“Seekers can begin to find in the Church fulfillment of their heart's
desires. They are invited to undertake a spiritual journey that is
focused on Jesus Christ and his Kingdom of salvation, love, justice
and mercy.... This is the Church's invitation to seekers who want to
discover a satisfying answer to their spiritual hungers. Her invitation
is rich: to seekers, old and new, and to those who might label them-
elves as alienated or indifferent, the Church offers Jesus Christ and
his love, the fulfillment of hope.”
--U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
(2007) pp.6-7.
By definition, a seeker is one who searches. In a spiritual context, a seeker is someone who searches for a deeper, more meaningful spiritual life or for a more comfortable, nurturing spiritual home. Often spiritual seekers are also searching for a resolution to some conflict or tension between themselves and a particular church or religious community.
The term “Catholic Seeker” is commonly used to describe individuals baptized into the Catholic community who no longer feel spiritually at home there. Catholic seekers may include active, inactive, alienated, discouraged and former Catholics who are disillusioned, confused or troubled about their relationship with the Catholic Church.
There are a wide variety of circumstances and reasons why some Catholics become spiritual seekers. Almost always, a Seeker’s relationship with the Church is complicated by the fact that we are all human beings and the Church is both a supernatural and a human community.
Human persons grow and change -- or fail to grow and change -- as the world around them changes. We are all spiritual pilgrims, and the church is a pilgrim church. For that reason, nothing is complete, finished or perfect here. We are always “on the way,” and everyone travels at a different pace. This creates the possibility for tension, and sometimes conflict, between the faith community and individual members.
That tension may express itself in a variety of ways. For example,
• Some Seekers feel a conflict between their faith and the institutional church.
• Others are troubled by some aspect of Church teaching or Catholic practice.
• Some are happy being Catholic but do not feel at home in their local parish.
• Others are frustrated because the faith they learned as children is no longer adequate for adults.
• Some Seekers are discouraged or disappointed by change, or the lack of change, in the Church.
• Other feel that some of their personal or spiritual needs are better fulfilled in another church or tradition.
• Some Seekers have been abused or offended by a representative of the church or are scandalized by the behavior of some Church members.
• Others have gradually drifted away from the Church and now feel estranged or unwelcome.
• A number of Seekers have rejected their association with the church but are still troubled by some experiences, issues or questions which were left unresolved.
What every Seeker shares is a sense that something important is missing, unfinished or unsatisfied in their life. All Seekers hunger for something which will fill the emptiness. Some Seekers may feel that they are re-living their teenage years. In the process of becoming a mature, responsible, and faithful adult, the Seeker may have to re-appropriate what they have been taught to believe, and renegotiate their relationship to religious authority. It is an exciting, but also challenging, and sometimes scary, experience.
If you or someone you know is a Catholic Seeker, here are some things you can do:
• Continue to pray for the spiritual gifts of patience, wisdom and discernment.
• Find a Catholic faith community where you can worship regularly, even if you attend services in another
church.
• Investigate new forms of personal and communal prayer such as Taize Prayer, Centering Prayer, or Lectio
divina.
• Identify friends or colleagues with whom you can share your personal faith journey confidently and
honestly.
• Join a faith-sharing group where you can discuss matters of faith with other Catholic Seekers.
• Avoid people or circumstances where talk about church is too polarized or bitter.
• Seek a spiritual director or guide with whom you can meet regularly.
• Ask a trusted friend or spiritual guide to suggest good books by traditional or contemporary spiritual
writers.
• Read more about the history of the church to appreciate how it has changed over the years.
• Study the documents of the Second Vatican Council. (An accessible resource is Bill Huebsch’s Vatican II
in Plain English.)
• Meditate on the lives of the saints, old and new, who were the pilgrims, prophets and pioneers of their
day.
• Participate in retreat and renewal opportunities offered by local parishes or nearby retreat centers.
• Live your faith by getting actively involved in community service and social justice activities.
• Become a lay associate of a religious community of men or women.
• Learn and practice strategies for healthy living recommended for co-dependents by 12-Step programs.
The Catholic parishes in Waterloo are eager to encourage and support our sisters and brothers who do not feel at home in the Catholic faith community.
If you or someone you know is a Catholic Seeker, we welcome the opportunity to discuss your concerns and questions in a safe, understanding and nonjudgmental environment, even if you do not anticipate resuming participation in the Catholic faith community.
The Catholic parishes in Waterloo provide the following opportunities which may be helpful to Catholic seekers:
Listening Sessions
These open-forum opportunities for Catholic Seekers and inactive Catholics held periodically throughout the year in a non-church location.
Click here for a current schedule of Listening Sessions
A Seekers’ Faith-Sharing Group
This faith-sharing group meets monthly to discuss the spiritual needs of Catholic Seekers, inactive and alienated Catholics who are troubled by their past or current relationship to the Catholic Church.
Click here for more information about the Seeker's Group
Companions on the Journey
These small faith-sharing groups meet monthly and provide an opportunity for spiritual discernment under the direction of a professional spiritual director.
Click here for more information about Companions
Continuing Adult Formation, Education and Spiritual Growth Opportunities for Adults
The parishes sponsor a variety of continuing formation, education and spiritual growth opportunities throughout the year. We suggest that individuals who have been away from the Church for some time may want to consider participating in a program like Catholic 101 or The Rite of Reception for Adults.
Click here for a Directory of Adult Formation Opportunities
Click here for Highlights of Adult Formation Opportunities this month
A Private Appointment
We would be happy to arrange a private, confidential appointment with a pastor or a pastoral staff member at any time.
• • •
More Information for Catholic Seekers
• Challenges Facing Catholic Seekers
• What You Should Know About Being Catholic
• How to Assess Your Relationship to the Catholic Church
• Good Reasons for Being More Active
• Prayers for Catholic Seekers
• Common Misconceptions About the Catholic Church
• Top Ten Reasons to Be Catholic
• Being Spiritual but not Religious
• Being Spiritual but Not Religious
• Information About Lay Associates
More Resources for Inactive Catholics and Catholic Seekers
• Bibliography
• Links
Last Update: 06.14.19