ABOUT LANDINGS
Landings is a series of relaxed, informal, lay-led meetings, based on faith-sharing within a small group, that offer a safe and supported “landing place” for Catholics who have been away from the Church and are thinking about coming back.
There are many reasons why people stop practising their faith: Some may have had unpleasant or painful experiences in their church community, others feel uncomfortable with certain teachings of the church, others will simply have drifted away, whilst others may have been baptised but never had any experience of church.
Landings is not for everyone and many people looking to reconnect with their faith and the church will do so in other ways. However, many people looking to reconnect welcome the opportunity to reflect on their questions, concerns and experiences with others and to get to know a few other people before venturing into the wider parish community.
Landings offers Catholics wanting to reconnect a supportive community within which they can ask questions, discuss issues, deal with difficulties; an opportunity to be with other, ordinary Catholics who are trying to live their faith; and a safe environment in which to come to terms with recent changes within the Church and themselves.
Landings offers already active Catholics an opportunity to share their faith; to participate in the Church’s mission to welcome those who have been away; and a chance to grow and learn from each others’ spiritual journeys.
Landings offers Catholic parishes and communities a simple process for reaching out and supporting Catholics who have been away from the Church or who struggle in their relationship with God and the Church. Landings is usually parish-based and led by lay people within the parish community.
While Landings is NOT:
* the “saved” welcoming the “sinners
* people pressurising others to return
* full of answers to teach the unenlightened
* blind to the hurt the Church may have caused some
It IS:
People in solidarity with the returning, who in their own lives have “returned”, and continue to do so. Landings is founded on the belief that we do not have to be trained theologians to share what we believe, and to speak honestly about our faith, trusting in the Holy Spirit.
Background to Landings
Landings was founded by the Paulist Fathers in the U.S.A. during the 1980s and continues to be a reconciliation ministry of the Paulists. It has since developed an international presence and, in 2001, Landings was introduced to the UK. It is estimated that over the last 30 years Landings has helped around 100,000 people who have left or drifted away from the Catholic Church and who would like to explore the possibility of rejoining the Catholic community.
HOW LANDINGS WORKS
The Process
A small group made up of a mixture of active and returning Catholics meets weekly for a few weeks, each session lasting 1½ to 2 hours. At each meeting the group follow a simple agenda that focuses on the sharing of each persons’ spiritual journey and discussion on a theme related to Catholic faith. The weekly sessions end with a celebration, determined by the group, for example a retreat, a meal, or a liturgy.
A safe space
Landings is a place of compassionate listening. The group listens respectfully and without judgement to one-another’s faith story and reflections on the theme, viewing each as something uniquely personal and sacred. Participants are invited to be honest and open about struggles with their faith. Participants are asked to share only what they feel comfortable sharing. Listeners are bound by confidentiality to promote sharing. Landings does not attempt to ‘fix’ problems. Those with particular issues are invited to consult with specialised professionals – counsellors, priests, religious – who can help with specific needs.