Obstacles to Reaching Out to Inactive Catholics

Posted on May 10, 2022 by the Bouchers

The desire to share the presence of Jesus with friends, family, or those in need is a good thing. It is a gift from the same Holy Spirit who guided Jesus and the Saints to embrace a deeper compassion, especially for those with spiritual malnutrition. But too often, obstacles put a damper on this calling from God. When this happens, we can imitate the many Saints who embraced such roadblocks, as occasions to ask for more of the Holy Spirit’s wisdom, mercy, zeal and patience.

Here are some common obstacles to evangelizing. Consider watching this video as a step towards making progress in this area. Then ask, “Which one or two obstacles might I experience?

Fear of Failure and Rejection

  1. Failure—embarrassment, ignorance, previous mistakes
  2. Rejection—don’t want to be unpopular, insignificant, ridiculous

Stereotypes and Attitudes toward the Stranger

  1. Assuming he/she would not have anything in common with us
  2. Not interested in knowing strangers, different ethnic groups

Ambivalence

  1. Conflicting motives and beliefs about welcoming others
  2. Ministry groups centered only on mutual support

Relativism (Doctrinal Note on Some Aspects of Evangelization, sections 4, 5)

  1. Wondering if one religion is as “good” as another
  2. Lack of confidence in objective truth
  3. Spiritual isolation, lack of meaning, broken moral compass

Stuck in the Past

  1. We have always done it this way
  2. Lack of assessment about the good that is being done AND left undone

Lack of Support for Evangelizers

  1. Lack of ongoing support and feedback discourages efforts to reach out
  2. Need to recover from failures and rejoice about successes

Lack of personal growth through Prayer, Spiritual Study, Community, and a Sense of Mission

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EVANGELIZATION WORKOUT: Who is Jesus to You?

Posted on April 11, 2022 by the Bouchers

There are four Christian words that even the most secularized, inactive Catholics may understand (at least in part): God, Jesus, Bible, and Church. Whatever the spiritual background, talking about JESUS, in particular, can be part of a shared conversation about the spiritual life. The following “Evangelization Workout” can be done by individuals, families, small groups, or large groups who want to explore faith together.

Individual Activity (5 min.) 

Consider some of these Scriptural titles used to describe Jesus. These ancient names can be used as prayers, in and of themselves. Several have been used for centuries as part of the “O-Antiphons” before Christmas.

Alpha and Omega            Anointed One       Jesus

Beloved One       Author of Salvation        Bridegroom

Bread of Life            Cornerstone        Chosen One      Morning Star         Our Salvation

Christ       Lord         Emmanuel               Faithful One               My Lord and My God

Glorious Lord             Friend               Holy One of God            Good Shepherd

Healer            I AM            High Priest             Holy Servant            Just One

King of Israel          Master          King of Kings               Image of the Invisible God

Holy One of Israel       Living Water           Messiah        Horn of Salvation     My King

Lamb of God                Lion of Judah          Lord of Glory     Judge of the Living

Light of the World          Living Bread           Key of David          Man of Sorrows

Rabbi                       Our Passover                Redeemer                    Prince of Peace

Resurrection            New Adam            Suffering Servant          Savior      Son of Mary

Shepherd                 Son of David       Son of Man      Son of the Most High        Teacher

Son of God         Word of God, Made Flesh        The Vine       Way, Truth and Life

 

Circle 3 titles that you find most meaningful as you pray, study, or speak to others about Jesus Christ.

  • Pause for a few moments. Close your eyes and step back in time. Imagine that Jesus is passing by you on the dusty road to Jerusalem. Call out to him using the title that suits you right now. Spend as much or as little time on that one name as you need. How might Jesus respond? What happens next?
  •    Try repeating one or two titles at quiet moments throughout your day.
  • Consider alternating the word “Jesus” with a few striking titles (ex. Jesus, Savior; Jesus, Lord)

Share this exercise with a family member, friend, or in a small parish group (3 or 4 people—10-20 min.)

(Encourage listening in a non-judgmental way, without offering advice. You might also ask, “How is your image of Jesus working for you?” If someone says, “I don’t believe in Jesus?” Then we might say, “Can you tell me more about the Jesus that you don’t believe in?” At some point in the conversation, share who Jesus is for us and how you came to believe this way.)

