• Inviting Catholics Home is a ministry developed to welcome you back to the Church and to support you in your faith journey.
• The Inviting Catholics Home Program supports the returnee in the following ways:
• Contact with a group of active parishioners interested in helping you feel welcome;
• Resources and contacts to answer your questions and help you with any issues or concerns you may have;
• Meeting with you to provide updates on the Mass and the Sacraments, changes in the Church, basic Catholic beliefs, and other subjects of interest.

ICH is for anyone who has previously received the sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church (Baptism, First Holy Communion, Conformation), but who has not recently been an active participant in the Church. If you have not received all the sacraments of initiation into the church but would like to start participating, please see our information about our OCIA program HERE

Individual, informal sessions are designed around the needs of the returnee. If several people are interested in returning to the Church, a series of formal sessions may be scheduled, led by the Deacon Jim and the ministry team. Or we can meet with you one on one.

Team members are available to meet with you at your convenience.

Click here to download the brochure

Click here to view the ICH resource booklet

The Story of Saint Monica, Mother of Saint Augustine

St. Monica was born into a Christian family in Tagaste, Algeria, across the Mediterranean Sea from Rome, in 332 AD. She married a pagan, a minor Roman government official named Patricius. Christians were few and far between in those days. The marriage was blessed with three children; the oldest and most famous was Augustine.

Patricius was not a model husband yet Monica prayed ceaselessly for his conversion. Her sweet piety, patience, and persistence paid off. One day, Patricius accepted baptism but he died a year after. Her son Augustine was a constant concern for Monica. Brilliant and likable, Augustine followed the example of his father. He refused to accept baptism and lived a passionate life with his mistress. For years Monica prayed, fasted, and cried silently for Augustine. God was listening. He heard and finally answered these prayers of this faithful mother. Augustine, abandoning his sinful ways, accepted baptism from St. Ambrose of Milan, on Easter Sunday, 387 AD. Augustine’s mother, St. Monica, died shortly after at the age of 55, secure in the knowledge that her son had heard God’s call and her work on earth was finished.

In addition to lapsed Catholics, St. Monica is the patroness of troubled parents, battered wives, despondent mothers, widows, and alcoholics. Her feast is celebrated on August 27.

Prayer #1)

Dear Saint Monica, you were once the mournful mother of a prodigal son. Your faithfulness to prayer brought you and your son so close to God that you are now with him in eternity. By your intercession and God’s grace, your son St. Augustine became a great and venerable Saint of the Church. Please take my request to God with the same fervor and persistence with which you prayed for your own son.

(Mention your intentions here)

With your needs, worries and anxieties, you threw yourself on the mercy and providence of God. Through sorrow and pain, you constantly devoted yourself to God. Pray for me that I might join you in such a deep faith in God’s goodness and mercy.

Above all, dear Saint Monica, pray for me that I may, like your son, turn from my sin and become a great saint for the glory of God. Amen.

Prayer #2)

Exemplary Mother of the Great Augustine,
you perseveringly pursued your wayward son,
not with wild threats but with prayerful cries to heaven.
Intercede for all mothers in our day
so that they may learn to draw their children to God.
Teach them how to remain close to their children,
even the prodigal sons and daughters
who have sadly gone astray.
Amen.

Prayer #3)

Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother,
Many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime.
Yet you never despaired or lost faith.
With confidence, persistence and profound faith,
you prayed daily for the conversion
of your beloved husband, Patricius,
and your beloved son, Augustine.
Grant me that same fortitude, patience and trust in the Lord.
Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, for (mention your petition here)
and grant me the grace to accept his will in all things,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.
Amen.

Prayer #4)

Blessed Monica, mother of St. Augustine,
we give thanks to our Father in Heaven
Who looked with mercy upon your tears
over your wayward son.
His conversion and heroic sanctification
were the fruit of your prayers.
Dear St. Monica,
we now ask you to pray with us
for all those sons and daughters
that have wandered away from God,
and to add your prayers to those of all mothers
who are worried over their children.
Pray also for us that,
following your example, we may,
in the company of our children,
one day enjoy the eternal vision of our Father in Heaven.
Amen.

State the day’s intention and then pray the Novena Prayers.

Novena Prayers:

Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine, you perseveringly pursued your wayward son…not with wild threats but with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so that they may learn to draw their children to God. Teach us to remain close to all God’s children, even the prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray.

Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet, you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence, and profound faith, you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine. Grant me that same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, that God may favorably hear my plea for (names of those you are praying for) and grant me the grace to accept His will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.

• Pray Hail Mary 3 times
• Pray Glory Be 3 times
• St. Monica, pray for us

Intentions

Day One- Today we pray for all God’s people currently absent from our Home. May the Holy Spirit open their ears and hearts so they may hear this invitation to come home. (Pray Novena Prayers)

Day Two- Today we pray for those who were baptized Catholic, but were not blessed with families to guide them to spiritual maturity. May the Holy Spirit guide them back to our Catholic family. (Pray Novena Prayers)

Day Three- Today we pray for those who have been hurt by someone in the Church. May those of us in the Church today be a source of healing. (Pray Novena Prayers)

Day Four- Today we pray for those who take issue with the Church’s teachings. May the Holy Spirit open their hearts and minds to the truth and wisdom of those teachings. (Pray Novena Prayers)

Day Five- Today we pray for those whose sins make them feel unworthy to come to God. May they feel the warm embrace of Our Father’s loving forgiveness. (Pray Novena Prayers)

Day Six- Today we pray for all those who believe in their hearts but are fearful of judgment or institutions. May they find the support and joy of belonging to our Church community. (Pray Novena Prayers)

Day Seven- Today we pray for those who are resisting Your call due to pressures from friends and family members. May the Holy Spirit give them strength in their convictions and may the Holy Spirit fill the hearts of their friends and family with love and support. (Pray Novena Prayers)

Day Eight- Today we pray for those who feel abandoned by God. May they come to see God working in their lives, restore their faith in Him, and come home to His church. (Pray Novena Prayers)

Day Nine- Today we pray for those who are ready to come home and just need to be invited. May the Holy Spirit open our hearts and eyes to them that we may be the inviting and welcoming presence they seek. (Pray Novena Prayers)