Aug 25

New Orleans archbishop launches video blog to reach Louisiana Catholics

New Orleans, La., Aug 25, 2010 / 01:07 am (CNA).- Archbishop of New Orleans Gregory Aymond has launched a video blog to deliver weekly messages to area Catholics. His first message reflects on his hopes for the future and what he has learned in his first year an archbishop. His next video will mark the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

“On most days it’s hard to believe it’s been a year already,” Archbishop Aymond says in his first video. He added that it was his “humble privilege” to serve as archbishop, especially since he is the first native son of New Orleans to hold the office in over 200 years.

He also admitted that he has not been to all the parishes of the archdiocese as he had hoped he would, but he intends to fulfill the promise he made.

Speaking of the state of the archdiocese, he said “the Catholic Church is alive and well” and continues to be a “strong, strong presence” in New Orleans and beyond.

The archbishop has said he has been “overwhelmed” by the fraternity of the priests and by the “wonderful welcome” he has received from the priests, religious and laity.

Turning to the challenges facing the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Archbishop Aymond cited rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina, responding to the effects of the Gulf oil spill, and addressing those hurt by the archdiocese’s pastoral plan to reorganize its churches.

Discussing his goals for the future, the archbishop said he would like to “tweak” the pastoral governance structure better to serve parishes and Catholic institutions and would like to build on the “wonderful relationships” he has formed.

He added that he would like the archdiocese to have a local synod.

The archbishop also advocated continued outreach to those who are away from the Church, noting the “Catholics Come Home” campaign planned for Lent 2011.
click here to read entire CNA Article

Visit CatholicsComeHome.org each day to grow in your faith and love of Christ’s Catholic Church.
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Aug 12
Catholics Come Home
CHICAGO ARCHDIOCESE TO DEBUT NEW CATHOLICS COME HOME NATIONAL TV COMMERCIALS

SECOND COMMERCIAL FEATURES EDUARDO VERASTEGUI, HISPANIC MOVIE STAR

(August 12, 2010) Roswell, GA—Catholics Come Home will premier their new TV commercial “Home” as part of the upcoming Chicagoland Advent 2010 television campaign.

The Archdiocese of Chicago announced today that the evangelization initiative, Catholics Come Home, will return in December for a second time on local television stations and in parishes throughout Cook and Lake counties. After a very positive response to last year’s outreach efforts, new commercials, combined with the interactive website, www.CatholicsComeHome.org, will bring the welcome message to all people, especially Catholics who have drifted from the practice of their faith. The Dioceses of Joliet and Rockford are again participating with the Archdiocese of Chicago in this follow-up to the Catholics Come Home evangelization initiative.

“Home” will air in English, Spanish, Polish and closed captioned for the hearing impaired.

Also debuting is a new commercial featuring Eduardo Verástegui, actor, producer, and star of the movie Bella.  In this testimonial commercial, Eduardo shares his personal testimony of his journey home to his Catholic roots after years outside the Church pursuing fame and material success.  This commercial will premier on Spanish language television in December, in Chicago, Joliet, and Rockford.

Catholics Come Home (CCH) is an independent, not for profit organization that invites inactive Catholics and others searching for a faith home to the Catholic Church.  CCH utilizes television commercials and interactive websites.  In response to twelve initial CCH campaigns and viral exposure of the website, the CatholicsComeHome.org website has been visited by over 1 million individuals from all fifty states and over one hundred countries, who were moved by the welcoming messages and website. Overall, the CCH TV messages have reached nearly 20 million television viewers across the United States, just since 2008.

To date, CCH campaigns have aired in twelve dioceses from Providence to Sacramento, Chicago to Seattle, helping to increase Mass attendance an average of nearly 11%, and welcoming a total of 200,000 inactive Catholics and converts home since inception.

Now, Catholics Come Home is inviting other families back to the Catholic faith across the country in 15 additional dioceses, including Boston, Atlanta, and many other dioceses and archdioceses.

By December 2011, CatholicsComeHome.org plans to begin airing on national US television networks and national cable systems, then internationally in the future.

