Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.
Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says,
"Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep."
Luke 15:5-7
Did You Know?
In the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate’s (CARA’s) polling, about 24% of Catholics in the United States attended Mass every week or more often prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the most recent poll from late summer 2022, 17% of adult Catholics reported attending Mass less frequently, with 5% watching Mass online or on television instead (January 20, 2023).
What can we do to personally reach out to those who may have stopped attending Mass and possibly stopped practicing their faith?
Ask the Holy Spirit to come upon your heart to do a “JIG” in preparation for taking a “LEAP” of faith.
What can you do to personally reach out to those who have stopped going to Mass?
The JIG:
Joy-filled life we live in God. Find and share the joy you have in living your Catholic faith and having a personal relationship with Jesus.
Invest in relationships with those you want to bring back to the faith and to Mass. This investment includes prayer and doing activities that strengthen your relationship with the ones you love.
Get curious why your family, friends, and neighbors have stopped coming to Mass. Gently, and with love, ask questions without emotions getting away from you.
Now, take the “LEAP” of Faith:
Listen to where they may be with their faith journey. Pray to God that He will give you the ears to hear and the heart to listen.
Extend your love; be the light of Christ extending God’s mercy working in and through you. Let your family, friends, and neighbors know that God loves them and they are missed at Mass.
Attend to their misgivings, excuses and doubts about their faith. Find the answers to their misgivings, the guidance to their excuses, and the truths to their doubts.
Pray to have courage and love for your family, friends, and neighbors to invite them back to the Church. Personally extend the invitation to attend Mass with you.
Do not be afraid; God is with you. May God Bless you in your discipleship.
Interested in Helping Others Return?
If you would like to learn more about The Mission of the Seventy-Two or to receive information about becoming a disciple, simply complete the information below:
