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HOW TO BRING IN A LARGE HARVEST

By Edward C. Petty

This Rock Volume 6, Number 2   February  1995     Up Front By Karl Keating   Letters   HOW MY PARISH FOUGHT OFF AN INVASION By EDWARD C. PETTY   Sidebar How To Bring in a Large Harvest   "EVANGELICALS AND CATHOLICS TOGETHER": A YEAR LATER By RAY RYLAND   ATHEISM'S GODS By BOBBY JINDAL   OPEN LETTER TO THE MANLY SEMINARY STAFF By BRIAN W. HARRISON, O.S.   WHO ARE THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES? By CANON FRANCIS J. RIPLEY   Classic Apologetics Evolution, empty tomb, apologetics By Arnold Lunn   Old Testament Guide Judith and Esther By Antonio Fuentes   Fathers Know Best Astrology    Subscribe    Permissions

DO you wish your parish had a way to attract converts and to bring inactive Catholics home? Whether you're a priest or layman, you can energize your parish by using the techniques Fr. Petty used (including a few his 'competition' used!). Here are a few other tips:

1. Organize a group of 20-50 lay people who'll go door-to-door one Saturday morning a month, visiting all the homes within the boundaries of the parish, dropping off a copy of the parish bulletin and a letter from the pastor inviting newcomers to Mass. Also go door to door in pairs, never alone.

2. Provide each family in the parish with a copy of Pillar Fire, Pillar of Truth. The pastor should stress from the pulpit that he hopes each family member will read the booklet carefully and that the booklet will help answer questions from proselytizers.

3. Sponsor regular parish seminars featuring top Catholic speakers. Key the seminars to the liturgical season: Advent and Lent are the best times. Such a program will give your parish a reputation for offering the best adult education, and you'll attract outsiders.

4. Organize a parish-wide Bible Bee for children. Have separate categories for youngsters, young teenagers, and high schoolers. The idea behind this is to encourage children (and their parents) to learn Scripture.

5. Maintain a literature rack in the vestibule of the Church. Make sure you stock only orthodox materials. (Hint: Catholic Answers' tracts are especially designed for this.)