Ad campaign to call home lapsed Catholics
By Dana Clark Felty
The commercial moves from scenes of a mariachi band and a 19th century hospital to a modern classroom and a wedding.
A soothing male voice speaks over the images.
“We are the largest charitable organization on the planet,” it says. “We educate more children than any other scholarly or religious institution. We developed the scientific method and laws of evidence. We founded the college system.”
“We are Catholic. Welcome home.”
Leaders at the Catholic Diocese of Savannah are hoping the ad campaign speaks to the estimated 10 percent of the population who describe themselves as former Catholics.
The video is one of up to 30 different television commercials set to air on network and cable television throughout the state from Dec. 17 to Jan. 23. Commercials will be broadcast in English and in Spanish.
The 30-second to two-minute advertisements were created by CatholicsComeHome.org , a Roswell-based organization founded by former advertising executive Tom Peterson.
“A bunch of us lay Catholics started this because we’ve had a reversion in our faith and we want to share this joy we have now with our family, friends and neighbors,” Peterson said.
The commercials have aired in 13 dioceses and archdioceses around the country.
Peterson said more than 200,000 former Catholics have “come home,” as well as new converts, because of the ads.
“It has increased Mass attendance by more than 10 percent in dioceses that have partnered with us,” he said.
To measure its impact, diocesan leaders are asking parishes to compare Mass attendances this October to next October’s numbers.
The Catholic Diocese of Savannah and the Archdiocese of Atlanta separately solicited donations to pay for the ads to run at the same time throughout the state.
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Please Keep the Diocese of Savannah, and all of our CCH Diocesan Partners in Your Prayers as they Prepare for these Important Evangelization Initiatives!
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