The Challenge

The seven sacraments of the Catholic Church are defined as “an efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us" (CCC 1131). This means that sacraments are outward signs that symbolize and bring about the grace they signify. Through the sacraments, the faithful receive the sanctifying grace necessary for salvation and spiritual growth. The sacraments are life-changing graces.

The Church must understand how to use the sacraments to respond to all suffering. The laity of our faith must learn the sacraments. How do we teach the needy and the sick to use sacramental grace to save our families, promote healing in mental health, and attain peace?

The Sacraments

“Enjoy the fragrance of eternal life, breathed on you by means of the sacraments.” - St. Ambrose (340AD)

  • Baptism

    “By the Spirit, from the womb of the Virgin, was born our head, the Son of Man; and by the same Spirit, in the waters of baptism, we are reborn as his body and as sons of God.” + Blessed Isaac of Stella, abbot (1100-1169 A.D.)

  • Confirmation

    “The Son of God is one with God by nature; the Son of Man is one with him in his person; we, his body, are one with him sacramentally.” + Blessed Isaac of Stella, abbot (1100 – 1169 A.D.)

  • Reconcilation

    “God’s will is to save us, and nothing pleases him more than our coming back to him with true repentance.” + St. Maximus the Confessor, abbot (580-662 A.D.)

  • Eucharist

    “Just as bread from the earth, when it receives the invocation of God, is no longer common bread but the Eucharist, made up of two elements, one earthly and one heavenly, so also our bodies, in receiving the Eucharist, are no longer corruptible, for they have the hope of resurrection.” + St. Irenaeus, bishop (140-203 A.D.)

  • Marriage

    “Nothing should be left untried that can train children from early childhood in good morals and in the earnest practice of Christianity. To this end nothing is more effective than pious instructions in Christian doctrine.” + St. John Leonardi, priest (1541-1609 A.D.)

  • Holy Orders

    “If teaching and preaching is your job, then study diligently and apply yourself to whatever is necessary for doing the job well. Be sure that you first preach by the way you live.” + St. Charles, bishop (1538-1584 A.D.)

  • Annointing of the Sick

    “The Lord calls himself the vine and those united to him branches in order to teach us how much we shall benefit from our union with him, and how important it is for us to remain in his love.” + St. Cyril of Alexandria, bishop (375-444 A.D.)

Catholic engagement in the U.S., where the proportion of practicing Catholics—defined by regular Mass attendance—has been on the decline. In 2024, approximately 28% of Catholics attend Mass weekly. This is often used as a key measure of "practicing" Catholicism, as the Eucharist is central to Catholic faith.

The slow decline of Catholic clergy in the United States

Decline of active practicing Catholics in the U.S. (%)

Why are people leaving the Church?

  • Many Catholics leave because they disagree with Church stances on social, moral, or theological issues.

  • Some Catholics feel the Church fails to provide spiritual nourishment or relevance to their daily lives. This can include dissatisfaction with homilies, lack of personal connection with clergy, or a perceived lack of focus on the core teachings of Jesus​

  • Clerical abuse scandals and the Church's handling of these cases have led to widespread disillusionment. For some, the perception of hypocrisy or failure to hold leaders accountable contributes to their decision to leave​

  • Personal experiences, such as feeling judged, unwelcome, or alienated by other Catholics or clergy, can drive individuals away. This is particularly true for marginalized groups or those facing life circumstances not fully supported by the Church, such as divorced Catholics

  • A growing number of individuals identify as "spiritual but not religious" or "nones," reflecting a broader societal trend of disengagement from organized religion. Younger generations, in particular, may leave due to a lack of perceived relevance or the appeal of alternative spiritual practices.​

    Some leave because of influence from non-Catholic spouses, friends, or partners or because they marry outside the Church and don't maintain regular participation.

    For others, practical barriers like busy schedules, family demands, or a lack of strong community ties within the parish can result in drifting away from regular Church participation​.

The Answer: Small Groups

Small groups in the Church

About The Final Summit

I was completely Agnostic with a sprinkle of new-age spirituality until a lightning bolt nearly knocked me off of a mountain…

You will quickly figure out your belief system when you think you have limited time in your life. In 2014, I rapidly became a believer in God and a Christian during a near death experience. I was anticipating the birth of my son and didn’t think I would live to see that day. I made it off that mountain and my life has never been the same.

I poured myself into self improvement, non-secular work, and evangelical Christian ministries. After working a short time in pastoral services, I began studying the early Christian church and the Apostolic Fathers during the first three centuries. At the time I had many lingering questions about faith and discipleship in Christ. Their writings were life altering. In 2022, I converted to the Roman Catholic Church. I turned to the Catholic Church during a time when my family and personal life was in shambles. Much of my flesh fought against this decision and I quickly faced the loss of more relationships.

I knew the value of community and with my experience in leadership and small group formation. I decided to start a ministry dedicated to building strong small groups within the Catholic Church. I wanted to enable my community in fostering leaders, understanding the Catechism, and to take full advantage of the Sacramental graces that I had been missing my whole life.

The Final Summit is the mountain of Purgatory. The final climb that we all make on our journey of sanctification. It is the suffering of trials. The bearing of hardships and pain. All done through and with the community of the Church. The source and summit of this climb and our faith is the Eucharist. It is Jesus Christ.

Jonathan Burnos is the Executive Director and Founder of The Final Summit. He is a professional speaker, blogger, trainer, and published author. He has been working in the corporate training space for over 25 years.