Welcome to Saint Clement’s website for the Catholics Come Home campaign! Whether you are pondering returning to the Church, are new to the Catholic faith, or already a parishioner, we thank you for visiting our page and taking the time to learn more about this initiative! Feel free to browse through the articles listed below:
What is Catholics Come Home?
In December and January, the Archdiocese of Chicago will partner with the dioceses of Rockford and Joliet for a large media campaign aimed at Catholics who have drifted away from regular participation in Church. This 5 ½ week campaign will consist of approximately 2,000 commercials aired on major television stations inviting Catholics who have been away from the Church to take a second look. (The average TV viewer will see a Catholics Come Home commercial 13 to 20 times during this period!) In addition to the commercials, there will be an effort in local parishes to welcome any Catholics who may be returning.
What will it look like at Saint Clement?
The Saint Clement community is hoping to make our efforts to welcome newcomers and those who have been away from the church more visible and available. In the coming months, we will also work to walk with people who may be returning to the faith or hoping to deepen their participation in our community by providing opportunities for participation in the sacraments, deepening one’s knowledge of the faith, and becoming involved in our parish life. We also hope to use this opportunity for all of us to reflect on our participation in the Catholic Church, and how we are a living witness to our faith among our families, friends, coworkers, and neighbors.
View the Commercials
To view the commercials visit
www.catholicscomehome.org. Click on the smaller pictures attached to the main video screen.
Or, visit the video section on the
Archdiocese of Chicago’s Catholics Come webpage.
I’m a returning Catholic – where do I start?
Whether you are just beginning to think about returning to Church or can’t wait to get involved, we’re glad you are here! Plugging into a new community can sometimes be daunting, but we’ll try our best to make you feel welcome! Here are a few places you might want to start:
- Join us for a Sunday liturgy
Sundays at Saint Clement are a wonderful time to come together as a community and lift our hearts towards God. All are welcome! See our Mass times here. Not sure where we are located? Click here. Keep an eye out during December and January for our Catholics Come Home info table, and members of the community who are wearing Catholics Come Home buttons – they will be happy to assist you with any needs or questions!
- Listening Session for Alienated Catholics
If you feel alienated or hurt by the Catholic Church, join us for a listening session in which you can share your personal story, participate in discussion, and ask questions. We will meet on Wednesday, January 19 at 7pm in the Fahey Center (the building attached to the east of the church).
- Attend our adult faith formation nights
Join us for our adult formation opportunities!
- Living Faith – this adult education series provides an opportunity to bring our lives into conversation with the Catholic faith. Each session will include a short presentation, discussion, prayer, and a chance to visit with other members of the community.Living Faith meets from 6:45pm-9pm in Fireside Hall in Saint Clement School. Our 2011 dates are:
- January 18, February 8, March 15,
April 12, May 10
- Teaching Mass
Have you ever wondered why we say or do certain things during Mass? Join us on Sunday, January 30 at 11:15am in the chapel, when we will celebrate an "Explanatory Mass." We will reverently pause throughout the Mass to listen to narrative which will explain the elements of the liturgy. It will be a complete Mass with Communion. The Mass will run for about 1 ½ hours and is recommended for ages twelve and up.
- Annual Prayer Day
Prayer Day offers an opportunity for each of us to learn or be reminded how easy it is to fit God into our day-to-day lives. The keynote speech and breakout sessions provide us with an opportunity to learn what tools we can use to improve our spiritual health and deepen our relationship with God. Prayer Day 2011 will be held Sunday, February 13, beginning with the 11:15am Mass.
- Join a ministry or prayer group!
Saint Clement offers a variety of prayer groups, small faith sharing communities, outreach ministries, and parish life groups (such as our Young Adult Community, Clement Moms, Clement Couples, and Gay & Lesbian Network). Click on the links or see our bulletin for more details.
- Register in the parish
Registering in the parish allows us to keep you up-to-date on parish happenings and helps us to know who we serve! Register online here.
- Fill out a volunteer form
Interested in a certain area? Visit our volunteer page and download our volunteer profile.
- Browse our website or bulletin
Interested in seeing what our community has to offer? Feel free to browse other sections of our website by viewing our site map, downloading our latest bulletin, or checking out our calendar.
I’m a current parishioner – what does this initiative mean for me? How can I help?
It is estimated that the average TV viewer will see a Catholics Come Home commercial 13-20 times during this initiative! It is bound to create a stir! As Catholics, we may be invited into conversation about the Catholic Church, or have the opportunity to talk with someone who is considering returning.
What can I do to help?
- Volunteer at our Welcome Table after Masses in December and January
- Help provide hospitality at events geared towards those returning
- Look for opportunities to speak about your faith and share your experiences of being Catholic
- Invite someone to come to Mass with you
- Pray for the initiative and all those who will take a second look at the Catholic Church
If you are interested and would like to help, please contact Christina Bax at 773-281-0371 or christinab@stclementchurch.org.
I would like to become Catholic
Whether you are simply inquiring into the process or ready to begin the journey we would love to walk with you! The traditional process for men and women who have not been baptized in the Catholic faith but who wish to join the Church is through the Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults, or
RCIA. However, we recognize that every person has been on a unique faith journey and so we do our best not to make this a one-size fits all process – meaning that you can begin when you are ready and progress as you feel comfortable!
If you are interested in learning more about this process, please join us for one of our RCIA info nights (date TBA) or contact our Pastoral Associate,
Christina Bax.
