Lay visitation teams have completed the impressive task of calling to over 4,000 homes in Arklow, in an initiative to encourage practising Catholics and to welcome lapsed Catholics back to the Church.
The project in the Co. Wicklow town was organised by the Parish Pastoral Council, with the help of the Legion of Mary in the Dublin archdiocese and neighbouring Ferns diocese, in answer to Pope Francis’ call to reach out to the margins.
“The aim was to support people who were practising and to encourage those who had lapsed for whatever reason, to return to a loving, welcoming and, most importantly, non-judgemental Church,” said Anthony Byrne, Pastoral Council Chairman.
Teams
The project involved teams of two visiting each house in the parish over the course of four days from 8am to 8pm. The teams distributed prayer cards, parish information and issued an invitation for people to become involved in parish life, which has resulted in new members joining the St Vincent de Paul and becoming readers at Mass.
Mr Byrne said it was a “major undertaking” for the parish, but had proved to be a “wonderful experience” for the volunteer teams, who received a mainly positive response.
“There was no confrontation of any kind, and we all felt touched by grace by end of week that we had done something worthwhile,” he said.
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