The Spirit of Friendsgiving
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December 1, 2023It became evident that the Sacred Heart Parish community in Seattle needs an infusion of unity, confidence and energy during the first session of the Partners in the Gospel program, a strategic pastoral planning effort underway throughout the Archdiocese of Seattle.
The parish has had many challenges this year, most notably a merger with three other parishes – St. Anne’s, Our Lady of Fatima and Christ Our Hope. Many parishioners at a transient parish like Sacred Heart don’t know each other or haven’t seen each other in a while, which makes uniting as a community rather difficult.
I also sensed a lack of confidence and awareness of the abundant gifts parishioners bring to the Partners in the Gospel program, most noticeably their diversity. It has been a while since we celebrated with an event that brought the entire parish community together, which would help bring more energy to the group.
Soon after the first listening/input session, I thought that a parish potluck Thanksgiving celebration would be a way to immediately begin addressing my concerns for the community. I hoped for more than just a potluck – it was Friendsgiving!
We invited parishioners to bring a dish to share. We encouraged everyone to share a cultural dish, as many parishioners are from India and the Philippines. A talented chef even volunteered to cook three turkeys and prepare all the fixings. Our Young Adult choir led the community in a prayer service before our feast began.
Our Friendsgiving celebration was a successful start in building community. Parishioners were able to meet one another and learn about the various cultures present at Sacred Heart through food and conversations. We had great attendance at a fun event that stimulated much hype and excitement.
It is my greatest hope that our community continues to build on the momentum generated by our Friendsgiving celebration. I am expecting greater participation in future parish events, especially in the upcoming liturgical season services and the events related to the merger with the three other parishes in the Partners in the Gospel program.