Resources for Catholic Evangelization
An Invitation, With No Strings Attached: When the Ones You Love Leave the Church. Video. Liguori, MO: Liguori Publications, 2004. Offers video invitation to return to Church, especially to the local parish. Offers space at the end of the tape for a local parish message to inactive Catholics.
A Time to Listen... A Time to Heal: A Resource Directory for Reaching Out to Inactive Catholics. Committee on Evangelization, National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference, 1999. (800) 235-8722, www.usccb.org Selection of the best programs being used in our country to evangelized inactive Catholics.
Boguslawski, OP, Steven, and Ralph Martin, editors. The New Evangelization: Overcoming the Obstacles. NY/Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2008. Paulist Press, 997 Macarthur Blvd., Mahwah, NJ 07430, (800) 218-1903, www.paulistpress.com, E-mail: info@paulistpress.com. Prominent thinkers explore social, doctrinal and pastoral implications of the need to evangelize today.
Boucher, Therese. Bringing Our Grandchildern to God.
Princeton, NJ: www.catholicevangelizer.com, 2008. 609-452-8954, e-mail: tmfboucher@comcast.net. Grandparents are natural family evangelizers who can touch young people and their inactive Catholic parents in grace-filled, but simple ways.
______________. Evangelizing Unchurched Children: A Pocketbook for Catechists. Princeton, NJ: www.catholicevangelizer.com, 2008. 609-452-8954, e-mail: tmfboucher@comcast.net. Practical ways to reach out to unchurched children and inactive Catholic families. Explores implications of the Church’s document, General Directory for Catechesis.
Boucher, Therese and John. When You Notice the Empty Pews: Simple Ways to Share Our Faith. Princeton, NJ: www.catholicevangelizer.com, 2008. 609-452-8954, e-mail: tmfboucher@comcast.net. Noticing the empty pews in our churches is God's call to share faith with inactive Catholics in sensitive but deliberate ways: prayer, care, share and dare to invite. Book provides steps for sharing faith, inspiring examples and reflection questions.
______________. Christmas Carol Festival: A New Way to Reach Inactive Catholics! Web site: www.christmascarolfestival.com. Princeton, NJ: www.catholicevangelizer.com, 2008. 609-452-8954, e-mail: tmfboucher@comcast.net. This project helps inactive Catholics connect with the Church, and with Jesus Christ through caroling in the weeks before and after Christmas. Includes a Christmas Carol Festival Guidebook, training CD and online video resources!
Byerley, Timothy E. The Great Commission. New York: Paulist Press, 2008. Paulist Press, 997 Macarthur Blvd., Mahwah, NJ 07430, (800) 218-1903, www.paulistpress.com, E-mail: info@paulistpress.com. An in depth treatment of six models for Catholic evangelization as they occurred in US history and as they are needed in today's church: St. Stephen Model, Jerusalem Model, Proclamation Model, Fraternity Model, Aeropagus Model, Loaves and Fishes Model.
Catholics
ComeHome.org at www.catholicscomehome.org or www.CatolicosRegresen.org. Welcoming ministry (English or Spanish) Website for learning about the Catholic faith, in a loving, non-judgmental atmosphere. Many resources, effective TV ads and steps for finding an RCIA program and local parish.
Catholics Reaching Out. Washington, DC: PNCEA, 2005. Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association. 3031 Fourth St., NE, Washington, DC 20017. (202) 832-5022, www.pncea.org, E-mail: pncea@pncea.org. Invitational approach to inactive Catholics. Resource kit with invitations, Parishioner Guide, Parish Manual, posters.
Christian Hospitality: A Handbook for Parishes. Evangelization Ministry, Archdiocese of Louisville, 1200 South Shelby St., Louisville, KY 40203-2600, (502) 636-0296. Handbook offers sample parish models and programs that make hospitality a cornerstone of effective reaching out.
Come on Back at www.cmonback.com Holy Family Parish, Arcadia, WI Website offering insights for alienated or marginal Catholics. Offers answers and a healing approach.
DeSiano, Rev. Frank CSP, and Rev. Kenneth Boyack, CSP. Awakening Faith: Reconnecting with Your Catholic Faith. www.PNCEA.org. Small group process that helps inactive Catholics return to the Church. The group meets once a week for six weeks of conversation and socializing. The conversations are based on short, easy to read essays. Visit www.awakeningfaith.org.
Doctrinal Note on Some Aspects of Evangelization. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. December 14, 2007. Every person has the right to hear the “Good News” of salvation. Every Christian has the corresponding duty to help people meet Jesus Christ. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20071203_nota-evangelizzazione_en.html.
Duquin, Lorene Hanley. Could You Ever Come Back to the Catholic Church? New York: Alba House, 1997. www.albahouse.org. Explores reasons why people come back. Offers a non-threatening approach to help an individual make up his or her own mind about what God may be asking.
______________. workshop entitled, Fishing with Nets, Fishing with Poles, (Item 8309) is at www.pncea.org/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=184&DEPARTMENT_ID=72.
______________. When a Loved One Leaves the Church: What You Can Do. Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor, 2001. Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., 200 Noll Plaza, Huntington, IN 46750, (800) 348-2440, www.osv.com, E-mail: osvbooks@osv.com. Church teaching, studies, and common sense answers for those who are troubled about loved ones.
