ome of us left the Church many years ago.  Some of us would be most familiar with Mass in Latin, with all the smells and sounds that went along with it.  It can be confusing to experiences the changes.  On the other hand, we can enjoy being able to understand every word.  We can appreciate how it is possible to become more involved in parish life.  Still, the Church can seem different.

It's good to know that you are not alone.  Some who return miss the older ways very much.  Sometimes they even blame the difficulties in the world on those who remained part of the Church while they took some time off.  It is not likely that we will be able to recapture those old times.  It seems that we remember the good things more strongly than the difficult ones anyway, doesn't it?  So we have an opportunity to become part of a Church that has continued to grow during the time of our absence.  We can try to understand the changes that have taken place.  We can enjoy the opportunity to learn a little and pray a lot.

According to Karen, one of our members, many who return to the practice of their Catholic Faith believe they're the only one who feels the way they do.  It is quite helpful for them to meet others who have been through the same process.  It is common too, to seek good reading material.  A member speaks about one person who stayed up all night reading a book about returning to the Church that they felt was written just for them.  You're not alone, that's for sure!

Here are some resources for those returning to the practice of their Faith.  I haven't reviewed them all, but they have been recommended by other readers of this page.  These folks have returned to the practice of the Catholic Faith themselves, or they work with those who are in that process.

So ... here are some books recommended by the visitors to this Web Site:

"While you were gone."  by William Bausch

"The Privilege of Being Catholic" and "We Believe" by Fr. Oscar Lukefahr

"The Complete Idiot's Guide To Understanding Catholicism" by Bob O'Gorman et. al.

"Surprised by Truth: 11 Converts Give the Biblical and Historical 
Reasons for Becoming Catholic" by Patrick Madrid

o matter what happened when you were gone, the Church is sure to be an even nicer place because you're back.  Trust in the wisdom of many and accept the helping hands that will be offered.  Ask for a copy of the "Missalette" used in your Church or get a booklet that has the words to the Mass in it.  Most of us learned those prayers gradually, as we grew up.  So don't become impatient.  You'll learn the lay of the land a day at a time.  All the best!