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Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

• I used to be Catholic and am considering returning to the Church
• Why should I come back?

  1. Perhaps you have been away from the church a short while or a long while.  The reason you are asking about coming back is because you’ve come to realize that the things of this world, success, money or material things, do not bring peace and fulfillment.  You’ve been feeling a pull inside you, hearing a little voice beckoning for you to turn back to the Lord and rejoin the Catholic Church.  These are the urgings of the Holy Spirit.

     We pray that God might provide wisdom and judgment to those considering a return to the Catholic Church and give them the strength to act upon the results of their discernment.

• Who should I contact to counsel me about this decision?

  1. Seeking the advice of someone who has walked the path of having a separation and return to the church can be extremely useful in helping in your decision process.  Likewise, a priest, who has counseled many prior Catholics about returning, can be a valuable resource.

     To discuss with someone about returning to the Catholic Church, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our clergy by contacting our parish office
     ( Contacts web page  /  Staff web page ).

• Where can I find resource materials to help me with this decision?

  1. There are wonderful resources available on the internet to counsel you in discerning whether to come home to the Catholic Church:
     Catholics Come Home Page on Returning
     Five reasons to come home to the Catholic Church
     How do I come home?
     Why should I return to Mass?
     Powerful Video about the Catholic Church

• What do I need to do to come to Mass?

  1. Anyone, whether practicing Catholic, inactive Catholic, ex-Catholic, other Christian, or someone not in a church, is welcome to come to Mass.  For those who have been away from the Catholic Church or have not participated in Catholic worship, attending Mass is a very spiritual insight into the Catholic faith.

     All are welcome!

• What do I need to do to return to the sacraments (receive Holy Communion)?

  1. We should start with the assumption that you have received formation and have received the Sacrament of Penance and Eucharist (Holy Communion).  If not, then sacramental preparation would be needed prior to receiving those sacraments.

     Being away from the practice of your Catholic faith would normally mean that to return to the Communion table one would have to go to Confession first.  If a Catholic has re-married outside of the church, this might be an impediment from returning to the sacraments right away.

     In any event, attending Mass and participating in any of the other rich fare offered by the church is highly recommended.  In many cases, a valid confession would be the only step necessary to begin receiving Holy Communion again.  The best advice would be to schedule an appointment with a priest to discuss your specific situation by contacting our parish office
     ( Contacts web page  /  Staff web page ).

• What do I need to do about marriages occurring after I left the church?

  1. If you have married outside the Catholic Church, there are many factors which will determine what will need to happen for you to have your marriage convalidated in the church and be able to return to the reception of the sacraments (such as Holy Communion).  Learn more about convalidation on our Marriage FAQ page.

     None of this stands in the way of attending Mass and participating in any of the other worship, formational or social opportunities offered by the church. 

     Because of the many possible scenarios, the best advice would be to schedule an appointment with a priest to discuss your specific situation by contacting our parish office
     ( Contacts web page  /  Staff web page ).

• I am Catholic but not regular in my Mass attendance and/or I'm not involved
• What should I do to become more committed to the practice of my Catholic faith?

  1. The fact that you are wanting to increase your commitment is a huge first step toward doing so.  Prayer is something that may not be a habit, but there is no better time to start than now.  Many people pray at the beginning and end of each day and also before meals.  Our greatest prayer is the celebration of the Mass, and attending at least every weekend is a foundation upon which all other practices is built.

     In addition to the prayers we say at Mass, the scripture readings along with the homily help teach us how to live by God’s laws and the example given to use by Jesus Christ.  Frequent reception of the Sacraments of Penance and Eucharist (Holy Communion) give us the spiritual nourishment to live out the faith that we receive.

     Join a bible study or faith sharing group because it is in fellowship with other Catholics that we are supported in our faith, can share our joys and pains, and learn more about who we are called to be.  In thanksgiving to God for all that he has given us and to do our part in furthering the kingdom among our fellow Christians and those not one with us, we should contribute our time and talents to one or more ministries of the church to let our light shine forth.

     One way to look for opportunities to grow our faith by ministering with and for others is to review the extensive list of ministries active in our parish, shown on this website.  Pick one that appeals to your strengths and have the courage to contact them and get involved.

• Who should I contact to counsel me about how to get more involved?

  1. One of our clergy or any of our lay ministry leaders can encourage you and help guide you in some directions which might be a good use for your particular gifts, and also that will nurture you in your own faith journey.

     Clergy can be reached through the parish office via these resources ( Contacts web page  /  Staff web page ).

     The leaders of our ministries can be found in list of ministries active in our parish, shown on this website.

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