Harmony, Sarah. Re-membering: The Ministry of Welcoming Alienated and Inactive Catholics. Liturgical Press, 1991. Honors the process of conversion on this returning journey, and explains the reconciling ministry of the entire Catholic community.
Hulbert, Dorothy, and Sr. Priscilla Lemire, RJM. Evangelization Teams in the Making: A Catholic Parish Manual. Jeremiah Press, Inc and NCCE, 2000. www.nccl.org. Uses excerpts from Evangelization in the Modern World, Go Make Disciples…, The Catholic Catechism and the saints. Six training sessions: information, personal reflection, small-group sharing and prayer.
Kemp, Carrie. Catholics Can Come Home Again: A Guide for the Journey of Reconciliation with Inactive Catholics. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2001. Paulist Press, 997 Macarthur Blvd., Mahwah, NJ 07430, (800) 218-1903, www.paulistpress.com, E-mail: info@paulistpress.com. Six sessions for welcoming inactive Catholics. Why some return and some don’t.
Landings: A Ministry of Reconciliation. Paulist Fathers. http://www.landings-international.org. Contact : Joan Horn - Phone: 512-452-7566, E-mail: jhorn@paulist.org. Parish-based small group (8 - 10 week) process that empowers us to welcome returning Catholics.
Ligouri Publications. Liguori, MO: Liguori Press, 2002. www.liguori.org. E-mail: bookstore@liguori.org. Offers a variety of “Welcome” leaflets on topics useful for reaching inactive Catholics: “A Catholic Confirmation,” “A Catholic Wedding,” “A Catholic Baptism,” “The Catholic Mass,” “A Catholic Funeral,” etc.
Mews, Sally L. Inviting Catholics Home: A Parish Program. Liguori, MO: Liguori Press, 2002. www.liguori.org. E-mail: bookstore@liguori.org and www.catholicsreturninghome.org. Six-week program with activities that point out shared experiences. Contact: ssmews@comcast.net.
Mews, Sally L. Returning Home to Your Catholic Faith: An Invitation. Liguori, MO: Liguori Press, 2003. www.liguori.org. E-mail: bookstore@liguori.org. Guide book offering resources that facilitate a smoother transition in coming back to the Catholic Church.
OnceCatholic.org at www.OnceCatholic.org. St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1615 Republic St., Cincinnati, OH 45210. Puts inactive Catholics in touch with a face-to-face community of Catholics. Designed to walk each person through their issues with the Church.
Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., 200 Noll Plaza, Huntington, IN 46750, (800) 348-2440, www.osv.com, E-mail: osvbooks@osv.com. Pamphlets on evangelization: “Why do we “have to” go to Mass?”, “Evangelization”, “How to Forgive the Church”, “Top Ten Reasons to Come Back to the Catholic Church”, “Top Ten Questions Catholics are Asked”.
Pable, Rev. Martin, OFM Cap. Remaining Catholic: Six Good Reasons for Staying in an Imperfect Church. Skokie, IL: ACTA Publications, 2005. www.actapublications.com. Addresses reasons for staying connected to the Church, focuses on dimensions of Catholic life: community, tradition and history, sacrament, scripture, stewardship and mission, saints and sinners.
PNCEA’s New Movers List Program. Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association. 3031 Fourth St., NE, Washington, DC 20017. (202) 832-5022, www.pncea.org, E-mail: pncea@pncea.org. Reach out to newcomers via zip codes. New mailing lists provided monthly.
Reaching Out: A Manual for Evangelizing Inactive Catholics. Resource Packet. Evangelization Ministry, Archdiocese of Louisville, 1200 South Shelby St., Louisville, KY 40203-2600, (502) 636-0296. Designed to assist the parish in surfacing, inviting, and nurturing inactive Catholics, so they can explore a return to the Church.
"Reaching Out to Inactive Catholics." St. Anthony Messenger Online. Web site: http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Jun2001/Editorial.asp. Nine reasons why Catholics become inactive and concrete things that we can do to reach out to them.
Reconciling Community—Celebrating the Sacrament of Penance. Washington, DC: PNCEA, 2005. Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association. 3031 Fourth St., NE, Washington, DC 20017. (202) 832-5022, www.pncea.org, E-mail: pncea@pncea.org. Offers invitations to the Sacrament of Reconciliation—with Parish Guide and CD, sample letters, penance services, examination of conscience, and a brochure called, What is the Sacrament of Penance?
Sacraments Today: Belief and Practice Among U. S. Catholics—Executive Summary 2008 http://cara.georgetown.edu/sacramentsesum.pdf. Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, Georgetown University about percentages of Catholic practicing their faith today. Note: only 23% come to Mass regularly on Sunday and only 12% come to Mass on Holidays (other than Christmas, Easter, Ash Wednesday, etc.)
Saltarelli, Bishop Michael A. "How to Reach Inactive Catholics: A Pastoral Statement by the Diocese of Wilmington." Origins, January 27, 2000. www.cdow.org/inactivecatholics2.html. Bishop Saltarelli selected nine of the reasons researched by the U.S. Bishops Committee on Evangelization. He also offers suggestions for responding to these reasons.
Strangers No More: An Educational Process for Contacting, Inviting, Welcoming, and Integrating Alienated and Inactive Catholics. Cleveland, OH: Diocese of Cleveland, 1996. Office of Evangelization, 1031 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44114. Collection of ministry tools from previously published works for reaching out to inactive Catholics.
