How do Catholics best invite others into parish life in the prayerful hope that such encounters bring them closer to Jesus Christ and His Holy Church? It’s a big question, isn’t it? Well, these photos show one parish’s big answer. This is the Summer Kick-Off Party hosted this weekend at the Church of the Resurrection in Lansing: food, fun, sun, music, and enjoyment — open to everyone in the local community. Maureen Budd, who leads the Res Life Team in the parish, now explains the thought behind the event. Maureen says:
Res Life Relationship Ministry was founded in 2024 with a fundamental conviction: We are made in the image and likeness of God who is a communion of persons. Healthy relationships are a fundamental aspect of fulfillment as human beings and in our encounter with the Lord. The ministry has focused on building up relationships at all levels, among friends in the parish, singles and healthy dating, healthy marriages and parenting.
As a culture of building up the health of all relationships – not just struggling ones – has grown in the parish, the Res Life Team desired to extend this ministry into healthy relationships between the parish and the surrounding community. Thus, the Summer Kick-Off Party was born. There were food trucks, live music, yard games, prizes, and abundant chances for fun and fellowship. The goal is to invite the wider parish neighborhood to join in an afternoon of celebration for the new summer season, make connections with those who live around the parish, and hopefully invite newcomers to engage with the parish in subsequent events, building deeper bonds with those we live among.
Res Life Ministry has been supported in this culture building effort through a partnership with the apostolate Communio. Communio was founded because data consistently shows that healthy relationships not only lead to higher quality of life, they actually support a life of faith. Through a proven strategic framework, Communio consults with parishes and supports the parish effort to build a culture where everyone works to improve their relationship health and is supported by the community.
There are four other parishes in the Diocese of Lansing that have partnered with Communio: Saint Thomas the Apostle in Ann Arbor, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Lansing, Saint John the Baptist in Ypsilanti, and Saint Anthony in Hillsdale. Each is working to build a similar culture where healthy marriages and other relationships are prioritized and invested in by the parish.
