Have you ever wondered how daunting it must be for someone - who hasn't been inside a church for quite a while - to consider returning to the Catholic faith of their childhood?
Firstly it takes listening to that nagging feeling that something is missing. Secondly it takes a bit of courage and humility to acknowledge that the God stuff matters and it may have been an error of judgment to have drifted away. Thirdly there's that fear of having forgotten more than you remember about how the Mass works. And the biggie.... knowing that at some point you will have to face going to Confession.
Thankfully there are now good programs around to make the journey back to your Catholic roots easier. The Catholics Returning Home program is one of them.
Firstly it takes listening to that nagging feeling that something is missing. Secondly it takes a bit of courage and humility to acknowledge that the God stuff matters and it may have been an error of judgment to have drifted away. Thirdly there's that fear of having forgotten more than you remember about how the Mass works. And the biggie.... knowing that at some point you will have to face going to Confession.
Thankfully there are now good programs around to make the journey back to your Catholic roots easier. The Catholics Returning Home program is one of them.
Next week there will be programs starting at St Patrick's East Gosford on Mondays at 7.30pm in the Jordan Room adjacent to the church (first session 8 August), and at St John the Baptist, Woy Woy on Wednesdays at 7.30pm in the Leo Mahon Room inside the church building (first session 10 August). Other local parishes were supposed to start next week, but priestly absences due to World Youth Day and overseas study may have delayed that.
The brochure (below) has more detail about the content of the program:
The brochure (below) has more detail about the content of the program:
| catholics_returning_home_tri-fold_pamphlet_woy_woy_2016.pdf |
The first 2 sessions are introductory and contain sharing each other's faith journey's (mandatory for team members, optional for everyone else) and getting to know each other.
The 3rd session talks about the changes the Catholic church has gone through over the last 50 years or so. The 4th session explains the different parts of the Mass. The 5th session is all you need to know about Confession (Sacrament of Penance).
Each session will have time for discussion, and will finish up with a prayer.
East Gosford has run many of these programs. Woy Woy will be running its program for the first time. May God richly bless them both and all who participate in them.
St Patrick, pray for us.
St John the Baptist, pray for us.
The 3rd session talks about the changes the Catholic church has gone through over the last 50 years or so. The 4th session explains the different parts of the Mass. The 5th session is all you need to know about Confession (Sacrament of Penance).
Each session will have time for discussion, and will finish up with a prayer.
East Gosford has run many of these programs. Woy Woy will be running its program for the first time. May God richly bless them both and all who participate in them.
St Patrick, pray for us.
St John the Baptist, pray for us.
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