Share your responses to these questions:

  1. Which two or three of these Scriptural titles for Jesus encourage you the most?
  2. How do your favorite titles of Jesus color what it means for you to be a Catholic disciple of Christ?
  3. Which of these titles of Jesus are the most foreign or disturbing? How does this color your faith?
  4. Think of three people from your everyday life. What do think their favorite titles for Jesus might be?
  5. [For use is an explicitly religious group] Why is it important to understand people’s favorite titles for Jesus? How does this knowledge help us share faith or evangelize?
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Understanding Why Catholics Become Inactive

Posted on March 11, 2022 by the Bouchers

Inactive Catholics can be family: parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, nieces; as well as friends, neighbors, fellow workers. Though they may not be regular Sunday church-goers “YET,” they are still God’s children and our brothers and sisters in Jesus. And we  still share the same Baptismal call: to know the everlasting covenant love of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Even though they have vacated our pews, we cannot assume what their reasons are. But rather respect their spiritual lives.

[WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT THE DECREASE AMONG CHURCHGOERS]

This means we are called to have a “deep” compassion for all who have decided to be absent from Sunday worship with us. This compassion is a crucial first step when reaching out to inactive Catholics. This concern is built upon living a missionary, evangelizing life-style. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops teaches that, “Every Catholic can be a minister of welcome, reconciliation, and understanding to those who have stopped practicing the faith.” (Go and Make Disciples, Section 40).

First of all, compassion means not using derogatory words to describe those who are not regular Mass-goers, such as: back-sliding, lapsed, fallen-away, baptized pagans, home-Baptists, lost souls, etc. Instead  we are called to approach inactive Catholics in respectful ways and offer Jesus-centered invitations to consider the active practice of Catholicism, when the time is right.

Secondly, we need to have humility. The simple truth is that all of us are both active and inactive in some parts of our Catholic Faith: conversion, prayer, study, sacraments, community, service, works of mercy, social justice, and evangelizing others. We are all converted and unconverted, saints and sinners in some parts of our lives. So, we can assume that we may have faced some of the same struggles with faith.

Extensive surveys and studies about Catholic beliefs and practices have been conducted over the past 25 years. These studies indicate that only 15-23% of Catholics in the United States are regulars at Sunday Mass (at least in our part of the country). Studies indicate that many Catholics are not regular churchgoers for one or more of the eighteen reasons listed below.

Individual Activity (3-5 mins.):

  1. Circle the top three reasons why people in your parish seem to have become inactive.
  2. Check issues below that you have struggled with in your own faith, even though you have remained active or returned to being active in your faith.

Reasons for Becoming Inactive:

  • Do not experience God’s presence in the Catholic community
  • Do not experience caring relationships in encounter with Catholics in a parish
  • Difficulty bonding with people who do not share the same culture
  • See Catholicism as complex and unrelated to their lives
  • Only had a weak Catholic identity in the first place
  • Catholic Faith and creed seem unrelated to daily life
  • “Spiritual, but not religious.” Turned off by organized religion
  • See self as on a private, not communal, quest for personal meaning
  • Experienced hurt from clergy or lay Catholics
  • Came into conflict with Church teachings
  • Misled by people who attack the Church
  • Are in marriages not recognized by the Church
  • Married outside of the Catholic faith (other Christian group or world religion)
  • Do not come due to chronic sickness or advanced age
  • Got busy and did not take the time to get involved
  • Relocated (new college, job, or home) and never reconnected with a Catholic parish
  • Unaware of a nearby Catholic community
  • Home parish closed/merged when diocese reconfigured parishes

Share with an active Catholic family member, friend, or in a small parish/neighborhood group (10-20 min.):

  • Invite three (3) active Catholic friends, family members, or acquaintances (individually or together) to read this article with you and share their top three reasons why they think some people in their parish seem to have become inactive.
  • Just listen. After the other person(s) give their answers, share what your top three reasons are.
  • Then share: “What has kept you living as an active Catholic or brought you back to being an active Catholic?” After they answer, give your own answer.
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