ON practically every Monday evening during the last three years, some of the residents of Chessing1on, Surrey. found themselves called to their front doors by a knock or a. ring between the hours of 8 and 9 p.m. to be confronted by two men.
The callers would apologise for the disturbance and explain that they came from the local Catholic church-St. Catherine of Sienaand were trying to compile a register of Catholics in the area.
If the householder replied that he was not a Catholic, he was offered a leaflet which would give him an opportunity to find out 11114.1re about the Church if he so desired by applying for a free booklet or postal course.
This work was undertaken by the local Knights of St. Columba. with the permission of the parish priest, Fr. Quealy. Since the start of the contact crusade. as it is called. over 7,250 householders have been visited in the Chessington area.
Those taking part in this work have always fe1t thet they were doing a worthwhile' job although they never knew the results of their labour. They do know, however, that very rarely was a leaflet refused and that their reception was generally friendly.
Having completed the crusade in Chessington a start has been made in the adjoining parish of Our Lady Immaculate, Tolworth, where the work is being undertaken in conjunetion with the Legion of Mary.
The local Knights of St. Columba are now following up their crusade in Chessington with a campaign to encourage every Catholic family to have at least one Catholic paper weekly. Their aim is: "A Catholic paper in every Catholic home,"