The inspiring television and website advertisements are viewable at www.CatholicsComeHome.org.  “These messages are created and sponsored by lay Catholic families who have experienced a renewal of faith and who want to bring purpose and hope to other families across the country.  The results are nothing short of miraculous,” said Founder, Tom Peterson.

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CatholicsComeHome.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media apostolate, dedicated to producing and airing Catholic evangelism television ads on local, national and international television networks.  EncouragePriests.org™ is a special communications outreach project of Catholics Come Home, Inc.

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Aug 09

CatholicsComeHome.org Was Recently Featured in Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Guide to the Internet — As One of the Readers’ Choice in the category of  “Community-Building!”

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Compiled by OSV staff

OSV’s Catholic Guide to the Internet — Readers’ choice edition

You picked em! The very best of the Catholic Web in four categories.

Download a PDF of the Internet Guide here»

The number of Catholic-oriented websites has exploded, and keeping track of the ones that are truly useful gets harder as they proliferate.

Some sites are obvious keepers, like the sites of the Vatican or bishops’ conferences. And most Catholic Internet surfers are aware of some of the larger sites.

But what about those hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered by a broader audience?

We asked you for your favorites in four main categories: spirituality, news and resources, opinion, and community building.

May your surfing deepen your faith!
click here to read entire article

Thanks to all who voted for CatholicsComeHome.org, we are honored to be included as an ‘OSV readers’ choice’!

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Aug 05

Daily Chronicle Online

Local priests optimistic that Catholics still returning home

By ELENA GRIMM

Six months after the Rockford Diocese launched TV commercials inviting fallen-away Catholics to return to the church, the Rev. Tim Seigel is still getting calls from people who want to come back, a ripple effect that he believes started with the television advertising.

The commercials, which ran in December and January, were followed by programs led by laypeople and priests at each parish, inviting people interested in regaining their Catholic faith to meet once a week throughout the Lenten season.

Whatever evidence is considered – like an increase in Mass attendance throughout the diocese or anecdotal evidence, like the phone calls Seigel is still receiving – the diocese and local priests know that change is happening.

“There is something happening here and it’s a very exciting time,” said Seigel, pastor of St. Catherine of Genoa Church in Genoa.
read entire article

Visit CatholicsComeHome.org to learn ways you can help spread the word about this evangelization initiative through your parish!

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Aug 04
Catholics Come Home
CATHOLICS COME HOME DEBUTS NEW NATIONAL TV COMMERCIALS FOR “TOUGH TIMES”
SECOND COMMERCIAL FEATURES EDUARDO VERASTEGUI, HISPANIC MOVIE STAR

(August 4, 2010) Roswell, GA—Catholics Come Home will premier their new TV commercial “Home” as part of the upcoming Advent 2010 television initiative.  The commercial, which invites all people “to experience the peace that only comes from God,” gives viewers hope especially during these tough times.  The commercial premieres just as Pope Benedict XVI offers his August mission prayer intention, “That the Church may be a ‘home’ for all people.”

“Home” will air beginning in December in select markets across the United States in English, Spanish and closed captioned for the hearing impaired.

Also debuting is a new commercial for CatolicosRegresen.org, the Spanish language website of CatholicsComeHome.org.  This testimonial commercial features Eduardo Verástegui, actor, producer, and star of the movie Bella.  Eduardo shares his personal testimony of his journey back to his Catholic roots after years outside the Church pursuing fame and material success.  “There is nothing greater than to wake up every day and to use your talents that God gave you to serve Him and to serve others,” Eduardo stated during the Hollywood shoot.  These commercials will premier on Spanish language television in December, in a number of markets across the U.S..

Tom Peterson, President and Founder of Catholics Come Home, met with Eduardo in Los Angeles to produce the commercials and website videos for both CatholicsComeHome.org and the outreach ministry EncouragePriests.org.  Spirit Juice Studios of Chicago, following the Peterson/Verástegui story, produced a behind the scenes video of the two commercial shoots.

Catholics Come Home (CCH) is a not for profit, independent charity designed to invite inactive Catholics and others searching for a faith home to the Catholic Church, through television commercials and interactive websites.  In response to twelve initial CCH campaigns and viral exposure of the website, the CatholicsComeHome.org website has been visited by over 1 million individuals from all fifty states and over one hundred countries, who were moved by the welcoming messages and website. Overall, the CCH TV messages have reached nearly 20 million television viewers across the United States, just since 2008.

