WHY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DOESN'T SEND OUT MISSIONARIES TWO-BY-TWO DOOR-TO-DOOR

You’ve seen them around, two young men in white shirts and ties, walking the neighborhood with their books, knocking politely, and asking if you’ve heard about their church.

It’s a fair question. If Catholics are supposed to share the Gospel too, then why don’t we do that kind of thing more often?

The short answer is: we do evangelize—but we do it differently. And there’s a good reason for that.

For Catholics, spreading the faith has never been about just handing out pamphlets or having quick conversations at the front door. Don’t get me wrong—there’s nothing wrong with talking about the faith! But our way has always been more about inviting people into a way of life, not just into a moment of conversation.

We believe faith grows best when it’s seen and experienced—in the way we live, love, and serve others. That’s why most Catholic outreach happens in and through our parishes, schools, hospitals, soup kitchens, and personal relationships.

Think about it: how many people came to the faith not because someone knocked on their door, but because they married a Catholic, or sent their kids to a Catholic school, or got help from a Catholic charity, or felt something move in their heart during Mass?

We plant seeds differently—but they still grow.

One of the biggest things about being Catholic is that we don’t just believe alone—we live our faith together. We pray together. We receive the Eucharist together. We learn, grow, struggle, and serve—as a community.

So when someone’s interested in the faith, we don’t just hand them a book or a flyer. We say, “Come and see.” Come join us. Come sit in the pew. Come experience what this life is really about.

That’s why you won’t usually find Catholics ringing doorbells asking for a quick chat. Instead, we open wide the doors of our churches and hope people come in. And more importantly, we try to go out into the world and live our faith so well that people start asking questions.

Let’s be honest: not everyone likes having their doorbell rung by someone talking about religion—especially these days. People are busy, sometimes stressed, and a little protective of their privacy.

The Catholic Church tries to respect people’s space. We believe faith is deeply personal, and sometimes it’s better to wait until someone is ready to talk, rather than catching them off guard.

That’s why we often focus more on relationships—coworkers, neighbors, friends, family members. We walk with people. We answer questions when they come up. We plant little seeds of faith through kindness, conversation, and example. And when someone’s ready to take a step closer to God, we’re there to welcome them.

But don’t we go out at all? Absolutely! In fact, there are Catholics who do go out into neighborhoods—though maybe not in the same way you see in other churches.

There are groups like:

The Legion of Mary, who visit homes and pray with people.

St. Paul Street Evangelization, who set up tables in parks and public places to talk with anyone who’s curious.

The Neocatechumenal Way, who sometimes go door-to-door inviting people to parish events or missions.

And of course, many parishioners and priests who knock on doors—not to preach, but to visit the sick, bring Communion, or simply say, “We missed you at Mass.”

So yes, we go out. But we try to do it in a way that’s gentle, personal, and respectful—like a neighbor stopping by, not a salesperson making a pitch.

One more thing: Catholicism isn’t something you can just absorb in a 15-minute conversation. There’s so much depth—sacraments, Scripture, prayer, tradition, community. We want people to really understand what they’re saying yes to, not just make a quick decision. That’s why we have RCIA.

That’s why when someone wants to become Catholic, we take time. We walk with them. We teach, answer questions, pray together, and help them feel at home. It’s not about pressure. It’s about forming a lasting relationship with God and with the Church.

So Why Don’t We Go Two-by-Two? Because that’s just not how we’ve grown. We’ve grown through families, schools, service, and witness. Through people living quietly and faithfully. Through open churches, full tables, and hearts ready to listen.

You might not see Catholics walking door-to-door in matching shirts. But we’re out there—in hospitals and classrooms, in prison ministries and soup kitchens, in neighborhood parks and coffee shops—doing our best to be the hands and feet of Christ.

And when someone asks, “Why are you doing this?”—that’s our open door.

If you’ve been away from the Church, or if you’re just curious about what we believe, come visit your local parish. Ask a question. Light a candle. Sit in the quiet. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to come.

We’re here. And the door is always open.

Our Lady of Fatima Church                                       If you don't have a ride, contact me
2090 Pass Rd.                                                             here and I'll help you out.
Biloxi, MS
228-388-3887