The Votive Light is Always On

Matthew Harrison

August 21, 2008
cch-logo.jpgHave you seen the beautifully produced Catholics Come Home ads on Salt + Light?
They're quite impressive and apparently quite effective.
In an interview last month with Zenit news service the founder of Catholics Come Home, Tom Peterson, said more than six thousand people have inquired and come back to the Church via the web site. Others have headed back to their parish directly. As the article states "One priest reported that 16 people came to him for confession after they saw the television ad."
Originally targeted towards the Diocese of Phoenix, Arizona, Catholics Come Home pulls its inspiration from Pope John Paul II -- who called for a new evangelization and suggested the media as a way of going about it. It's something that all of us at Salt + Light can relate to!
I'm reminded of Washington D.C.'s Archbishop Donald Wuerl talk at the Eucharistic Congress. He mentioned that at one talk he gave, he put invitations on all the seats. The invitations were for attendees to give to family or friends who have fallen away from the Church. The text said "We love you, we miss you, and we want you to come back."
One can't help but think about the scripture passage of the shepherd who tracks down the lost sheep... Christ seeking out those who have fallen away. But this idea isn't just something on a page: Christ works through us, and we too -- as imitators of Christ -- are called to track down lost sheep as well, to invite people back, in our words in our actions.
Have you called anyone home lately?
You can read the full article on Zenit HERE, or visit Catholics Come Home HERE... and pass it on!