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If someone does not attend Sunday Mass, they cannot be in a state of grace, nor are they active believers, and therefore their mind will be clouded by sin and unable to receive divine Lights.

Agreed. And not. What of someone who is away from the church and yet comes back?

Instructing such people is utterly useless, as the habit of faith in them is dead. They possess neither grace nor faith.

But we reach out to the kids, signed up by parents, who may indeed be pretending to be Catholics, and the kids are eager to pray and learn.

You cannot "instruct" people into becoming practicing Christians. They must be practicing the faith prior to their ability to learn the faith.

Perhaps I used 'instruct' in an ambiguous way. We focus on prayer and the Mass. For our 2nd grade group, our 'lessons' are about Jesus and on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which we help prepare the kids to receive.

What of someone who is away from the church and yet comes back?

They were inspired to this action by gratuitous grace.

We focus on prayer and the Mass. For our 2nd grade group, our 'lessons' are about Jesus and on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which we help prepare the kids to receive.

But they can't validly receive the Sacrament if they are in a state of persistent sin - i.e. never attending Mass. Any absolution given to them would be a nullity.

It doesn't matter even if they confessed never attending Mass, because to be absolved, they must have the firm resolution to begin attending. And this cannot just be a wish or hope, but must be well-founded.

What of someone who is away from the church and yet comes back?

We slay the fatted calf.

This pastor is not closing the door on anyone. He is asking those standing there on the threshold if they intend to come in or not.