That's where the real story is told...

...in the lives of people returning to the Church. These are the ones who show up for Christmas and Easter, for weddings and funerals, and one day are prompted to respond to an invitation like the one outside Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Marin County, California: "Inactive Catholics, Call Home." 

Landings reaches out to inactive Catholics and empowers laity to welcome them home. "In parishes, groups of active Catholics join together with those who are returning. Over the course of 8-10 weeks, group members listen to one another tell their faith stories."

"The key to Landings is compassionate listening," Father Moran says. And more than just words, Landings offers the example of lived faith. The welcoming Catholics are there in the pews on Sunday, keeping company with those returning.

"It's a simple, gentle process," Joan Horn says. It proves as valuable for the welcoming Catholics as for those returning. Pat Buckley, a Landings trainer in Seattle, says,"Parishioners look at it as one of the best things they ever did. One man called Landings the 'best foot-washing experience' of his life." Pauline Gilbertson, Landings coordinator in England, reports, "One active Catholic said of her Landings group, 'The community feeling amongst us is fantastic. For the first time, I feel truly part of the Body of Christ.'"  Horn says, "I am surprised over and over again at how much people love their faith and want to talk about it."