During his first year in The Diocese of Green Bay, Bishop David Ricken said in his visits to parishes and schools and talks with parish members and leaders, he consistently heard of their desire to reach out to our inactive brothers and sisters, to our fellow Catholics, both young and old, who are no longer regularly participating in our Eucharistic assembly. Because we are all members of the one body of Christ, we can't help but notice the absence of our fellow Catholics
and feel the pain of being separated from them.

For these reasons, last August, Bishop Ricken said he is delighted that the Diocese of Green Bay would air Catholics Come Home television commercials during Lent inviting people back to our Catholic faith. The three television commercials, which were created in the Diocese of Phoenix, invite people back to the Church. Six months after the commercials ran in Phoenix there was a 12% increase in regular Mass attendance.

"If we conservatively estimate that five percent of inactive Catholics in Northeastern Wisconsin might return to their faith, after viewing these commercials and being welcomed by our parishes, we may soon find an additional 12,500 people worshiping with us," Bishop Ricken said.

deepen the faith of our active, faithful parishioners and staff members.

"There is no better time than now to share our faith," Bishop Ricken said. "As Pope Benedict XVI expressed in his second encyclical, 'To come to know God -- the true God -- means to receive hope. We who have always lived with the Christian concept of God have almost ceased to notice that we possess the hope that ensues from a real encounter with this God.' We who have been blessed by a life transforming encounter with the living person of Jesus Christ are also charged with sharing what we’ve gained, this Good News, with others. I hope you share my enthusiasm over this new and exciting way to do just that."