KEEPING THE FAITH: “Catholics Come Home’ Helps Parishioners at St. Joseph Overcome Questions of Faith

The bells of St. Joseph in Macon are a familiar sound–calling parishioners and visitors to mass daily; but those sounds also fall on deaf ears…ears that long to hear the word of God, but don’t know where to find it.

“Here at St. Joseph we have 1200 registered families in our parish but on any given Sunday, it’s probably anywhere between 500 or 600,” says class instructor Jim Zilaro.

That’s why the Church launched a national program called “Catholics Come Home” which has helped many at St. Joseph regain their faith and get fully immersed in the religion.

It’s a ten week program that starts the first of each year and covers the basics and the more complex doctrines of Catholicism.

And while Rebecca Gleason says she still has questions about the Church, the group is a step in the right direction.

“I woke up one day and wanted to be happier at a consistent level. I was never really truly happy so I thought, ‘there’s something missing,’ says Gleason.

Beckie Harwood went through the program six years ago, but now she helps others find the faith they’ve lost.

“Every time I see somebody grow in their faith, it renews my faith over and over again. To me that’s just so rewarding,” says Harwood. “I feel like our job is completed because we brought somebody home.”

Jim Zilaro says the program at St. Joseph has about a 90% success rate.

“We just give them the direction and tell them that this is a lifelong journey, and we’re all at different stages in our journey, but our journey hopefully ends in one glorious place and that’s heaven,” Zilaro says. Making for a mission accomplished, and a call home that will no longer fall on deaf ears.

“Catholics Come Home” meets every Tuesday night for ten weeks starting the first week of January. For more information about the program visit catholicscomehome.org