As soon as we were married, my husband and I moved from my native Virginia to Atlanta so that my husband could attend a graduate program. I worked two jobs and went to paralegal school at night, graduating a month before our first child was born. We belonged to a beautiful, large parish and developed friendships, but we lacked cohesive community. It wasn’t until we were living in our fourth city, having our third child, that we even became aware of what community could actually offer us (and what we could ourselves contribute).

With three children under the age of four, we made our biggest move yet away from any family—to Dallas, Texas. We quickly found a vibrant parish with an abundance of ministries. I attended a retreat after which we continued to meet weekly for over six months while we prepared to put on the next retreat. The women in this group not only grew in faith, but many of us developed deep, life-long friendships. After the retreat, we continued supporting each other in the faith by creating a Rosary group and a Catholic book club (both of which are still going strong after twenty years!). By the time I had my fourth child, my husband and I had a vast choice of godparents, and I was humbled to see that a six week meal list set up for our family was filled within hours. Never had we known this kind of support. We finally had a community that supported us through prayer, example, and generosity, and hopefully we have provided that as well.

Three years ago we moved again—this time to a small town an hour outside the city to raise our five youngest children. We have a sweet and reverent little country church here where community and ministry are still fledgling. Soon after we settled in, I felt a very strong call to invite women from the parish to my home on Friday mornings for an organized study. The first year, we studied the Doctors of the Church; currently we are reading Saint John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter on the Dignity and Vocation of Women (Mulieris Dignatatum). I have intentionally included a mix of ages and seasons because I think everyone brings something unique and insightful to the table. A lot of the young moms just need to get out of the house and have meaningful adult conversation, and the empty nesters have so much wisdom, but they also want to be in communion with  others.

Saint Basil, Father and Doctor of the Church, said, “When we live our lives in isolation, what we have is unavailable and what we lack is unprocurable.” A faith community can make a big difference in our personal faith lives. You may be in a season of needing to receive support, guidance, and encouragement, or you may be in a place of providing that. Either way, I encourage you to be open to walking in fellowship while living alongside the sacraments.