2 minute read
Fun Raising Committee Events Bring Parishioners Together
To be clear, the St. Benedict Fun Raising Committee does not raise funds.
It does, however, raise all kinds of opportunities for us to come together in community and to, well, have fun!
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Patti Hall coordinates the committee that was organized about two years ago. During the past year, there were very limited activities, but the group has met to begin planning for the next six months. Before the pandemic, the committee planned for a full year. Activities included bringing in food trucks, parking lot parties, family movies on the cathedral lawn, family walks, yoga, dance, and swing dance. During Advent, there are crafts and fellowship in the Woodward center after the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass.
There are about 24 parishioners on the committee, but attendance is fluid at the monthly meetings. Each member chooses an event he or she wants to plan. One member, for example, plans music events, while another organizes pickleball games and lessons.
“Everybody kind of does their own thing,” Patti says. “And we’re not a fundraising group. We just try to get people on our campus doing things, socializing, and building good community togetherness. We’re trying to plan six months out. We’re looking at cooking, pickleball, container gardening at St. Ben’s. We also think we’ll do a ‘What’s for Dinner?’ thing, a back-to-school type of event.”
The committee tries to plan events for all ages and groups — singles, couples, families, older parishioners.
Since the committee is not raising funds, any expenses are paid either by the activity or from some parish funds.
“For example, with swing dancing, we charged $25,” Patti says. “We may charge if the activity includes a cost, so we just cover the cost.”
Activities have included cookie decorating and Advent crafts.
Although activities were restricted under the pandemic, the Fun Raising Committee is looking forward to planning more fun activities for the parish.
No matter what activity is planned, it is sure to be a fun event — with a beautiful benefit. By joining in the activities and becoming part of the parish community, we are able to grow closer to Christ.
“You feel you can see Christ in other people,” Patti says. “That’s what it’s about. You may talk to someone in your activity, and you may not have known them before. This helps you grow closer to each other and through each other, you are closer to Christ.”
Anyone is welcome to join the committee.
“We’d love to have more people,” Patti says. “Most are very busy already, and they all don’t come to each meeting. This can count toward stewardship and you can choose what you want to do.”
Family walks, of course, include the family dogs!
