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Another GREAT testimonial sent to CatholicsComeHome.org:
“CatholicsComeHome.org is really working. It was tougher to find a seat at Mass last Sunday!” says Arthur, a Colorado Springs area parishioner.
Visit CatholicsComeHome.org each day to grow in your faith!
As Catholics, we should always be ready to defend our faith, to give a reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15). From time to time, we will post some articles to our blog we recommend that will help you to learn more about your Catholic Faith, so you can answer those questions that start with “Can you prove…?”
Today’s topic: Can you prove the existence of God?
Check out these wonderful and clear articles by Dr. Peter Kreeft:
Can you prove that God exists?
Can you prove God exists?
To learn more about your Catholic Faith, visit CatholicsComeHome.org.
Another inspiring e-mail we received at CatholicsComeHome.org, this time from across the world in Malaysia:
“Though I come from Malaysia where airing of Christian TV commercials and TV programs are not allowed, I thank God that He has allowed many Catholics like us to access websites like Catholics Come Home….through the internet!!!
Please pray that we will always have that freedom to strengthen our faith.
With prayers and love,
Linda, Malaysia”
Take advantage of the wonderful opportunity to grow in your faith and love of Christ and His Catholic Church each day at CatholicsComeHome.org.
Sadly, many Catholics haven’t had or taken the opportunity to really learn what’s happening at Mass… By journeying through the parts of the Mass, we hope you will find new excitement in this joyful and meaningful celebration of our Faith every Sunday (or every day)!
Today’s Bored at Mass? feature: The PRE-GAME
In order for us to “make the most” of each Mass, it is important for us to ready our hearts, minds, and bodies prior to walking into church on Sunday.
How to ready our hearts: Take time to reflect before you go to Mass. Think about the desires and intentions of your heart you want to place before Lord that day. Also, prepare your heart to praise Him in all His glory during Mass.
How to ready our minds: Michael Dubruiel, in The How-to Book of the Mass, points out that “Some of us play an intellectual game at Mass of finding fault with the way the Mass is celebrated…But the Mass is not a place for us to sit back like a movie and to find fault; rather, it is a place to encounter Jesus Christ” (page 30).
How to ready our bodies: We should all take the time to examine our thoughts, words, and actions before Mass. Perhaps we’ll find we need go to Confession to get rid of our sins and receive forgiveness before receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
Lost & Found Tip: The warm-up sets the pace for the game. How we prepare for Mass will help guide our prayer and focus during the Mass. This Sunday, prepare yourself for who you are about to encounter at Mass—Jesus. He’s truly present, so we should want to give Him our best!
In the spirit of celebrating Christmas for the entire Church calendar (through THIS Sunday, January 10, 2010, “Baptism of the Lord”), check-out the article below about Fr. Mark Toups of the diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana – and the ‘mall ministry’ kiosk they headed up at their local mall to reach out to inactive Catholics and invite them back to Mass…including handing out CatholicsComeHome.org DVDs :
“Locals who have taken to the Southland Mall for an early start on the holiday shopping season over the last week may have noticed something a little less conventional during their spree – a cart containing information about the Catholic Church and the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.
The program known as “mall ministry” was the brainchild of Bishop Sam Jacobs who said the mall was chosen because that is where the majority of the people are at this time of year.
“I think if Jesus Christ were here today he would minister in the shopping malls,” the bishop said in a release. “That’s where the people are.”…
read more
Visit CatholicsComeHome.org to enrich your faith each day!
After recently sharing Pope Benedict’s prayer intentions for January on our news blog (for young people to use the modern media to grow in holiness and service), how fitting that we received this supportive message from a college student:
The “Catholics Come Home” campaign is in full swing in the Diocese of Providence and I am writing primarily to thank you for your efforts to evangelize those who have fallen away from the church. As a college student, I can already see changes among many and I have been inspired to help many of my peers understand Catholicism….”
Be sure to visit CatholicsComeHome.org each day to grow in your faith!
Looking to learn more about God’s Word this year? Catholics Come Home recommends these great Bible-learning resources to help you fall in love with Scripture this New Year.
The Great Adventure—This Bible study program offers materials and resources that make learning salvation history through Scripture exciting and transformative. Hundreds of thousands have grown in their Catholic Faith and understanding of God’s Word using this incredible system.
The Bible Compass, Dr. Edward Sri—This resource provides an excellent overview to reading Scripture and is the perfect “need-to-know” guide to have read in preparation for or during your Bible reading journey. We love this book here at Catholics Come Home!
Praying Scripture For A Change: An Introduction To Lectio Divina, Dr. Tim Gray—This book will help you to learn the power of praying Scripture through the process of Lectio Divina. Once you read this book, reading Scriptures will never be the same!
Don’t forget to keep up with Catholics Come Home on Facebook!
Pope Benedict offers two intentions every month, one general, and one for a particular Catholic missionary activity.
Pope Benedict’s general prayer intention for January 2010 is:
“We pray for all young people throughout the world, especially in the ways that social communications media affect them. Lord, may your beloved young people learn to use modern means of communication for their personal growth in holiness. Let them use media to better prepare themselves to serve society.”
May CatholicsComeHome.org use of the media bring many closer to Christ’s Catholic Church.
Why do Catholics honor Mary as Mother of God?
Simple: Jesus is the son of Mary. Jesus is God. Therefore, Mary is the Mother of God.
On this holy feast day, we take a moment as we start our new year to honor our Blessed Mother, who in her “yes” to God brought our Savior into the world to redeem us.
Lost & Found Tip: Jesus says on the cross, “Behold your Mother.” As we all jump into the frenzy of the new year and start attempting to bring our resolutions to fruition, let us call on the aid of our Mother Mary to give us the strength to draw closer to her Son every day this year.
Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!
To learn more about Mary as the Mother of God, visit the Church teaching section of CatholicsComeHome.org today.
CatholicsComeHome.org TV ads have been airing in eight dioceses for just over a week, and here’s what we’re hearing in response already!
– “I’m a fallen-away Catholic. Those CCH commercials on tv got me. Yesterday I went to Confession & Mass. It felt great, but I’m going slow…” -facebook post
– “Sat down to watch Frosty the Snowman with the kids and saw one of the commercials. Having much success here in Omaha already! New converts, and at least a dozen returned that we know of in the first few days…” -Omaha, NE
– “I have returned to the Catholic Church recently, and Catholics Come Home did play a big part! Thank you!” -Westminster, CO
– “Fascination; factual but not preachy; very well produced. I am not a confirmed Catholic, but have attended Mass all over the world during my 22-year military career, and was really stirred by your message. Keep up the good work!” -Sacramento, CA
– “I wish to learn more about my church and my faith. Although I was raised Catholic and attended Catholic schools, there is much I have either forgotten or never learned.”
-Chicago, IL
– “I just want to tell you as a practicing Catholic I find your commercial truly inspiring. I have family members that have fallen away from the Church and I hope they have the opportunity to see this commercial with the hope that it brings them home. Thank you!” -Omaha, NE
We are grateful to YOU! Your prayers and support allow us to keep reaching-out to those away from the faith.
As we continue the Christmas season, and finish this amazing year of 2009, we remind you that there has never been a better time to make an offering to Catholics Come Home. Your year end gift of $100, $50 or whatever you can do to help, is fully tax deductible to the limits of current tax code AND you can celebrate the fact that your generosity is assisting many find their way back to our Catholic family! But you must make your online gift by midnight on December 31 in order to get a tax deduction for 2009.
May God continue to bless you and your family during this Christmas season, and in 2010!
Need some guidance finding a parish near you? MassTimes.org has a parish-finding resource for that.
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