A roof for the soul

"The growing number of adults who ask to be baptized and the ensuing need to guide them in their progress towards Christian faith and the Catholic Church fifteen years ago have led German dioceses to set up pastoral centres, called "Catholic religious Guidance" or "Information on Catholic religion". The centres have brought together the traditional ‘pastoral care for the converted’ and the ‘elements for return to the Church’. Thus Jesuit Fr Hans-Theodor Mehring introduces, on "Civiltà Cattolica" (n. 3901, January 5 2013) the statement titled "Adult baptism and return to the Church. A German experience". The author writes: "Conditions and experiences are undoubtedly different in each region, but what has been observed in twenty years of activity in this field in Hamburg, Stuttgart and Aachen sheds light on certain aspects for future pastoral care". Said Fr. Mehring: Hamburg, where I have worked from 1993 to 1998, was considered "the most secularized city in Western Germany". Stuttgart, where Fr Mehring carried out his priestly service from 1998 to 1998, has a Protestant majority population, while Catholics are a minority group. In Aachen (where he provided pastoral care from 2003 to 2012) most believers are Catholic. In these very different environments the Jesuit priest devoted his services to all those (adults aged 25-75) who felt the need to draw near the Catholic Church. The essay on "La Civilta’ Cattolica" of January 5 2013, describes such pastoral activity which German dioceses have titled "Catholic Religious Guidance" or "Information on Catholic religion". Feeling at home and feeling sheltered. The author explained that the motivations underlying the return back into fold, that he accompanied with ‘modest success’ (some 20% of all those who drew near the Church gave up after a few meetings, he admits) are many and diverse. Many young adults choose to return to the Catholic Church after having been away in their early adulthood or in their first years marked by job and family commitments. Another reason is the experience of fathering a child, marking the onset of Catholic education. Some recognize Catholic religious services as "more human", and not "excessively intellectual and sophisticated" as those of other confessions. There are those who seek "a more univocal and clear doctrine", which in fact they find in the Church. A relevant number of faithful that have returned to the Church view it as "a path rich in hope", others because it encompasses "social involvement" or participation within parish and charity services. Apart from the variety of motivations, Fr. Mehring says that those receiving spiritual guidance in their return to the Church "are happy and content even for the fact that they have found in Christianity or in the Church ‘a safe roof for their soul’, where they feel sheltered and at home"."Dialogue sessions", methods and contents. The religious provides a second reading of the experience of religious guidance, delving into "methods and contents" of the colloquium, representing the preliminary phase of the path of return to the Church, highlighting the motivations and the profound needs of the person. Having explained that the environment of this singular pastoral "commitment" has deliberately been held in nondescript buildings, bearing no ecclesial reference so as to make the interlocutors – generally seeking discretion and peacefulness – feel at ease, the Jesuit father said that dialogue sessions usually take place every 14 days, "which has proved to be the right pace, which suits the purpose". The interview is a means enabling to address "emotional", "spiritual", "social" and cultural aspects, underlying the quest for a return to the Church. The timeframe of this "commitment" can vary, from a few months to over a year. It’s fundamental – writes Fr. Mehring – "that the person at last finds inner peace". A basic handbook is suggested ("Lessons on faith") as well as the "Catholic Catechism of adults", edited by the German Bishops’ Conference. Obviously the Bible, "which is at the roots of faith, plays a fundamental role". The "Religious guidelines", the author concludes, "provide a useful foundation to initiate the path leading to Christian faith and to the Catholic Church". The contents of the spiritual journey are "intellectual honesty, determination and confidence, joy and serious commitment". Having made the first step, once the decision is taken, "further meetings, days of reflection and spiritual exercises ensue".