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Been away from
the Church for awhile? Know someone who has been away? You have Landed
in the right place.
First, you are not alone in this. There are thousands among thousands
of people who had for just as many reasons stopped participating in the
sacramental life of the Church, and who now are hearing a whisper of longing
to participate fully again. It is a courageous time. It is a fearful time.
A time of questions, gut-checks, and more questions. The Holy Spirit works
in magical, wondrous ways.
So, welcome. The Church wants you back. In fact, that is why so many parishes
across the country have instituted Landings® programs. Although this is
a new initiative for the Cathedral, for over 15 years the Landings® program
has welcomed back over 40,000 Catholics. We would love to welcome you
back as well.
A Little Bit about Landings®
Landings® was created by Reverend Jac Campbell, C.S.P.,
a Paulist priest, to help returning Catholics feel welcome again in the
Church. This is a short, clear process, run by the laity of your parish,
to help facilitate your return. It's not for everybody. But, having been
tested and developed by laity, vowed religious, and clergy, its unique
approach has proved effective through hundreds of groups over the past
decade.
Landings® is unique and contemporary. The program gives
someone who is considering returning to Catholicism an insight into the
actual faith lives of other Catholics. More than anything else, Landings®
is an experience of faith sharing and a ministry of compassionate listening.
We are simply being ourselves with those who want to explore returning.
We are not arguing with anyone about anything!
Some call "listening" the language of God. Over the course of the program
you will have ample opportunity to both speak and be heard. Few of us
are listened to enough. And compassionate listening works when there is
no interrupting, no arguing, no questioning one another or judging what
is said. It's a safe harbor. This is what the Landings® program
is all about.
How does it Work?
Once a week, for six or eight weeks, a group will gather in a designated
place around the Church. This may be Saint Albert's Hall, the rectory,
or the new Father Fleming Center. The group will be made up of some Cathedral
parishioners and those who want to explore returning. Interestingly enough,
the parishioners you meet in this gathering will likely have been away
from the Church for awhile at one point in their lives as well.
The first group will meet one evening a week and should start around
7:00 pm. But the time and night of the week may change if the group desires.
We want to make it as easy to attend as possible.
During the gathering someone will be selected to lead the evening through
the time-tested schedule. This includes.
- Check in exercises. This will allow us to regroup with each other
since the last meeting.
- Opening prayer. Relaxing, meditative with praise and thanksgiving.
- Spiritual Journey Story. This is often the most moving part of the
evening. One person volunteers to speak on his or her "story." So
often, you'll be encouraged when others have had similar experiences
to you. No one is forced to share their story unless they are comfortable. There
is no pressure to share if that's not your thing.
- Contemporary Catholic Theme. Each week, the group explores a truth
of the Church as understood through the experience of the members.
- Housekeeping issues.
- Adjourn with final prayer.
A timekeeper is selected at the beginning to keep everything on track.
Each gathering will last approximately two hours or less.
Weekend Retreat
Following our evening gatherings, the group will conclude with
a one-day weekend retreat. This retreat may be made in conjunction with
other Landings® programs happening in other parishes
in the Dioceses.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I have to go through Landings® to be accepted back into the
Church?
No. Each person's journey is special and sacred in the eyes of the
Lord. You may decide the sacrament of reconciliation is all you need.
Landings® is available for people considering a return, who would
like some insight into the lives of a few other Catholics, or for
any other reason you may want to come.
- What will it cost me?
The cost of Landings® is your precious time. There
will be no expectation of any financial commitment. Your fellow parishioners
are footing the expense since the parish wants you back. We do ask
you to make a commitment to arrive on time out of respect to all the
participants.
- Will I fit in?
We expect you will find enough diversity in the group to make you
feel comfortable. The parishioners volunteering with this program
include the diversity reflected by the entire parish body. This includes
male and female, young adults through spry seniors, single, married,
divorced, annulled, remarried, widowed. These are not holy-rollers
by any stretch. They are real people struggling with their faith and
their lives like everyone else. They strive to make each person feel
welcome and special.
- I haven't been to church in a while. Will I be judged?
Many of the parishioners who volunteer for this program had been away
from the Church at one point in their lives as well. That's why this
initiative means so much to us. You are exploring a decision that
we respect and applaud. The parishioners can not cure, teach, or "fix"
anything. But we may help facilitate your warm return to the sacramental
life.
- What happens after the eight weeks?
After the returning experience of being wanted and welcomed back to
the table of the Lord, some can and many do, seek out more formal
courses in contemporary spirituality and theology.
- What's the next step?
Let us know you're interested!!! Give us a call at 327-2330 or use
the form below to submit your information and interest in the process.
Upon receipt of your information, Fr. Pat Kibby, our pastor, or our
Director of Adult Formation will contact you. We are
looking forward to you joining with us. Welcome!
Inspiration
Be not afraid
I go before you always
Come, follow me
And I will give you rest.
You are strangers and aliens no longer. No, you are fellow citizens of
the saints and members of the household of God. You form a building that
rises on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, with Christ
Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is fitted
together and takes shape as a holy temple in the Lord; in him you are
being built into this temple, to become a dwelling place for God in the
Spirit.
-Ephesians 2:19-20
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Trial, or distress, or persecution,
or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword? Yet in all of this we
are more than conquerors because of Him who has loved us. For I am certain
that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither
height nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us
from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
-Romans 8:35, 37-39
For the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the
height if his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does
not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord
looks on the heart."
-1 Samuel 16:7
If you are interested and would like more information, please contact us at
615-327-2330 or 615-320-5650.
Or, if you would prefer, please fill out the form below and hit the submit button and someone will be in contact with you soon.
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