Consider a Small Church Community: A Great Way to Pray

Consider a Small Church Community: A Great Way to Pray

By Joanmarie Wermes
 
Six members of one of the parish’s Small Church Communities gave tribute to their friend Pat Gerlach recently by attending her wake and funeral services, meeting and offering condolences to her family and praying for her eternal rest.
 
Pat opened her home to members who meet on a regular basis to study the scriptures, share their faith, and pray, glorifying and thanking God for His ever-lasting love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness while striving to become missionary disciples.
 
In search of a way for parishioners to continue their prayer lives following Sunday liturgies, then pastor Fr. Gene Nowak, gathered the Parish Pastoral Council and charged them to seek possibilities that would encourage and energize the congregation.  The consensus was to form communities under the auspices of Vatican II guidelines. Groups were fashioned in 2000 to meet monthly or bi-monthly each day of the week from Monday to Friday.
 

“A parish is a community of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journey, and a center of constant missionary outreach.”   Evangelii Gaudium, 28

The Friday evening group, to which Pat belonged, has been meeting for 20 years since its inception. Current members meet socially first, then study scriptures for the upcoming weekend and close with a gathering at table for sweet and savory treats and conversation. Through the years more than 50 people have been a part of the Friday evening community.
 
Citing the spiritual life as a journey important to travel, an idea held by and preached often by Fr. Michael Scherschel, the Friday small church community is willing to lead, teach or model the concept for new groups.  It is also open to those who might want to visit the group.
 
       For further information, please contact Joanmarie Wermes at 847-885-2163.