What Every Catholic Community Should Do For New Catholics

 

No Greater Love Than This: Embracing New Catholics, Specific Ideas

 

A few years ago, I was blessed to be in a group of friends who would frequent the Latin Mass together.

Amongst us were cradle Catholics, reverts, and those preparing to enter the Church. We had theological discussions that went for hours, held each other accountable, and fostered a deep sense of community. 

An Exciting Change

In recent years, there has been a very notable and promising change. The numbers have been rising, with a flood of individuals entering the Church. The rise of Catholicism on social media, in podcasts, apps, and different forums has spread the faith far and wide. 

Established Catholics must bear in mind that they have footholds in their churches, such as large families or groups that they feel settled in, whereas new Catholics entering the Church for potentially the first time may feel completely out of place. Perhaps if converting from more charismatic and agnostic churches, the solemnity of Catholicism may feel jarring. 

It is crucial to showcase the joy and peace that flows from a strong Catholic community grounded in Christ. If Heaven is our ultimate home, and the church is the temporal home, then those within the faith are our families, our brothers and sisters in eternal life. If they are our brothers and sisters in eternal life, then we should embrace them wholly in the temporal world. 
 

Making it Easy by Opening the Catholic Community

The Catholic Church is unique in her structure and forms, in her adherence to hierarchy and tradition, and this may feel very foreign to people entering the Church. This process could be eased by connections with Catholics who have a solid understanding and a strong establishment in the faith. When touring a new school, a student is often given a student ambassador to show them the ropes, set them at ease, and make that student feel comfortable. As Catholics, that is exactly what we should be doing for those entering the church!

These new Catholics running after the faith are doing so because they have found and fallen in love with the truth of Catholicism. There is a duty within the parish to then embrace them with open arms and loving hearts. Saint Paul wrote to the Philippians that we are all “united under the banner of Christ.” In love of Christ, we are meant to love our neighbor, to love them as brothers and sisters. It is of the utmost importance to welcome new members, to foster a loving Catholic community, and to build intimate connections with those around us.

Our Duties

Our lives are meant to be given to God, for all our actions to be sanctifying ones, even the little things. In loving and loving well, those held in the inner rooms of our hearts and the strangers on the streets, we participate in the divine. In the same way we participate in the divine through love, we have already been given a most perfect example of love in Jesus. With Him as our marker and guide, we should likewise embrace the whole world, especially those who may be taking their first tentative steps. Christ, during his ministry, was always seeking out those in most need of his love, those who needed compassion, from the outcasts to the Pharisees. In the same way, we must seek out those who are themselves seeking and searching and build a Catholic community that may glorify God.

Related: Catholic Evangelization: 6 Clear-Cut Strategies That Really Work

In Giving Do We Receive

An effective way to draw others into the fold would be to suggest, lead, and invite others to participate in a service day, where a group goes and gives time and energy to a worthy cause.

This can be organized at the parish, or on other forums.

Some ideas are as follows:

• Making meals for families going through big life changes within your Church

• Praying at a pregnancy clinic
  40 Days for Life (Easy to start a group)
• Volunteering is an excellent way to grow through service, and there are many avenues to explore
  Catholic Volunteer Network - HOME | CVN

We are all firstly united through Christ, and there is no greater way to glorify Him and get to know someone than serving those around us.

“Iron is sharpened by iron; one person sharpens another.”  (Psalms 27:17)

In forging close relationships and welcoming new Catholics into the faith, we also serve to learn and love God in new ways. Every moment, in every day, you are being shaped into more of the person that God so desires you to be. Perhaps in embracing the new Catholics entering the church, you may find a dear friend who could teach you new perspectives and deepen your own personal relationship with Christ.

Our own love of God is what allows us to participate in a life-giving dynamic that then spills over into our love of neighbor. With Christ as the vine, the faithful are meant to participate as the branches and to bear good fruit. The greatest of these fruits is charity. Our response to God’s bountiful love should be to cultivate, first, our relationship with Him, and second, our relationship with those around us. Our communion with God translates to union with the rest of the faithful. This communion is active, living, and daily.

