By Ruby Thomas, Record Staff Writer
Catholics who have drifted away from the church — and feel interested in returning — are invited to attend one of nine “listening sessions” planned in February around the Archdiocese of Louisville.
Staff and volunteers from the archdiocese will meet with them during the two-hour sessions and listen to their stories. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions and share their concerns.
These sessions are part of an initiative called the Catholic Connection, a ministry launched in December to reach out to inactive Catholics. Parishioners around the archdiocese were asked to submit the names of friends and family members who have been away from the church and who might welcome an invitation to return.
The program is one of the ways the local church is responding to Pope Francis’ call for a Year of Mercy, which began Dec. 8.
On Jan. 19, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz sent a letter to each of the people whose names were submitted to the archdiocese — about 1,100 — and invited them to return to the church.
“If you have been away from the church, Christ longs for your return,” the archbishop says in the letter. “The words of Jesus are in our hearts as in His name we extend a loving, welcoming hand to you.”
There are a range of reasons Catholics leave the church, the letter notes, such as difficulties in their marriages, overwhelming circumstances in life, disagreements about church teaching or disappointment in a person or parish.
“If you identify with one of these situations and want to return, we’re willing to listen to your story, work out whatever problems have occurred or just simply welcome you home,” said Archbishop Kurtz in his letter. “We truly want you back with us.”
The archbishop’s letter said that family counseling, education and formation programs will also be available to Catholics who accept the invitation to return.
“I hope you will consider coming home where your faith has its roots,” the archbishop wrote.
Several representatives of the archdiocese will attend the sessions, including a representative of the Tribunal (which handles annulments) to answer questions.
Afterward, those who attend listening sessions will receive information related to their questions or concerns.
Following is a list of the listening sessions, which are open to all inactive Catholics interested in returning to the church.
- Feb. 1 — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Flaget Center, 1935 Lewiston Drive.
- Feb. 3 — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Maloney Center, 1200 S. Shelby St.
- Feb. 11 — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., St. James Church in Elizabethtown, Ky.
- Feb. 13 — 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Catholic Enrichment Center, 3146 W. Broadway.
- Feb. 15 — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., St. Albert the Great Church, 1395 Girard Drive.
- Feb. 21 — 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral in Bardstown, Ky.
- Feb. 23 — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Our Mother of Sorrows Church, 747 Harrison Avenue.
- Feb. 24 — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., St. Rita Church, 8709 Preston Highway (in Spanish, sesíon en español).
- Feb. 25 — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., St. Augustine Church in Lebanon, Ky.
