Faith worth passing down
Letters from
Nonno
Catholic reflections for anyone finding their way back to Christ.
There are some things we understand too late.
For nearly thirty years, I lived away from the Catholic Church. I believed in God. I loved my family. I worked, lived my life, and generally thought I was a good enough person.
What I did not understand was how much I was missing.
Letters from Nonno grew out of the things I began discovering after coming home to the Church: Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, the mercy of Confession, the Blessed Mother, the Rosary, the sacraments, the narrow gate, and a faith far deeper than the version of Christianity I had carried around in my own head.
These are not the writings of a priest or theologian.
They are letters from a father and grandfather who wandered for a long time and wants to leave a trail behind for the people he loves.
For my children.
For my grandchildren.
For those I may never meet.
And perhaps for you.
Letter One
Good Is Not Enough
For years I assumed heaven was almost automatic for people who were basically decent.
I was not a murderer. I was not a criminal. I loved my family and tried to treat people fairly.
But I was still a sinner.
And after returning to the Catholic Church, I began to understand something I had missed for nearly thirty years:
Being a good person is not the same thing as belonging to Jesus Christ.
Good Is Not Enough explores the narrow gate, grace, the Eucharist, Mary, the Rosary, the Catholic Church, the sacraments, marriage, spiritual warfare, and ultimately the road home to Christ.
Letter Two
The Faith My Mother Planted
Some seeds take years to grow.
This is a letter of gratitude to my parents, and especially to my mother, who planted the Catholic faith in my life long before I understood what she was giving me.
Sometimes seeds are planted before we even know we are soil.
Letter Three
I Thought They Would Choose for Themselves
I gave them almost everything I thought they needed.
A father's reflection on work, success, regret, the faith he failed to pass down, and why it is never too late to start planting.
Give them something worth choosing.
Letter Four
Do the Opposite
I came across a little list called “It’s Strange.” Then I realized the person I needed to examine wasn’t everyone else. It was me.
A reflection on the gap between what we give the world and what we give God — and the simple practice that might begin to close it.
When the world pulls one direction, turn toward Christ.
Letter Five
At Home Everywhere
I was out of town for work and went to Mass at a parish I had never seen. I didn’t know the building, the priest, or the people. And the Mass was in Spanish.
But I didn’t feel like an outsider. I felt completely at home.
You can travel a very long way from home — and still find yourself home.
Why Letters From Nonno?
"Nonno" means grandfather.
And there are things a grandfather eventually realizes he wants to leave behind that have nothing to do with money, property, photographs, or possessions.
Faith is one of them.
I cannot make my children or grandchildren believe. I cannot force anyone to come home to the Church.
But I can tell them where I wandered. I can tell them what I got wrong. I can tell them what I discovered when I returned.
And I can point toward the One who was waiting for me the entire time.
Jesus Christ.
That is what these letters are meant to do.
Leave a trail home.
Maybe One of These Letters Is for You
You grew up Catholic but stopped going to Mass.
Maybe it happened slowly. Maybe there was never a dramatic decision. Church simply became less important until eventually it disappeared.
You believe in God but do not think you need organized religion.
I lived for years believing that faith in God and being a decent person were probably enough.
You are wondering whether you can come back.
You can. The road home may be much shorter than you think.
Your children or grandchildren have left the faith.
These letters were originally written for exactly that reason. Sometimes we cannot force someone home. But we can leave the porch light on.
You are Catholic but want to understand why the Church teaches what she does.
The Eucharist. Confession. Mary. The Rosary. Marriage. The sacraments. The authority of the Church. These letters explore those questions through personal experience rather than academic theology.
You May Not Be as Far Away as You Think
One reason I am writing these letters is because Catholics sometimes stay away for years simply because they do not know how to return.
Maybe you have not been to Mass in ten years. Maybe thirty. Maybe you are embarrassed. Maybe you do not remember the prayers. Maybe you do not know what to say in Confession. Maybe you think everyone will notice that you have been gone.
Do not let that stop you.
And when you are ready, begin the road home.
Resources for Returning CatholicsMore Letters Are Coming
Why I Came Back to Confession
What I misunderstood about sin, mercy, and hearing the words “I absolve you.”
Do Whatever He Tells You
Why Mary does not lead Catholics away from Jesus — she leads us directly to Him.
What I Didn't Understand About the Eucharist
Why Communion became one of the biggest reasons I could no longer look at Catholicism the way I once did.
Your Marriage Needs Christ
Love is good. Commitment is good. But even love is not enough without Christ.
Why I Am Unapologetically Catholic
Why returning to the Church eventually forced me to ask whether Catholicism was merely one denomination or something more.
When Your Children Walk Away From God
What can a parent or grandparent do when someone they love leaves the faith?
The Narrow Gate
What Jesus actually said about salvation and why “I’m basically a good person” should not make us spiritually comfortable.
What I Want You to Know Before I'm Gone
The things of faith I most want my children and grandchildren to remember.
Stories From the Road Home
Sometimes another person's story gives us the courage to take the first step.
If a Letter From Nonno helped you return to Mass, go to Confession, pray again, reconsider the Catholic faith, or simply take one step closer to Jesus, you are invited to share your story.
Questions From the Road Home
Receive the Next Letter From Nonno
No daily emails. No noise. When a new Letter From Nonno is published, we will send it to you.