Dear friends,

Recently, I had a brief but meaningful encounter at the bank with a young woman behind the counter, which I wished lasted longer. Seeing my clerical collar, she struck up a lively conversation with me and asked if I was a priest. When I confirmed I was a Roman Catholic priest, she shared a story I hear often: She had received all her Sacraments—Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation—but today, she only attends Mass occasionally to accompany her grandmother.

Though I saw right there an opportunity for re-evangelization, the impatient line of customers forming behind me forced me to leave before I could ask the questions burning in my heart: What changed? What do you miss? And what is it about those occasional visits with your grandmother that still speaks to your soul? If you find yourself in a similar position, someone who was "raised Catholic" but no longer finds a home in the pews, this article is for you.

I want you to know that the Church is often described as a body. When one part is missing, the whole body feels the loss. You might feel like "just anothr face" in a large institution, but your unique perspective, your questions, and even your doubts are missing from our community. The Church is not a museum for saints; it is a "field hospital" for the weary, as Pope Francis often put it. If you feel distant, know that there is still a seat reserved for you that no one else can fill. Your absence is being felt.

When I reflected further, I realized that many people "leave" the Church based on a childhood understanding of God. We graduate from school and grow in our careers, yet sometimes our faith remains at the level of a third-grade catechism class. If you left because the "rules" didn't make sense or the "stories" felt small, I invite you to look again now through the eyes of an adult. There is a deep, intellectual, and mystical richness in the Catholic tradition that can handle your hardest questions about life, suffering, and purpose. Here at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, we have a vibrant, highly equipped faith formation and evangelization opportunity for Adults like yourself.

The young woman at the bank mentioned she still goes with her grandmother. There is something powerful in that. Perhaps it’s a sense of tradition, a memory of peace, or the witness of someone who has weathered life’s storms with prayer. That "attraction" you feel, even if it's only once or twice a year, is often the Holy Spirit whispering that you are still loved and still welcome. I truly appreciate our grandmothers who often forge powerful “grandma connections” that endure in the memories of their grandchildren. Kudos to you, grandmothers!

So, I want to invite you back, if you fall in the category of my young banker, not just to fill a quota or to follow a list of rules. I invite you back because I believe that in the Eucharist, and in the community of believers, there is a peace that the world simply cannot provide. Life is heavy and complex. Between work, family, and the chaos of the world, we all need a place to anchor our souls. The Catholic Church is that anchor. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is that anchor. Whether you have been gone for two years or twenty, the door is not just unlocked; it is wide open. Here at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, especially, we have an open-door policy so that everyone who walks through our doors is helped to get to heaven, our eternal and true home.

So, if you are reading this and you have been away, I won't ask you for an immediate commitment. I only ask for a conversation. What do you find unattractive about the Church? What do you still find beautiful? Your story matters to us. You are not a "fallen away" Catholic; you are a son or daughter of God who is always, always welcome home. 

I love you!

BACK TO LIST