While You Were Gone: A Handbook for Returning Catholics, and Those Thinking about It

by William J. Bausch and William J. Dausch

Each chapter closes with a brief annotated list of resources for further reading. Ideal for the Rite of Christian Initation for Adults, this book will also serve well for parish evangelization and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0896225755
• ISBN13: 9780896225756
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Twenty-Third Publications
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.4" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Great resource for returning Catholics

As a parish lay minister involved in Adult Faith Formation, I have found this book without equal in "reintroducing" Catholic faith to people who have been away from active practice, or who have never been properly catechized in Catholic teaching. Fr. Bausch writes with honesty, humor and compassion. It is particulaly helpful to Catholics raised in the church before Vatican II, but I have found that younger Catholics also enjoy reading it and benefit from a view of the church that is both accurate and contemporary. This book makes it easier for people to return to an active practice of their faith. I give a copy of this book to anyone who expresses a desire to return to the church, or (as the title says) is thinking about it.

Refreshingly honest and insightful

I was given this book by the Benedictine nun in charge of my parish's religious education program. As a returning Catholic, I found this book to be exhilarating in its honesty about the Church's flawed history and the changes it has undergone in recent years. Like the book says, "Eccesia semper reformanda": The Church is always in need of reform. We must always strive for perfection. This book does a great job of explaining why certain changes have been and are being made. Contrary to popular belief, many changes are being made not for the sake of modernity, but with an eye to recreating the ancient church as it existed during the time of Christ. Other changes reflect new insights that have been introduced as the Church evolves. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is curious about what's going on in the Church these days.

The best book a returning Catholic can read.

The is a fabulous little book for those Catholics who are thinking of returning to worship. It is especially for all of those pre-Vatican II people who want to check out what's happening now in the Church. It's written with love and care and has a wonderful list of resource books at the end of each chapter.

An excellent book for all Catholics.

This book is an excellent review of the history of the Catholic Church, and it explains why some of us feel so out of sync with the present church. It is written in a very inviting manner. I recommend this book for every Catholic, as well as anyone who is considering joining the Church.