Drew Mariani opens up about something close to so many of our hearts: loved ones drifting away from faith. He shares a stat that really hit him—nearly one in three Americans no longer practice the faith they grew up with. But Drew is quick to remind us, these aren’t just numbers. They’re your son, your daughter, your brother, your friend. Maybe it's you.

What’s surprising is that most who leave don’t switch to another religion—they just quietly become unaffiliated. For many, it’s not an angry rejection; it’s a slow fade—missing Mass here, skipping prayer there, and over time, stepping away from a faith that once shaped them.

📊 Fr. Paul Sullins: Why Are People Drifting?

Drew invites Fr. Paul Sullins, a priest and sociologist, to help make sense of this. Fr. Paul explains that in some parts of the world, faith sticks partly because of strong cultural or even legal ties—but here in the U.S., it’s different. Our culture is heavily secular, especially on college campuses, and that can pull young people away from religion.

Even as formal religious practice declines, spiritual searching is still alive. So many people today will say, “I’m not religious, but I’m spiritual.” No, that's not ideal. But Father explains that it's good they still pray, they still believe in something more, and often, the faith they grew up with leaves a mark that never fully disappears.

💬 Stories from Listeners 

Listeners called in to share their own heartaches, like Mike from Texas, whose adult kids no longer go to church, even though they were raised in a vibrant Catholic home. Drew and Fr. Paul reassure him that this is something many parents face. It’s not a failure. Fr. Paul encourages parents to keep praying, to stay connected spiritually, and to trust that God isn’t finished yet.

Then Julia from Maine calls with her story: she left the Catholic Church after feeling unwelcome when she wanted to baptize her son as a single mom. Drew's response is so gentle and kind: he apologizes for the hurt and warmly invites her to consider coming back. He even says, “God’s probably speaking to you today.”

🌟 Holding on to Hope

Drew reminds you that stories like St. Augustine’s—who wandered far before coming home—show that no one is too far gone for God’s grace. Sometimes, it just takes time. Our prayers matter. Our love matters. And God is always working, even when we can’t see it.

Drew’s invitation at the end is simple and beautiful: if you’ve been hurt, or if you’ve wandered, the door is open. Come back. You are deeply loved.

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

Drew Mariani opens up about something close to so many of our hearts: loved ones drifting away from faith. He shares a stat that really hit him&mdash;nearly one in three Americans no longer practice the faith they grew up with. But Drew is quick to remind us, these aren&rsquo;t just numbers. They&rsquo;re your son, your daughter, your brother, your friend. Maybe it's you.
What&rsquo;s surprising is that most who leave don&rsquo;t switch to another religion&mdash;they just quietly become unaffiliated. For many, it&rsquo;s not an angry rejection; it&rsquo;s a slow fade&mdash;missing Mass here, skipping prayer there, and over time, stepping away from a faith that once shaped them.
<hr data-start="875" data-end="878">
📊 Fr. Paul Sullins: Why Are People Drifting?
Drew invites Fr. Paul Sullins, a priest and sociologist, to help make sense of this. Fr. Paul explains that in some parts of the world, faith sticks partly because of strong cultural or even legal ties&mdash;but here in the U.S., it&rsquo;s different. Our culture is heavily secular, especially on college campuses, and that can pull young people away from religion.
Even as formal religious practice declines, spiritual searching is still alive. So many people today will say, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not religious, but I&rsquo;m spiritual.&rdquo; No, that's not ideal. But Father explains that it's good they still pray, they still believe in something more, and often, the faith they grew up with leaves a mark that never fully disappears.
<hr data-start="1615" data-end="1618">
💬 Stories from Listeners&nbsp;
Listeners called in to share their own heartaches, like Mike from Texas, whose adult kids no longer go to church, even though they were raised in a vibrant Catholic home. Drew and Fr. Paul reassure him that this is something many parents face. It&rsquo;s not a failure. Fr. Paul encourages parents to keep praying, to stay connected spiritually, and to trust that God isn&rsquo;t finished yet.
Then Julia from Maine calls with her story: she left the Catholic Church after feeling unwelcome when she wanted to baptize her son as a single mom. Drew's response is so gentle and kind: he apologizes for the hurt and&nbsp;warmly invites her to consider coming back. He even says, &ldquo;God&rsquo;s probably speaking to you today.&rdquo;
<hr data-start="2458" data-end="2461">
🌟 Holding on to Hope
Drew reminds you that stories like St. Augustine&rsquo;s&mdash;who wandered far before coming home&mdash;show that no one is too far gone for God&rsquo;s grace. Sometimes, it just takes time. Our prayers matter. Our love matters. And God is always working, even when we can&rsquo;t see it.
Drew&rsquo;s invitation at the end is simple and beautiful: if&nbsp;you&rsquo;ve been hurt, or if you&rsquo;ve wandered, the door is open. Come back. You are deeply loved.
<hr>
The&nbsp;best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out <a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.