How to Get Your Friends and Family to Come to Church

If you’re reading this, you probably have someone on your heart. A friend who used to go to Mass... A sibling who was raised Catholic but drifted... A spouse, a parent, a child - someone you love, but who’s far from the Church. You want to help them return. Not because you’re judging them. But because you know what they’re missing - and how much peace, healing, and joy God wants to give them. So how do you invite someone back without scaring them off?

Let’s walk through it - step by step-with faith, hope, and love. Before you read on, take a moment to watch this short video that perfectly captures the hope of returning to Church: ▶️ Watch and Share This Video

Start With Prayer

The very first—and most powerful - step is prayer. Before you speak to them, speak to God about them. Ask the Holy Spirit to soften their heart, heal old wounds, and open the right moment for a conversation. You may not see results right away, but prayer works on the heart like water on stone - quiet, steady, and powerful.

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him.” - Psalm 145:18

Be a Living Invitation

Let your life be the first homily they hear. Show the peace you’ve found in your faith. Let them see your joy after Mass, your strength in suffering, your calm in a chaotic world. When people see faith alive in you, they’ll be more open to rediscovering it for themselves.

Ask, Don’t Argue

Don’t lead with rules. Lead with relationship. Try gentle, honest questions like:

“Have you ever thought about coming back to church?”
“What’s kept you away?”
“Is there anything you miss about it?”

Then just listen. No lectures. No pressure. Let them know you’re there to walk with them, not push them.

Offer a Simple Invitation

Sometimes all it takes is one loving, no-pressure invite:

“I’m going to Mass this weekend - want to come with me?”
“I saw this video that reminded me of you.” (Watch it here)
“We’re going to a candlelit Adoration service - want to check it out?

The Holy Spirit does the heavy lifting. You just open the door.

Remind Them What They’ve Forgotten

Many people who drift from the Church forget what they once had:

The Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist
The peace of Confession
The community of faith
The beauty of tradition, the wisdom of the saints, and the security of timeless truth

Help them remember - not with pressure, but with quiet witness. And when the time feels right, send them this powerful, hope-filled video that speaks directly to the heart: ▶️ Watch: Come Home

It may stir something you could never say with words.

Be Patient - But Persistent in Love

Conversion takes time. Change takes grace. Don’t expect overnight transformation. Just keep loving. Keep showing up. Keep praying.
Be like the father in the parable of the prodigal son - watching, hoping, waiting with open arms. Because when they finally turn back, you’ll be ready to welcome them home.

Final Word: Love Leads Them Back

You don’t need to be a theologian. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to care. Your gentle witness, steady invitation, and faithful prayer may be the very thing God uses to bring someone back. So don’t lose hope. The Church is not just a building. It’s a family. And every child who’s wandered is still loved, still wanted, and still welcome.

Start today. Pray. Invite. Love. And trust that God is already working on their heart - maybe through you. Share this video with someone today: ▶️ Come Home – Watch Now

It might be the nudge their soul has been waiting for.