On Mondays, I answer questions frequently asked by those considering a return to the Catholic Church. How do I know this stuff? I was away for more than 30 years myself, and am the co-author of When They Come Home: Ways to Welcome Returning Catholics, a book for pastors and parish leaders interested in this ministry.
I’m really excited about being back with the Church. Now what do I do?
First, welcome home.
In Matthew 28, after the resurrection, Jesus instructs the eleven to “make disciples of all the nations… 
teaching them to observe that I commanded you.”
How do you do that? An obvious way is to get involved in a parish ministry or community activity that feeds the hungry, comforts the afflicted, or shows mercy in some other way. Try a few and select the one (or ones) that are the best fit.
Read up on our faith. Check out the writings of the Doctors (teachers) of the Church such as Augustine, Jerome, Teresa of Avila and Therese of Lisieux. If you find them daunting, take a look at the resources on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops site or that of the Vatican.
Set aside even five or ten minutes each day to pray, whether you prefer to listen to the Lord or offer up an Our Father or Hail Mary.
Just as important as any of these thoughts–and even more difficult for some of us–attempt to live as Jesus calls us to do in Matthew 22: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
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