a group who desire to live life together in Christ. Community groups help young adults have a place to belong, be deeply known by a group of people, and journey alongside one another through the joys, challenges, and daily life routines. Through prayer, authentic friendship, formation, and shared experiences, we seek to grow in holiness, not alone, but together, as they support one another to follow Jesus in everyday life.
Community groups are more than a Bible study. They are intentional relationships centered on sharing life beyond a weekly meeting. A community group extends into everyday moments - celebrating victories, walking through struggles, challenging one another in love, and pushing each other closer to the Lord as they grow in faith together.
A Community Group is...
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Jesus models community to us.
He had His three closest friends (Peter, James, and John) in His intimate circle, the twelve apostles in His core community, and reached out to the larger crowds of 100+ people.
We, too, are called to live in this kind of layered community.
We hope you have your intimate circle; SAYA gets to be your 100+ wider circle; and here, together, we aim to help you discover your core community.
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Community group should look like…
Home-like environment; not on campus at St. Ann
Forward planning; Think about how to make the community group a community! Incorporate gatherings every so often for days like Easter, 4 of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, etc. Celebrate life together!
Depth to conversations; trust grows through vulnerability. As one of the values at St. Ann, having authentic vulnerability helps you grow as an individual and others around you.
Accountability; hold each other accountable in prayer, receiving the sacraments, living our lives according to the teachings of the Catholic church.
It should not look like…
“Teaching” based; there may be a leader who is guiding the topic and proposing questions, but it should be conversation based where the community group is all sharing. Not just one person teaching a lesson.
Just fellowship; recreational time with your group is great, don’t get us wrong, but don’t forget at the heart of community groups should be Jesus and growing in relationship with each other that is rooted in Him.
Drop-in attendance; Community groups should be regularly attended. In order to grow together, there must be commitment and consistency.
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Attending a new group can be hard. It may not be “perfect” at first, but at least try for 6 weeks.
After that 6 weeks, have a conversation with your coordinator to discuss how you’ve been feeling, then communicate with Amy Kitzman about finding a new group through SAYA.
We want to get you in a group that is best fit for YOU!
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Submit your interest at this form here or email Amy Kitzman (coordinator) at akitzman@stannparish.org
We will also be hosting a Community Group meet & greet three times a year! (January, May, and September) This is a chance to come together with other young adults, get to meet people in person through structured and unstructured conversations, and leave the night with a community group to start journeying with!
Roles in a Community Group
Coordinator (1 per group)
Plan and guide the content (with the help and discernment of the group)
Facilitate discussion or designate facilitators
Consider fun community nights like attending Declare, going to a restaurant, go do a shared activity, Christmas party, etc. (recommended every other month)
Ensure faithfulness to Catholic teaching
Communicate regularly with group
Coordinate schedules, topics, and resources
Coordinate with host if alternative location is needed for the week
Host (1 per group)
Set the vibes: Provide a welcoming, prayerful, and clean meeting space
This may also include rotating homes to other people’s in the group.
If you are unable to host a week, communicate to your group. Homes are preferred but alternative hosting locations may include coffee shops, parks, libraries, etc.
Consider central location for members when possible
Communicate location details clearly (address, parking, entry instructions)
Help create a warm, hospitable atmosphere that reflects a faithful home
Coordinate basic hospitality (snacks, drinks, seating)
Some ideas include; rotating who brings food each week, assign a person each month, host takes every week, etc.
Participant (4 - 10 per group)
Communicate; If you’re unable to go that week, have particular opinions about the group, need to take a break or switch groups- please let your group coordinator know.
Don’t just ghost your group.
Commit; Attending a new group can be hard. It may not be “perfect” at first, but at least try for 6 weeks.
After that 6 weeks, have a conversation with your coordinator to discuss how you’ve been feeling.
Then, communicate with Amy Kitzman about finding a new group through SAYA
We want to get you in a group that is best fit for YOU!
Not Sure What Content To Do??
This list is not intended to be all inclusive; rather, it highlights a selection of resources that community groups have found helpful in their discussions.
We encourage you to use all resources with thoughtful discernment and selecting what best serves the needs of your group.