I think praying is the best thing you can do. I would also say, make sure you talk about RCIA in the announcements after Mass leading up to the beginning of RCIA this fall, and make sure you extend the invitation to anyone who would like to learn more about the faith or about joining the Church. Put an advertisement for it in the bulletin. I’d be wary about approaching people individually because you don’t want to cause offense, but it depends on how well you know them.
RCIA at my parish is very well-run by a whole team of people who take turns teaching the classes, and we have several returning members who come every year to learn more and to help the new inquirers.
But we unfortunately don’t have any other Bible studies or Faith Formation classes for adults right now, so the RCIA is the only chance for some to keep learning.
I’m sure many people don’t join the Church because of a problem with certain beliefs of the Church, or irregular marriages, or not wishing to abide by the moral requirements. Perhaps they belong to a different religious denomination and don’t wish to convert but go to Mass to support their spouse. Perhaps they had an abortion in their past and feel shame from that. Perhaps they were denied an annulment…the reasons could be endless.
I know some people personally who left the Church because of the terribly harsh way they were treated by nuns or priests or other religious persons. One woman in my RCIA class this year was raised without religion because of what a nun said to her mother, so her mother left the Church and still won’t return.
Even Mother Angelica’s mother was treated harshly and left for a long time. Such a sad, sad testimony and a reminder of how careful we should be in the way we treat others.
