Do the warm scent of percolating coffee, plates laden with chocolatey dense desserts and a profusion of chairs carefully arranged about a tiny living room slake thirst, feed the hungry and invite Christ into our lives? At St. John’s this Lent, the parish responded to hunger, thirst and a desire to know the Lord by inviting parishioners to grow in their faith while getting to know other parishioners. Sometimes there was even an added bonus.

Fourth graders, Delaney Muldoon, Paul Campion, Michael Murray benefit from Walter Sukacz's experience.

Using materials called Why Catholic? new groups formed to meet and discuss the Gospel, related tenets of our faith and the effect on our lives. Existing parish groups, like HOPE and the Parish Advisory Council also dedicated time during regular meetings to explore the readings and reflections. Why Catholic? booklets offered six weeks of  contemplation on the practice of prayer. This fall, another six week session will more deeply delve into prayer, one of the four pillars (prayer, creed, moral living, and sacraments) of the Catechism.

Our group met on Friday evenings, huddled in the living room with coffee and dessert. While many groups met in the evenings, others convened in the afternoon and some gathered in the Kennedy room or in the School library.  A variety of locations at different times allowed people to find groups to fit their schedules. This summer, Mike and Sadie Peterson plan to continue meeting with their group, as a book club. Sadie gained “help developing a prayer life” and the insight that “prayer is a response” to God’s initial call. Marie James, who guest led a Friday morning prayer group hosted by Josephine Egan, came to “appreciate God’s love in that He is always waiting for me to respond to Him through prayer.” In spite of the busy-ness of her daily routine with two young children, Marie responds because, “I mean, after all, when I know my Friend/my Father is expecting my call, I don’t like to keep Him waiting too long.”

Sr. Daniel Mary, who leads an afternoon group of over 30 parishioners, found that “a deeper commitment to prayer, other than to routine prayer, was enriching to all.” Many participants shared their insights and enthusiasm with Sr. Roberta, coordinator of this initiative. According to Sr. Roberta, participants universally “were delighted to learn this rich stuff and to get to know one another.” She mentioned that several groups reflected the varied demographics that constitute our parish with many ages, cultures and life situations represented in each group. She observed, “they thoroughly enjoyed sharing with one another.” What’s more, “they grew so much.”

“And the bonus?” you ask. Often lovely friendships, cultivated in faith, grow out of these meetings. Walter Sukacz, a member of our Friday evening group, dropped by to visit us one afternoon. There he met with several eager fourth graders who were researching Poland for a class assignment. Walter and his wife Marguerite shared photos and family mementos while answering a hefty list of questions from their young interviewers. At one point, Delaney Muldoon said, “Wait, I need to write this down,” as she reached for paper and pencil. Meticulously, she recorded the details of Walter’s forced labor under the Nazis and his eventual liberation. Later in school, I marveled as Michael Murray, Paul Campion and Delaney Muldoon presented Walter’s heroic story to primary students, all arms waving, voices animated and enthusiasm unfettered.  How rich is this Why Catholic? -thing! The bonuses are phenomenal.