendance of 12 percent. The Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas, launched the program over Lent this spring and experienced a 17.7 percent increase in Mass attendance at the average parish.”
On 2 Dec 09, Rob Faughnan, Director of Stewardship and Development for the Colorado Springs Diocese commented, “Imagine similar results in our diocese: increased distribution of the sacraments; increased vibrancy in our parishes; more volunteers to carry out the work of faith in our schools and charities;...” Faughnan continued, “In short, Catholics could bring the Gospel message and mission of the church to greater exposure here in Colorado Springs, Douglas County, and towns on the eastern Plains and in the western mountains.”
The commercials may also be viewed at the Catholics Come Home web site: http://www.catholicscomehome.org/. In addition to the commercials, the site contains information to answer questions for Catholics and inactive Catholics. Additionally, the site offers a free copy of the book, Rediscovering Catholicism.
The site also contains information for curious non-Catholics. The frequently asked questions section seeks to dispel misinformation about the Catholic faith and outlines what the Church teaches and why. The site quotes Archbishop Fulton Sheen who said, "There are not even 100 people in this country who hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they think the Catholic Church to be."
The Colorado Catholic Herald (8 Jan 10)
http://coloradocatholicherald.com/display.php?xrc=1822
The Colorado Catholic Herald (2 Dec 09)
http://coloradocatholicherald.com/display.php?xrc=1782
The Colorado Catholic Herald (21 Oct 09)
http://coloradocatholicherald.com/display.php?xrc=1715
Catholics Come Home
http://www.catholicscomehome.org/"
|
|
|
Posted on Sunday, January 10 @ 22:34:03 MST by admin
What is Social Bookmarking?
|
|
|
|
| "Diocese Invites Catholics Home" | Login/Create an Account | 0 comments |
|
| | The comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| No Comments Allowed for Anonymous, please register |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related Links |
|
|
|
Article Rating |
|
|
|
Options |
|
|
