WE WELCOME YOU HOME!

We don’t need to look far today to find people who have been raised as Roman Catholics and through the years have become separated from the Church. Perhaps, there has been someone in your family or even yourself, who was raised Catholic, but no longer actively participates in a Parish.

Why?

There are many reasons why people become separated from their faith community by birth. For some, it is due to a disagreement or confusion regarding Church teachings, often in the situation of divorce and remarriage. Sometimes separation occurs due to a disagreement with a priest, a religious sister, or another church member. Sometimes people are disenchanted by the apparent lack of faith or hypocrisy of some Church members. For others, a theological or moral disagreement serves as the reason for the distance that has grown between them and the Church. Some are simply shocked and scandalized that some priests and bishops have been abusers of people.

Church is Divine and Human

We understand that though the church is divinely guided, the church is people and we are all sinners. If we can in some way correct or heal or inform you in your situation, we would be most thankful to God. No one should be unjustly hurt, especially if that hurt comes from very organization that was created to live the life of Jesus. Our parish staff would be available to meet with you and do what we can do to bring about healing.

Sometimes nothing can be done, but listening. Sometimes we can be instruments of healing.

Sometimes we can be not only the instruments of healing, but a catalyst to rebuilding a relationship with God, or with the Church. We certainly correct misinformation that may have be given or explain the rational about why the church believes what it believes. We can give you an opportunity to take another look at the Church that was once dear to your heart and can share the Lord’s graces in the sacraments.

Hurt & Misunderstanding

We, at Saint Margaret Mary Church, are concerned with the hurt and misunderstanding that accompanies this separation. We would like to listen to your experience and clarify any misunderstanding. We believe that healing only occurs when you are able to talk about the hurt, and move beyond the hurt to a place of peace. That is why we encourage anyone who has been hurt by individuals of the church or representatives of the church to come to talk it out. This hurt weighs down the person and often drains them of life energy and prevents them from moving beyond that hurt.

Divorce & Annulments

After a Catholic goes through a divorce, they often find themselves in the middle of a world swimming with information leading to confusion about practicing the faith. The truth is that your Catholic faith is the very key to your healing after a divorce and is vital to living a life filled with promise, peace, and joy.

Click here for a link to some answers to questions you may have:

Divorce & Annulments | Catholics Come Home

Abuse

Have you have been a victim of any sexual abuse from a church member?

It is most important that you report that abuse. You may download a document from the Diocese of Rockford web site indicating the steps you should take to deal with this. Abuse is both sinful and illegal and needs to be reported to the both police and the Diocese.

To report an instance of sexual abuse by clergy, religious or laity affiliated with the Diocese of Rockford, contact local police authorities and call the Victims Abuse Line: 815-962-9347.

If the abuse involves a minor, also contact the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services at 1-800-25-ABUSE.

Apology for any Harm

We would like apologize to you for any hurt that has come from the Church or her leadership. We take this opportunity to ask forgiveness for this hurt knowing that the Church is not the Kingdom of God, but a means to the Kingdom and is made up of people who are sinners looking for redemption in the saving grace of Christ Jesus. Ideally the Church should be this perfect model of living the way of Christ, but she too, like all of us, needs to be redeemed by Christ Jesus.

Becoming Active Again

Healing the hurts and answering the questions that have caused people to become inactive Catholics is not a instantaneous process. It first means dealing with the cause, then it is a process of rebuilding the foundations of the faith. We believe that Jesus is the Son of God and came to show us the way to live for all eternity. He gathered and taught his apostles during his three years of public ministry. He taught by what he did and what he said. We have the record of the teaching of Jesus in the church by both the scriptures and the doctrines of the church. We are an Apostolic Church—meaning that our understanding of what Jesus taught comes from the apostles since none of us were there.

To build the process of coming to faith again, we need to start with reflection on the teaching of Jesus. When a person comes to the faith for the first time, we walk with them and they walk with us for most of a year or more to slowly put together the pillars of faith. They ask questions and debate issues and learn what the church teaches. The process is called the, “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.”

This could also be a good process for returning Catholics who have not had much of a understanding and basis of their faith.

For others, who have had a strong education in their faith, it might mean just spending a few sessions asking questions and an putting things together.

The Parish Pastoral Staff can help you choose a way that best fits your needs. The person you talked with initially can be most helpful to you and direct you in a way that fits.
You may pick any of the staff members with which you wish to meet. You may call them for an appointment or e-mail them. If you wish, you may just give your first name in order to remain anonymous.

The Parish Pastoral Staff willing to meet with you about this matter. You may email the staff member of your choosing using the following addresses or call 847-658-7625.

More information

For more information about returning home to the Catholic Church, please click here or the icon below to be taken to the main website.

Catholics Come Home | Welcome Home