WHAT IS RECON?

The idea for RECON came to me while listening to a convert, who called The Doctor Is In radio program in May, 2006. He was experiencing less than enthusiastic responses from some people he hoped to persuade to accept his entering the Catholic Church, and asked Dr. Ray’s advice. I certainly could relate to his new-found zeal! He’d been an atheist and was received into the Church Easter Sunday, 2006. He was finding that expressing his obvious happiness to a few people, particularly some in his family, more difficult than he'd anticipated. Dr. Ray told him might have to temper his zeal with some people, as not everyone welcomed his enthusiasm about his return to the Catholic Church. I could surely relate to his exuberance.

I wish I'd have had heard that sage advice early in 2005 when I sent some zealously written e-mails. In my eagerness to share my new-found love for Our Mother Mary, the Saints and the Rosary I seemed to have confused some and perhaps ruffled the feathers of other long time friends, quite inadvertently. This is not to say that RECON is anti-protestant, it's not. I love my family and my Methodist upbringing.  I love all my Evangelical friends, but I was hungry for far more than what I was receiving, and Rich was longing to return to the Faith of his youth, so, having been Catholic but gone from the Church for 26 years, I can surely concur with 'Jerry' the caller from Minnesota.

I was so full of joy to have found the Fullness of Truth I'd been searching for during my entire Christian walk, of 30+ years, yet my enthusiasm sadly, seemed to fall on "deaf ears".. Friends whom I'd shared and discussed spiritual matters with in depth on my Christian journey up to that point were now not quite as "comfortable" talking about religion or spiritual things.While the caller and Dr. Ray were talking, I thought: "Wouldn't it be great if reverts and converts had a place to gather that was safe, supportive and where that exuberance we all share wouldn't have to be tempered?" I prayed for God to make it clear to me what that could mean. 

The word 'reconnaissance' kept coming to mind throughout the day and seemed apropos since many of us coming into the Catholic Church find such a vast new territory and such a different place from where we'd been worshiping or perhaps not worshiping. Talking about it with some friends at KVSS, Spirit Catholic Radio, we decided that it was too long a word and probably difficult to spell for some as well.  So we shortened it to RECON, combining both revert/convert and it "worked".  Many converting or reverting to the Catholic Church may find themselves losing some friends and even family members, so it can be a lonely, painful time. It certainly will lead many of us out of our former comfort zone, and cause us to call on and trust in the magnanimous mercy of God like never before.

God will always see us through as we depend on Him and when we cling to Him alone. We were blessed so greatly by getting involved at KVSS and the Holy Family Shrine.  During this lonely transition, however, finding others with the same affection and zeal and similar stories can surely be a comfort.  Thus RECON's inception.

RECON is a lay apostolate forming under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Omaha. We've received the blessing of Fr. Gutowski and Fr. Joe Taphorn, our Chancellor. We are here to support each other in our struggles, to share our joys and to build valuable friendships. For the more we learn and grow in our faith, the more we are called to share it with others to further the call to the New Evangelization as foreseen and prayed for by our beloved Pope, John Paul II. 

Please scroll down to "meet our patron saint" for RECON.  A priest who loved Truth, Our Lady, Tradition and orthodoxy.  He passed from Earth to Heaven in July, of 2006. 
Father Kevin Fete, pray for us!