By David Carvalho | Diocese of Fall River
In conversation with Fr. John Sullivan and George Lane | Holy Redeemer Parish, Chatham
This article summarizes an interview with Fr. John Sullivan and George Lane of Holy Redeemer Parish in Chatham, entitled “Starting Small Groups”, providing takeaways for parishes. To watch the interview in its entirety, visit: https://www.youtube.com/@equipcatholics
Fr. Sullivan has been Pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish since 2017. George Lane has been a parishioner at the parish for 8 years. After being involved in various ministries and parish council, George became the Small Group Coordinator for the parish in 2024.
Photo courtesy of Holy Redeemer Parish, Chatham, MA
In an era where parishes may struggle to foster connection and engagement, Holy Redeemer Parish in Chatham has found a transformative path forward: becoming a parish of small groups, not just a parish with small groups. This simple but profound shift has energized their community, deepened spiritual lives, and provided a clear model for how parishes can grow in faith together.
This article traces the journey of Holy Redeemer’s small group ministry—from vision to execution to flourishing community—and offers practical lessons for any parish seeking to do the same.
Planting the Vision
The desire to create small faith-sharing groups at Holy Redeemer emerged from both pastoral and strategic roots. Father John, the parish’s pastor, had long been inspired by the model presented in the book Rebuilt, which detailed how Church of the Nativity in Maryland revitalized parish life through small groups.
At his previous parish, Father John hadn’t had the opportunity to implement the model. But when he arrived at Holy Redeemer, he was determined to make small groups a foundational piece of parish life.
“I’ve always seen a need for a vehicle in the parish that helps people deepen their faith,” said Father John. “New parishioners come in, and beyond Mass, it can be hard to connect them. Small groups are the answer.”
This pastoral vision aligned with the parish council’s newly adopted three-year strategic plan, which included the creation of small groups as a key objective. Parishioner George, who would later become the small group coordinator, had prior experience with small groups and joined the initiative with energy and insight.
Launching with Intention
Rather than starting with scattered or spontaneous groups, the leadership team planned a single, unified launch event—a full-day “Day of Reflection and Faith Sharing” designed to simulate the small group experience.
Key elements of their strategy included:
- Early and consistent promotion: The event was announced six weeks in advance, with sign-ups available through flyers, website, Facebook, and pulpit announcements.
- Social proof: The number of registrants was shared each week, encouraging others to join as momentum grew.
- A trusted facilitator: Catholic speaker Allison Gingras was invited to lead the day, which included prayer, Scripture, small group discussion, and fellowship.
This approach was remarkably effective. Out of approximately 350 active families in the parish, 90 parishioners signed up, and 83 attended. Even more impressively, 34 people committed that day to joining ongoing small groups, with others joining in the weeks that followed.
Photo courtesy of Holy Redeemer Parish, Chatham, MA
Community First, Then Formation
Rather than letting these new groups scatter and figure things out on their own, the team made a strategic decision: they would begin their journey together by participating in the Jesus and the Eucharist series.
This seven-week series served multiple purposes:
- It was designed specifically for small group engagement.
- It created a sense of unity and cohesion across all groups.
- It modeled the prayer, Scripture, and sharing rhythm that would become foundational for future gatherings.
Each small group sat at their own table during the weekly sessions, and facilitators began to emerge organically. After the series concluded, the leadership paused to create consistent training materials and structure for group facilitators.
Building the Framework
Key decisions and structures were then put in place to sustain and grow the small group ministry:
- Group size and rhythm: Each group would consist of 8–12 members, meeting weekly or bi-weekly for 60–90 minutes.
- Leadership model: Every group would have two trained facilitators.
- Scriptural focus: Each group would use the upcoming Sunday’s Gospel as the anchor for discussion and faith sharing.
- Prayer book: A standardized prayer book was provided to guide opening and closing prayers.
- Group identity: Each group chose a patron saint as their spiritual guide and symbol of their identity.
By simplifying the structure and using the lectionary readings, the leadership avoided the common pitfall of over-focusing on which materials to use—allowing the Word of God to remain at the center.
“The Gospel takes us through all the seasons of the liturgical year,” said George. “We don’t have to keep choosing new content, and everyone can connect with what’s being proclaimed at Mass.”
Coordinated Leadership
With the growing number of groups and participants (now 8 groups with 75 members), coordination became essential. George transitioned into a formal Small Group Coordinator role, and each group’s facilitators formed a steering committee.
From that committee, three subcommittees were created to focus on:
- Membership – recruiting and integrating new members.
- Communication – including a monthly newsletter, website updates, and announcements.
- Events – planning community-wide gatherings and celebrations.
This structured leadership approach not only ensured continuity and growth but also deepened commitment among facilitators, who now felt personally invested in shaping the ministry.
Building a Culture of Community
One of the most impressive aspects of Holy Redeemer’s model is the emphasis on building a community of small groups, not just isolated gatherings. Several strategies helped achieve this:
- Parish-wide events: Multiple times a year, all small groups are invited to come together for fellowship and learning.
- Cross-group seating: At events, members are encouraged to sit with others outside their group to build broader parish friendships.
- Ongoing invitations: Newcomers and guests are always welcome at community events, giving them a low-pressure way to explore small groups.
- Support for varied needs: One group is made up of women living in an assisted living facility, showing the flexibility and inclusivity of the model.
As Father John remarked, “We’re no longer just ships passing in the night at Mass. People are building real relationships and a shared life of faith.”
Fruit That Lasts
The results speak for themselves:
- A third of the parish participated in the launch event.
- Weekly small groups continue to meet with enthusiasm.
- New ministries and Mass attendance have increased.
- A stronger sense of belonging and discipleship permeates the parish.
Perhaps most importantly, this is not a program with a start and end date—it’s a cultural shift. Father John and his team are committed to continuously inviting, forming, and growing small groups as the heartbeat of parish life.
Lessons for Other Parishes
For pastors, ministry leaders, or parishioners discerning how to begin small groups, Holy Redeemer’s story offers several key takeaways:
- Start with a unified vision. The pastor’s support and alignment with parish leadership are crucial.
- Use a launch event. Giving people a taste of small group life encourages buy-in.
- Promote early and often. Six weeks of intentional promotion made a huge difference.
- Create simple, consistent structure. Gospel-based sharing and a set prayer rhythm create unity across groups.
- Empower lay leadership. A coordinator and steering team distribute responsibility and ensure sustainability.
- Foster community among groups. Parish-wide events and shared experiences turn small groups into a larger family.
- Be flexible and Spirit-led. Plans may change—listen to the Holy Spirit and your parish’s unique needs.
Final Thoughts
What began as a vision to help parishioners grow in their faith has blossomed into a thriving culture of community and discipleship. Holy Redeemer Parish has become not only a model for small group ministry, but a testament to what’s possible when laypeople and clergy partner together in mission.
“I only wish I had done this 20 years ago,” Father John reflected. “If you’re thinking about it—take the plunge.”