Come back to the faith: Here’s how you do it

By John Franko

We see it every day. It could be a family member, friend or co-worker.
Someone who once called the church their home, but who has drifted away from the faith.
The reasons are many. Some may feel they aren’t worthy to receive the sacraments or attend Mass regularly because of a mistake, guilt over a bad decision or an unfortunate life situation.
Maybe there was a disagreement with a member of the clergy, or a disagreement with church law.

Some leave for a few weeks, while others drift away for a few months or even years. Some may return after decades, while many will never return at all.

But like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, the church is always ready to embrace its lost sheep and welcome them back into the fold.

“Every parish and faith community in the diocese is always eager to welcome back Catholics who have drifted away,” said Father James Wehner, director of the Department for Evangelization and rector of St. Paul Seminary in Crafton.

Father Wehner said many people think they must be “saints” in order to celebrate the faith, attend Mass or receive the sacraments. When they aren’t, they sometimes drift away.
Father Wehner recommended three steps for those who wish to return. The first is going to confession.

“The sacrament of penance is a beautiful, simple and dignified experience of our merciful God,” he said. “Imagine, we do not have to wait until the after-life to know if our sins are forgiven.”
Father Wehner noted that the examination of conscience is a good way to prepare for the sacrament. It allows people to determine how they have sinned — through word, action, thought or omission.

He said the Ten Commandments are a helpful guide in the examination of conscience.
Father Wehner pointed out that another step is to attend Mass, even during the week. He noted that many people who return to the church find the weekday Mass to be a special part of their day.

A final step, he said, is to read the “United States Catechism for Adults,” published by the U.S. bishops. He described it as an easy read that explains the faith in practical language.
“I find that many people drift away from the church because of their misunderstanding of what the church actually teaches,” Father Wehner said. “When one learns the tenets of the Catholic faith, they really do discover how consistent and practical that faith is in our complex, pluralistic society. The understanding of church teaching is what brings many people back into the church.”
Father Wehner said those who have been away from the church for an extended period of time may find participation in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults to be a meaningful spiritual encounter. Every parish is required to sponsor an RCIA program as a means of receiving unbaptized, non-Catholics and fallen-away Catholics into the church. He noted that those who wish to participate in the RCIA process should contact their pastor to determine if it is appropriate. Father Wehner said there are also a number of diocesan-wide efforts for Catholics who want to join other Catholics in learning about the faith and how to share it.

He said thousands of men are connected to the Catholic Men’s Fellowship, a lay apostolate for men who want to study Scripture, share faith and learn how to evangelize. Their Web site is www.cmfpitt.org.

For Catholic women who are seeking ways to deepen their faith, he pointed to the Pittsburgh chapter of Magnificat. More information is available by contacting Father Kenneth Oldenski, the organization’s chaplain, at 724-444-1988.

Father Wehner noted that while parishes are eager to welcome back Catholics who have drifted away, they must have strategies in place to make it possible.

In his last pastoral letter to the church of Pittsburgh, then-Bishop Donald Wuerl posed five questions for parishes: How well are liturgies celebrated? Is the liturgical music participatory? Are programs well organized? Does the preaching reflect quality? Are lay ministries flourishing?
“The response and answers to some of these questions can form our parishes to be welcoming, worshipping and evangelizing communities,” Father Wehner said.

More information is available by calling the Department for Evangelization at 412-456-3048.