We are all seeking Christ and holiness, and we seek the best together.  Try joining or forming a group centered around prayer and theological discussion within your parish or your area.

Some options are as follows:

• Walking with Purpose
  In-person and virtual groups for Catholic women that encourages encounters with Christ through the Bible. (Easy to start a chapter)
• That Man Is You
  A Catholic men’s leadership program for the modern world, located in participating parishes. This is a place for discussion and would be good for young men seeking to grow in holiness with other like-minded individuals. (Easy to start a Chapter)
• Pray with Me
  An online prayer group that accepts requests and serves as a place to come together.

Do outreach for this group, extend invitations, and have an open door to all. Appeal to the intellect and heart and form meaningful connections through that.

Related: The Best Free Resources for Becoming Catholic and Knowing the Faith!

Insights on Community from the Popes

Pope Francis in Fratelli Tutti writes about fraternity and, on fostering relationships. The very name of the encyclical letter, which means All Brothers, is meant to be an embrace of each other. Pope Francis focused heavily on human relationships and, on the bond that unites us all. As brethren, we must build each other up and become the salt and light of the world in union with each other.

Pope Leo XIII wrote his encyclical Rerum Novarum, particularly whilst being concerned about the state of labor and treatment of workers. However, he also wrote some moving words on the duty of societies. Man is a societal creature, and the church is meant to serve as a society for the citizens of Heaven. Pope Leo wrote that we are to be “organized… as to furnish the best and most suitable means for attaining what is aimed at, that is to say, for helping each individual member to better his condition to the utmost in body, soul, and property.” A Catholic community is meant to be a pillar for their brethren in society. This, of course, includes having an attitude of love and institutions in place to support new Catholics entering the faith.

Some groups for Catholic professionals are:

• Legatus
  Catholic business leaders who seek to follow Christ in their professional endeavors, built off pillars of faith, formation, and fellowship.
• Young Catholic Professionals
  Grow your network and learn how best to integrate your faith and work. They also host a yearly conference.
• Catholic Professionals
  Perhaps as you are searching for your community, consider growing in your work. Catholic Professionals helps connect freelancers and agencies alike to similarly minded Catholics.
• Catholic Jobs
  Find jobs across the U.S. where you can work in mission driven environments surrounded by those who share your faith

 

Other miscellaneous groups to find solid Catholic community: 

• Find Catholic Groups - CatholicYoungAdultGroups.org
• Find a Reverent Catholic Church Near You
  The best place to start, at the end of the day, is within your own parish.

Related: How to Make More Faithful Catholic Friends

Cast Out into the Deep

We are in the world, and we must renew all of it in Christ. Be a testament to your faith in your work; do not be afraid of speaking about the spiritual, of the true, good, and beautiful. 

There is a great beauty in being a living example of God’s love, let it begin with the daily components of your life. Tentative new Catholics may see this and feel invigorated to proclaim and live the truth.

That group I was a part of years ago taught me the beauty of growing in faith with those not in the familial circle. There was a tenderness with which we all came to regard each other and loved God all the better as a result. It was a gift that all Catholics should seek to find and foster. The Mass itself is not the place to have great and lengthy conversations with the unfamiliar faces you now see frequenting the pews. However, partaking in post-Mass refreshments, extending friendly hands, and introducing oneself may just be the motivation to return for a new Catholic who feels alone. We are meant to love loudly and with our whole beings, and that begins with a smile at a stranger. 

In Christ,

Izzy

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Isabel Storey is a rising junior in college, majoring in English Literature and Language. She is first and foremost a Catholic, seeking to restore all things in Christ. She originates from Charleston, South Carolina, and is seeking to pursue a career in journalism grounded in all that is true, good, and beautiful.  Visit her LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/isabel-storey