‘Come Home for Christmas' is an initiative of the Catholic Church which aims to offer a seasonal welcome to Catholics who, for different reasons, no longer or rarely attend Mass. Resourced by the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation (CASE), it provides outreach posters and invitation cards for Catholic parishes. There is also a bespoke website for those wanting to explore reconnecting with parish life. For those wishing to do so, please visit the Come Home for Christmas website. Whatever your story or journey, the door is open to you.

The Bishop responsible for the work of Evangelisation in England and Wales is inviting Catholic mothers, especially, to pray for those who are distant from parish life. Bishop Kieran Conry said: "St Monica is the Patron Saint of Resting Catholics - she was a faithful wife and mother who prayed for years for her son to embrace the Christian faith. God answered her pleas and St Augustine became a great role model for generations of Christians throughout the ages." 

"Monica reminds each one of us of the importance and power of Christian prayer, but also of the necessity to be patient. She teaches us that no matter how long it takes we are to be positively engaged - through prayer, love and invitation - in supporting those who are 'resting' Catholics to reconnect with their local Christian community. Motivated by and offering love, I encourage Mothers in particular, but all of us, [to] participate, in nine days of prayer from 12- 20 December. By the grace of God, let's pray that thousands experience a deep encounter with the living God and that the invitations we issue to 'come home' are warmly received."

St Monica lived in the fourth century in North Africa as a wife and mother of three children. She is revered by mothers because of her tireless prayers for the conversion of her son, Augustine of Hippo who, in his teens, lived a life far from Jesus' teaching. For 12 years Monica stormed heaven with her prayers and tears, begging God to bring her son back to the Catholic Faith. Eventually Monica's prayers were answered.

Whilst in Milan, Augustine came under the influence of the bishop, St Ambrose. Augustine turned away from his old life and embraced Christianity, later becoming a bishop; he was declared a saint and Doctor of the Church serving as an inspiration to those who desire to turnaround their lives in a radical way. One of his most famous writing is his Confessions in which he wrote: "Our hearts are restless till they find rest in You." (Book 1:1)

For more information about the novena and outreach materials for parishes please see: www.caseresources.org.uk