Maureen’s parish, the Church of the Resurrection in Lansing, is one of three parishes piloting the Communio program in the Diocese of Lansing. Communio is a nonprofit organization that aims to train and equip churches to evangelize through the renewal of healthy relationships, marriages, and families. The organization partners with parishes to guide them in offering relationship-building programs that are the best fit for their community. Diocesan Service Appeal (DSA) dollars are helping make the endeavor possible, as parishes receive grants to fund the efforts. For Maureen, while adding a part-time job meant juggling even more, she sees God’s providence in leading her to the role. “It uses my gifts in new ways, and it’s just been so life-giving. I love bringing people together. It feels like true ministry.”

Maureen explains that the research-based approach is a full-circle ministry, pointing out that strong relationships build strong communities. “Studies show that marriages that remain intact lead to children that stay in the church.” Seeing that other factors are less impactful than having intact families, Communio founders created a system of surveying communities and responding to particular relational needs. “Family is critical for saving the church,” Maureen says. “So, let’s strengthen the family unit so that kids will continue to practice the faith, and over time that will save souls through the Church.”

At Resurrection, Maureen and her team first collected data through surveys in order to get a better idea of relationship needs in and around the parish. “Communio uses surveys and marketing data from a five-mile radius around our parish because … we are trying to expand outside of the parish to welcome neighbors. We’re looking at things like how many people are attending and if we are getting more parishioners.” Programming offered as a result of that data includes events for the wider community. Parishioners are also surveyed, responding to questions about topics including family history and whether they feel lonely or connected. In both cases, information gathered helps Maureen and her team to minister well as, under Communio’s guidance, the data is used to create targeted events, programs and formation. “Surveys helped us understand who and what to focus on,” Maureen explains. “It’s not random fun ideas. Rather, it’s what is good for our audience and what we want to achieve.”

Maureen and her team are planning events using a three-pronged approach of outreach, ongoing engagement, and growth journeys.  “Communio is more than programs, and it’s not getting as many people as possible to come to an event, but rather it is about being intentional and specific. This helps us focus on what we’re trying to offer to people. It’s a different mindset. We don’t want everyone to come to every event, it’s not a blanket thing.” Already having used Communio to plan and execute a singles formation series, a trivia night, and a marriage course, Maureen is excited about how the Lord is at work. “We’ve had great feedback. Most importantly, we want people to know that they matter, they have a place, and they are seen.” At the parish trivia night, Maureen’s appointed hospitality team was tasked with engaging people in conversation. “None of this is fake, we want authentic Christian hospitality.” When parishes know that people might be feeling lonely or out of place, Maureen points out, they can offer specific opportunities for relationship building. “We want to form connections so that people are more likely to come back, so they are drawn back, and ultimately so that they come to know Jesus.”

For Maureen, the full circle ministry comes down to supporting others as they navigate relationships. “The goal is to form a culture at Resurrection where it’s normal for everyone to work on their relationships. Single people who feel called to marriage may be putting themselves in a spot to be ready to marry while also building strong friendships and improving their relationship with God. And married people, of course, grow with each other but also independently grow in their faith lives.” And working on relationships doesn’t mean sugar-coating life’s challenges, Maureen points out. “Father Steve says we want to give people permission to have problems, and I think that sums it up. We are all broken and have problems, so let’s remove the stigma and work on building strong relationships.” 

Strong relationships, says Maureen, are ultimately the backbone of Communio’s mission. “We’re doing this so that people know they have a place in God’s Church. So that families and marriages are strengthened, and more people stay in the church. That’s the goal: salvation of souls through the Church!”