feed his sheep
TRANSCRIPT
Feed His SheepWhat You Need to Know About Returning Catholics
February 22, 2016Landings International
Presented by Melanie Rigney
Today’s Conversation
• Who Are They?
• Where Are They?
• How Do We Help Them?
• What to Do Afterward
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But First…
WHY
SHOULD
WE
CARE?Feed His Sheep: What You Need to Know About Returning Catholics 3
Because the Lord Wants Us To• Luke 15• “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-
nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?”
• “Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it?”
• “Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.”
• Luke 9• “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed
fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?”
• Matthew 20• “What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?”
• John 8• … He straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw
a stone at her.” (After the people left, Jesus told the woman caught in adultery,) “Neither do I condemn you. Go, from now on do not sin any more.
• John 21• Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” and he
said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you. (Jesus) said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
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Because Our Leaders Call Us To• Pope Francis• “We are called to gaze even more attentively on mercy so that we may become a more effective sign of the
Father’s action in our lives.”
• “We are called to show mercy because mercy has first been shown to us.”
• “Do not forget that God forgives all, and God forgives always.”
• Cardinal Wuerl• “Because Jesus came to save all people, all are invited to be a part of God’s family – his Church. In the last
decades some members of our faith family have drifted away from our spiritual home believing the Church has nothing to offer, some are disillusioned or disaffected because of a bad experience – perhaps a harsh word said to them by someone in the Church, or an indifference shown to them, or the evil of abuse inflicted upon them. Whatever their motive for leaving, repenting of our own failings and having experienced God’s mercy ourselves, our task now is to invite our sisters and brothers back home.”
• “Yes, there is abundant sin and failure. But where there is repentance, there is abundant mercy and forgiveness.”
• “Our parishes … should be places of warm welcome and sustenance. In these small ways, these small mercies, we help make the world a little better.”
• Fr. Geno Sylva, Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization• “The first step in the new evangelization is listening, truly listening to the other and not simply waiting for
a break to respond. It is in listening that trust and credibility are gained, both of which are necessary before one can propose anything to another person.“
• “So often, people are afraid to come back to church or to the Sacrament of Reconciliation for they feel that, since they have been gone for so long, there is no way back. … It is never too late and there is always a way back.”
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Who Are They?
• 52% of U.S. adults raised Catholic left the Church at some point• Of that number, 21% returned; 25% consider themselves “cultural Catholics”;
the rest call themselves ex-Catholics
• Number of U.S. Catholics fell from 23.9% of the population to 20.8% from 2007 2014• Percentage of non-white Catholics grew from 35% to 41%
• Percentage of third-generation U.S. Catholics declined from 63% to 58%
• Percentage of Catholics who are baby boomers stayed about flat (34% vs. 35%)
• They are:• Your siblings and cousins and nieces and nephews
• Your neighbors
• Your coworkers
• Your children… or your children’s friends
• The people you meet at the coffee shop, the grocery store, the bar, the gym, volunteer activities
They are everywhere.
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Who Are They?
• People who disagree with the Church’s teachings on social issues (too conservative or too liberal)
• People who don’t have time for religion
• People who were upset by a particular member of the clergy or consecrated life
• People who are spiritual, not religious
• People who got mad
• People who got bored
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Who Are They?
• People in crisis or under stress, good or bad
• Often centered on the sacraments: birth, major sin or fissure, marriage/divorce, death
• They miss the Eucharist
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Where Are They?
• Online
• In your office
• On the phone
• In your inbox
• Dropping off their kidsfor CCD
• … Sometimes, in your pews
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How Do We Help Them?
• Smile
• Listen
• Listen some more
• Offer a safe place for questions
• Answer questions as a layperson would
• Look for answers together
• Reflect Christ
• Show what faith in action and in community looks like
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What to Do Afterward
• Three kinds of people
• Connect them with resources
• Pray for them… always
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Thank you!Please feed His [email protected]/MelanieRigneyAuthorTwitter: @MelanieRigney
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