To date, CCH campaigns have aired in twelve dioceses from Providence to Sacramento, Chicago to Seattle, helping to increase Mass attendance an average of nearly 11%, and welcoming a total of 200,000 inactive Catholics and converts home since inception.

Now, Catholics Come Home is inviting other families back to the Catholic faith across the country in 13 additional dioceses, including Boston, Worcester, Portland Maine, Atlanta, Charlotte, and many other dioceses and archdioceses.

By 2012, CatholicsComeHome.org hopes to begin airing on national US television networks and national cable systems, then internationally in the future.

The inspiring television and website advertisements are viewable at www.CatholicsComeHome.org.  “These messages are created and sponsored by lay Catholic families who have experienced a renewal of faith and who want to bring purpose and hope to other families across the country.  The results are nothing short of miraculous,” said Founder, Tom Peterson.

###

CatholicsComeHome.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media apostolate, dedicated to producing and airing Catholic evangelism television ads on local, national and international television networks.  EncouragePriests.org™ is a special communications outreach project of Catholics Come Home, Inc.

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Jul 29

The Irish Emigrant News Publication for the Global Irish Community features CatholicsComeHome.org:

The Irish Emigrant

The Irish Emigrant – Articles

Archdiocese of Boston wants Catholics to “come home”

CatholicsComeHome.org urges lapsed Catholics to return to the faith

CatholicsComeHome.org urges lapsed Catholics to return to the faith

The Archdiocese of Boston is set to launch a major public relations offensive in the coming year in a bid to bring lapsed Catholics back to church. The campaign will see television adverts run in conjunction with a range of parish events in order to entice those who have left the church to return to the faith. The Archdiocese will join forces with Catholics Come Home, an independent, non-profit Catholic apostolate which will create a Lenten (March 9-April 24, 2011) television advertising initiative for Boston media markets. The commercials will direct the viewer to the CatholicsComeHome.org website to explore answers to questions of faith and to utilize the site’s ‘parish-finder’ feature to locate their local parish community.

According to Catholic News Service, a recent campaign in Phoenix, Arizona helped 92,000 inactive Catholics return to the active practice of their faith. The Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas experienced a comparable percentage increase following a bilingual campaign in 2009. Similar campaigns have aired in ten additional dioceses such as Providence, Rhode Island, helping to increase Mass attendance by an average of nearly 12%. The next phase of the initiative will target 12 additional dioceses, including Boston, Worcester and Portland, Maine.
click here to read the entire article

Visit CatholicsComeHome.org each day to grow in your faith!

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Jul 28
Catholics Come Home

CARDINAL SEAN’S “CATHOLICS COME HOME” INITIATIVE IN BOSTON
YIELDS FRONT PAGE HEADLINE, PLUS PRIME TIME TV & RADIO COVERAGE

ATLANTA, Ga. (JuLY 28, 2010)—Following the CatholicsComeHome.org collaboration announcement by Seán Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, the secular press embraced the news with:

  • Front page, main headline in The Boston Globe (July 21, 2010), “A Call to Catholics to ‘Come Home’ Again
  • Nearly 12 minutes of Prime Time coverage (July 22, 2010 ) on Boston’s highly rated WGBH TV Program Greater Boston with Emily Rooney
  • Talk Radio coverage (July 22, 2010) on NPR’s WBUR

CatholicsComeHome.org initiatives in 12 U.S. dioceses have helped nearly 200,000 inactive Catholics return to the Church, increasing Mass attendance an average of 12%.

More details on the collaborative launch in Boston, as well as CatholicsComeHome.org can be found in the current News Release.

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CatholicsComeHome.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media apostolate, dedicated to producing and airing Catholic evangelism television ads on local, national and international television networks.

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Jul 27
Catholics Come Home

CatholicsComeHome.org is thrilled to announce the Archdiocese of Boston as a Lent 2011 partner, one of 12 new Catholics Come Home diocesan partners!  The CCH ads will bring a message of healing and an invitation to those away from the practice of faith to return ‘home’ to Christ’s Catholic Church in one of the oldest Catholic cities in America.

