Come Home to Communion: One year later

By Megan Marley

You may or may not have seen the magazine articles, fliers, mailers, social media posts, newspaper ads, bulletin notices and billboards last summer inviting all to “Come Home to Communion” as pandemic restrictions began to loosen and Bishop Johnston lifted the general dispensation from Mass.

One year ago, the Office of Communications launched the “Come Home to Communion" campaign to assist diocesan parishes in welcoming and encouraging the faithful to return to the Eucharist, community worship and fellowship and attendance at in-person Mass.

A measurable objective of the campaign was to assist in achieving pre-pandemic Mass attendance by fall 2022. Historically, Mass attendance is tracked via an annual “Spirituality Report” submitted by parishes each September that includes weekend Mass counts over the course of one month. Reports submitted pre-pandemic in fall 2019 show approximately 40,877 Mass-goers. Attendance fell to 17,700 in 2020. The 2021 Spirituality Report indicates an average 31,752 people in attendance at weekend Masses, just three months into the campaign. Data for 2022 will be available this fall.

Converts entering the Church also impact the number of people in the pews. More than 311 entered the Church in 2020, and our diocese welcomed 213 catechumens and candidates in 2021. This year, at least 130 catechumens and 127 candidates entered the Catholic Church in our diocese at the 2022 Easter Vigil.

Enrollment in our diocesan Catholic schools has also rebounded. In the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph there was a 6.2 percent decline in enrollment between the 2019-20 and 2020- 21 school years. This was primarily from parents delaying enrolling their preschool and kindergarten-age children due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Enrollment for the 2021-22 school year rebounded with an increase of 3.4 percent over the previous year —the first school year in a decade in our diocese to have an increase in enrollment.

While there are a number of ways at the diocesan level we can encourage people to “Come Home to Communion,” ultimately the number one way people are invited is through personal connection with YOU, the people in the pews. Consider asking a friend, neighbor or family member to come to Mass or a church event — sometimes, all it takes is an invite and a welcoming smile.

STATS

78 % RECOVERY in Mass attendance (as of October 2021)

83 % RECOVERY in new Catholics entering the Church (as of Easter 2022)

3.4 % INCREASE in diocesan Catholic school enrollment (as of Fall 2021)

WANT TO LEARN MORE? Find “Come Home to Communion” resources on kcsjcatholic.org/comehome

SUPPORT future communication efforts like the Come Home to Communion campaign and Catholic Key magazine. Give to the Catholic Communication Campaign June 18-19 and half of your gift stays in our diocese. Visit usccb.org/ccc for more details.