Been Away From the Catholic Church?
Come home.
Maybe it has been six months. Maybe six years. Maybe thirty years.
You don't need a dramatic explanation before coming back.
You can simply begin.
I know what it is like to look back and realize that years became decades.
I know what it is like to think about everything you should have done differently.
But the answer isn't to spend another decade looking backward.
Turn toward Christ.
If you've been away for years, call a parish. Tell the priest you want to come back. If you need Confession, tell him how long it has been.
You will not be the first person who has walked into a confessional after decades away.
I know that because I did.
— Nonno
How to Return
Go to Mass
You can attend Mass immediately. You don't need permission to walk through the door.
Talk to a Priest
Especially if you have been away for many years or have questions concerning marriage or the Sacraments.
Go to Confession
If serious sin is present or you have been away from the sacramental life, prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving Holy Communion.
Begin Again
Prayer. Sunday Mass. Confession. Eucharist. Scripture. A life of conversion. Not perfection — faithfulness.
Learn the Essential Prayers
The Our Father, Hail Mary, and more — ready to learn by heart.
Thinking About Becoming Catholic?
You don't have to have it all figured out before you begin.