St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church hosts Catholics Returning Home program

Wooster Daily Record
·2 min read

In a program known as Catholics Returning Home, the people of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Wooster have swung open the church doors to individuals who for whatever reason have become separated from their church and want to re-explore their connection to the Catholic Faith.

Begun locally in 2014, the church has followed a program model put forth by Sally Mews, author of Inviting Catholics Home. Mews came to Wooster to help establish a compassionate, caring team of church members to lead the effort. Now, this team is extending an invitation to non-practicing Catholics to join them no matter how long or for whatever reason they have been away from the church.

From left to right are Linda Musyt, Fr. David Chojnacki, Rick Davis at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Wooster.
From left to right are Linda Musyt, Fr. David Chojnacki, Rick Davis at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Wooster.

“Our team provides a non-judgmental, confidential, safe place where individuals can explore the challenges they have faced and their concerns associated along the way with their faith journey,” said Mary Zuercher, team coordinator.

“I was a cradle Catholic who strayed from my faith”, said Rick Davis a previous participant in the Catholics Returning Home program. “I was looking for purpose in my life and since returning I learned more about my faith and have become involved in some of the ministries of the church. I now feel part of the community and have found that purpose. I was born and raised Catholic but didn’t get it right until the second time around.”

Linda Musyt, a previous participant, added, “I realized I needed to get back on my spiritual path. Catholics Returning Home helped me take that first step. These sessions were informative and the facilitators were warm, caring and compassionate.”

The six-week series is designed to inform and answer questions that non-practicing Catholics may have about the faith since they have left. Sessions are as follows:

  • Welcome and Overview of the Series

  • Sharing of Faith from previous Catholics Returning Home

  • The Church Today: living in a Vatican II Church

  • A Walk through the Mass along with explanations and a look at the Eucharist

  • The Sacrament of Reconciliation: explanation of today’s Confession

  • What Catholics Believe: The Creed

Sessions begin on Monday, Oct. 9, 7-8:30 p.m. at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, 527 Beall Avenue in the Parish Hall (ground level of the church).

For more information, call the church at 330-264-8824.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Catholics Returning Home program for those exploring faith