Tom Peterson was a successful, award-winning advertising executive for almost three decades. But in 1997, he experienced a profound conversion at a parish retreat that set him in a new direction. He applied his advertising skills to spreading the Gospel and the result was two new media apostolates.

The first is called VirtueMedia.org, which helps promote the sanctity of life through commercials, websites, and more.

The other is the one Tom is probably best known for, Catholics Come Home. Featuring high-quality television commercials and a beautiful, dynamic website, Catholics Come Home models the New Evangelization. Dioceses and parishes across the world have used their materials to draw thousands of people back to the Church.

Here’s one of their more popular commercials:

Tom recently sat down with me to discuss his conversion, the Catholics Come Home apostolate, and how we can help inactive Catholics return to the Church.

Watch or download our interview below:

Video



Watch the video here (17 minutes)



Audio

[audio:http://brandonvogt.com/wp-content/uploads/InterviewTomPeterson.mp3]

Download the interview here (17 minutes)



Topics Discussed

1:12 – How did Catholics Come Home originate?

3:29 – Why do you lean so heavily on television commercials?

5:19 – Newest Evangomercial featuring football coach Lou Holtz

7:50 – How can parishes prepare for Catholics coming home?

10:05 – Tom’s upcoming book, Catholics Come Home: God’s Extraordinary Plan for Your Life







Excerpt

Q: When inactive Catholics come back to the Church, what are they going to find? How can parishes prepare?

Well first of all, they’re going to find the sacraments—the Church Jesus started and all the Sacraments he gave to feed us, to forgive us, to bring us together as a family, and ultimately to help us on our path to Heaven. So that’s what they get, and there is no second best. That’s what Jesus gave us and sacrificed his life for.

How can parishes be more welcoming? We can always do that better. Our Evangelical brothers and sisters do a particularly good job of it. The old phrase, “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care” is apropos. We all can be more welcoming to those around us who are maybe there for the first time.



Follow Tom and Catholics Come Home through their website,and also through Facebook Twitter , and YouTube

And be sure to pre-order Tom’s new book which launched in February, Catholics Come Home: God’s Extraordinary Plan for Your Life.

And if you liked this discussion you’ll find several more on my Interviews page. Subscribe free via feed reader or email and ensure sure you don’t miss future interviews.



What do you like most about Catholics Come Home?