The Boston media has already been spreading the news about CCH:

-The front page of The Boston Globe proclaimed “A call to Catholics to ‘come home’ again.”

-CCH was the topic of nearly 12 minutes of prime time coverage and dialogue on how critical it is to have a personal relationship with Jesus in His sacramental Church, on both secular radio and TV.


Tune-in to EWTN featuring Catholics Come Home TODAY!

CCH will be featured on EWTN “The Choices We Face” hosted by Ralph Martin on:

TODAY! Tuesday, July 27, 6:00pm EST
Friday July 30, 6:30am EST, encore


2010 Top Blog Award Winner!

Catholics Come Home, was recently recognized with the ‘2010 Top 40 Catholicism Blogs award’!  Winners were chosen through a scoring system led by internet nominations, which came from our reader base – thank you for your vote, we’re so glad that the CCH blog inspires your daily life.  Share our CCH Blog, and CCH News Blog with your friends and family to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings with CCH.


Thanks to God’s amazing grace, the Catholics Come Home TV commercials and website are helping hundreds of thousands thousands on their journey home to the Catholic Church.

Will you help someone by sharing one of the CCH TV commercials or website with a friend or two today? It’s as easy as including a link in an email to a relative, friend, coworker, or neighbor away from the faith, and saying something like, “I recently came across this TV commercial/website. Let me know what you think about it…”

Thank you for your participation in the evangelization mission of the Church. With your donation of $500, $100, $25 or any amount, you can help air more commercials that could bring someone home to the Catholic Faith, the Sacraments, and the Church started by Jesus 2000 years ago!


Sincerely,

Tom Peterson and your CatholicsComeHome.org team

CatholicsComeHome.org
is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media apostolate, dedicated to producing and airing Catholic evangelism television ads on local, national and international television networks.
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Jul 21

The Archdiocese of Boston will be partnering with CatholicsComeHome.org to air a partner initiative this Lent 2011.  Today’s front page story from The Boston Globe features this partnership, see excerpt below:

A call to Catholics to ‘come home’ again

Boston Archdiocese aims ad campaign at inactive parishioners

By Lisa Wangsness and Marissa Lang Globe Staff | Globe Correspondent / July 21, 2010

The Archdiocese of Boston, in an effort to bring lapsed Catholics back to church, is planning a major public relations campaign in the coming year that will use television ads, parish events, and personal invitations to urge inactive Catholics to “come home’’ to their faith.

The campaign is planned as the Catholic Church faces huge challenges.  Nationally, 10 percent of all American adults are former Catholics, according to a recent study. In the Boston Archdiocese, weekly Mass attendance has plunged from 376,383 in 2000 to 286,951 last year, according to the church’s own annual count.

“Each time we go to Mass. . . . the pews seem emptier and emptier,’’ said Janet Benestad, secretary for faith formation and evangelization at the archdiocese. The goal of the campaign, she said, “is to say to folks, ‘We are diminished by your absence . . . and we want to issue a genuine invitation to return to the practice of the faith.’ ’’

Visit CatholicsComeHome.org each day to grow in your faith.  Also, please pray for all who will be reached this Advent 2010 and Lent 2011 through the many CCH diocesan partner initiatives that will be airing!


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Jul 20

We received the inspiring message below from Sharon in California, who is actively involved as a volunteer in the returning Catholics programs at her parish:

Having been involved with “Remembering Church”, “Catholics Returning Home”, and now “Catholics Come Home” since I returned in 1996, I dearly love all the people in all the classes we’ve had. We hear so many stories….some are similar, and others one of a kind, but all missing the Heart of the church, Our Lord Jesus Christ. So many tell of trying other churches, and always feeling something is missing. The Holy Eucharist, holy water, incense, prayers that never change etc. This is a ministry that calls to you and you never want to leave it. Sometimes when I have a couple of extra Catholic Come Home cards with me, I will leave one in an obvious place and hope the Holy Spirit leads someone to it. Thanks for all the updates.   In Christ, Sharon,  CA

Get involved in your parish, and give away the ‘gifts’ God has given you!
Visit CatholicsComeHome.org each day to grow in your faith…

and always remember to “keep the faith…but NOT to yourself!” :)

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