Good morning,
Please view the letter below from Fr. Cartwright about the Catholics Come Home initiative.
In Christ,
Your POTHE Staff
Please view the letter below from Fr. Cartwright about the Catholics Come Home initiative.
In Christ,
Your POTHE Staff
LETTER FROM FR. CARTWRIGHT
Dear Parishioners,
In the coming weeks, the Diocese of Portland will participate in Catholics Come Home, an initiative inviting those who have been away from the Church to rediscover the love of Jesus Christ and the spiritual home that awaits them. Beginning after the November elections and continuing through Christmas, a series of television advertisements will encourage people to take a fresh look at the Catholic faith and consider returning to the sacraments.
This is a wonderful opportunity for our Parish of the Holy Eucharist. Some who see these advertisements may have drifted away gradually. Others may carry painful experiences, unanswered questions, or uncertainty about whether they would be welcome. Still others may never have been Catholic but feel drawn to explore the faith. Whatever brings someone through our doors, we have an opportunity to help that person encounter Christ.
An advertisement can extend an invitation, but a parish community gives that invitation a human face. That is where each of us comes in.
First, please begin with prayer. Pray for family members, friends, and neighbors who no longer practice the Faith. Pray especially for those who want to return but feel afraid or embarrassed. Before Mass, offer a quiet prayer for the people around you, particularly those you do not recognize.
Second, make room. When possible, move toward the middle of your pew so that arriving individuals and families can find a seat easily. Please be patient with unfamiliar faces, restless children, and people who may have forgotten the responses or when to sit, stand, and kneel. A smile and a little kindness can help someone enormously.
Third, introduce yourself. A simple “Hello, my name is…” can make a big difference. Offer help finding a hymn, a Mass setting, or following the readings. Respect the prayerful atmosphere before and after mass and consider staying a few extra minutes to greet someone. Invite a newcomer to coffee after Mass where it is offered.
Fourth, listen with charity. If someone shares why they have been away, receive that story with patience. We do not need to have every answer. Sometimes the most helpful response is, “I’m glad you’re here.” If questions arise about Confession, marriage, receiving Holy Communion, or becoming Catholic, please help that person connect with me or our parish staff for personal guidance.
Finally, extend a personal invitation. Think of one or two people you could invite to Mass. Offer to meet them outside, sit with them, or give them a ride. A gentle invitation, offered without pressure, may be the encouragement they have been waiting for. Remember that the number one reason why people return to Mass is because of personal invitation.
This initiative can also renew our own gratitude for the Faith. We have received an extraordinary gift in the Most Holy Eucharist, the mercy of Confession, and our life together in Christ. Sharing that gift belongs to every baptized Catholic.
Let us prepare our hearts and our churches to welcome those whom the Lord is drawing home. May everyone who enters find a community ready to walk with them toward Jesus.
In gratitude,
Fr. Cartwright
In the coming weeks, the Diocese of Portland will participate in Catholics Come Home, an initiative inviting those who have been away from the Church to rediscover the love of Jesus Christ and the spiritual home that awaits them. Beginning after the November elections and continuing through Christmas, a series of television advertisements will encourage people to take a fresh look at the Catholic faith and consider returning to the sacraments.
This is a wonderful opportunity for our Parish of the Holy Eucharist. Some who see these advertisements may have drifted away gradually. Others may carry painful experiences, unanswered questions, or uncertainty about whether they would be welcome. Still others may never have been Catholic but feel drawn to explore the faith. Whatever brings someone through our doors, we have an opportunity to help that person encounter Christ.
An advertisement can extend an invitation, but a parish community gives that invitation a human face. That is where each of us comes in.
First, please begin with prayer. Pray for family members, friends, and neighbors who no longer practice the Faith. Pray especially for those who want to return but feel afraid or embarrassed. Before Mass, offer a quiet prayer for the people around you, particularly those you do not recognize.
Second, make room. When possible, move toward the middle of your pew so that arriving individuals and families can find a seat easily. Please be patient with unfamiliar faces, restless children, and people who may have forgotten the responses or when to sit, stand, and kneel. A smile and a little kindness can help someone enormously.
Third, introduce yourself. A simple “Hello, my name is…” can make a big difference. Offer help finding a hymn, a Mass setting, or following the readings. Respect the prayerful atmosphere before and after mass and consider staying a few extra minutes to greet someone. Invite a newcomer to coffee after Mass where it is offered.
Fourth, listen with charity. If someone shares why they have been away, receive that story with patience. We do not need to have every answer. Sometimes the most helpful response is, “I’m glad you’re here.” If questions arise about Confession, marriage, receiving Holy Communion, or becoming Catholic, please help that person connect with me or our parish staff for personal guidance.
Finally, extend a personal invitation. Think of one or two people you could invite to Mass. Offer to meet them outside, sit with them, or give them a ride. A gentle invitation, offered without pressure, may be the encouragement they have been waiting for. Remember that the number one reason why people return to Mass is because of personal invitation.
This initiative can also renew our own gratitude for the Faith. We have received an extraordinary gift in the Most Holy Eucharist, the mercy of Confession, and our life together in Christ. Sharing that gift belongs to every baptized Catholic.
Let us prepare our hearts and our churches to welcome those whom the Lord is drawing home. May everyone who enters find a community ready to walk with them toward Jesus.
In gratitude,
Fr. Cartwright