Returning Catholics FAQs: Churchspeak

On Mondays, I answer questions frequently asked by those considering a return to the Catholic Church. How do I know this stuff? I was away for more than 30 years myself, and am the co-author of When They Come Home: Ways to Welcome Returning Catholics , a book for pastors and parish leaders interested in this ministry.

I’ve gone to Mass a couple times, and I’m thinking about coming back, but it’s like people are speaking a different language. What’s ministry? What’s an ambo? What’s a charism? Wha...