PART II:
The Paladin Vision

Community

The Need

Have modern people forgotten the value of a supportive community? Has a focus on individualism and selfishness led us to believe we are completely self-sufficient and know what is best for ourselves? Do we think we don’t need God or others in any meaningful way?

Since the early 1900s, contemporary small church communities have sprung up in all parts of the world. Christians are voluntarily coming together to create these small groups. Often, they are unaware that they are part of a global movement that many call “the spontaneous combustion of the Holy Spirit all over the world” (Ian Fraser, Iona Community, Scotland).

Many point out that what God’s people are doing resembles the form of church that was the only form during the early centuries. They often cite Acts 2:46 to demonstrate how “every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes.” The formal, large-group worship, which expressed their “corporate unity,” took place in the temple, while their more intimate and informal small-group meetings occurred in homes, usually with neighbors and family. This clearly reflects what is happening for many Catholics in small church communities.

Others argue that, while this may be true, what is happening is more than just a return to the ancient; it is also a unique event emerging to meet the needs of modern society. They point out that we no longer live in the same neighborhoods our entire lives or maintain close ties with our relatives. They emphasize that this movement is the Holy Spirit’s response to the breakdown of traditional support structures and our ongoing desire for community—a deep need to truly belong where we are genuinely known. We want companionship on our journey through life, on our journey to our common Father, the Lord.

At a time when so many Catholics are drifting away, God is stirring a new hunger for connection—for the kind of community that keeps faith alive. Invigorated within their groups, SCC members are choosing to do significantly more, rather than less. And by “more,” we’re not just referring to their small-group activities; these individuals are also more engaged in their parishes than most Catholics, volunteering and taking on leadership roles. Small church communities are having a powerful impact on their spiritual lives.

Hearing the Word of God is one thing; discussing, sharing, reflecting on, and applying it to our lives is quite another. Doing so with others in a warm, welcoming environment—a trusting, supportive atmosphere among peers—is profoundly compelling. Jesus is among us in a special way when we do this.

Of course, this idea of small church communities is still evolving and being shaped by the Holy Spirit. It remains spontaneous and quite unpredictable. Many are developing guidelines to strengthen both the groups and the movement. For those of us who see the great potential of small church communities, I believe it’s best to learn from what others are saying about the movement and adopt what we find most helpful for our groups. That’s what we’ve done here.

The Vision

Community is a broad term, and so is “small church community.” Are we talking about Bible studies? Discussion groups? Charismatic prayer groups? Adult education classes? The prayer chain? Many small groups meet with a religious focus. Is it simply their small size and religious emphasis that make them a small church community? While a prayer chain could be a small church community as well, it usually isn’t. Nor is anything categorized as a “class” typically a small church community—though it certainly could be—or it could at least share most of the characteristics of a small church community (SCC). Many prayer groups are indeed small church communities; however, coming together and praying alone does not make them one. Theoretically, such a group could remain largely anonymous—that isn’t community in this sense. Every small church community involves praying together, but it also includes discussing and sharing the faith and its relevance in our lives; it consists of encouraging and supporting one another in their personal Journey to God. This is what makes it a small church community.

The SCC is small, which fosters intimate and productive group discussions. These conversations invite us to share our lives, our joys, and our struggles—only to the extent we feel ready. We can achieve this only within a small, trusted circle of friends who are also growing.

The SCC is a meaningful level of church where people are met where they are. SCCs represent the family of God in a unique way, nurturing one another, witnessing to one another, and challenging one another. The SCC is the church in everyday life, reaching out to unbelievers and the indifferent, the fallen away and discouraged, seekers and disciples.

The SCC is foremost a community where everyone is welcome and accepted, where all are encouraged and challenged to grow. It’s a healthy community built on openness and trust, filled with deep sharing and listening, with few demands but incredible opportunities. “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came. You want to be where you can see the troubles are all the same” (Cheers intro song).

I remember joining young adult groups in my mid-twenties and never feeling comfortable. All those social events seemed superficial. Eventually, however, some of us sought something more authentic, and small groups of us organized various Bible studies and other religious discussions. Participants opened up and shared in these discussion groups; they accepted and supported one another. These experiences felt deep and meaningful to all of us. These groups became a spiritual home, fulfilling a deep longing that we had always felt but could never articulate. These small group discussions showed me what small church communities could be.

The Fellowship

The deep fellowship of an SCC isn’t automatic. The SCC requires five essential ingredients for its healthy development. Understanding these will help guide the formation and shape expectations.

Clear Identity – Knowing Who We Are. The SCC must share a crucial commonality and be aware of it. The SCC needs to understand who it is and what it stands for as a community. This forms the foundation of the SCC and should be clearly defined through a strong vision.

We will develop the Paladin vision for SCCs over the following three chapters as we explore faithfulness, the New Evangelization, and the Journey to God.

Trust and Vulnerability – Safe and Sacred Space. The community should be a welcoming and safe space that offers acceptance, confidentiality, and support. It’s essential to start with many activities that encourage self-disclosure in a non-threatening way. At the outset, icebreakers and a focus on group guidelines (e.g., listening skills and sensitivity) are especially important. Additionally, the leader must demonstrate openness, since the other members are unlikely to open up more than the leader does. Confidentiality is always maintained; what is discussed in the group stays in the group.

While involvement in an SCC naturally presents challenges to deepen love and knowledge of God and each other, the SCC avoids personally judging its members. Some people feel judged because their conscience and baggage are calling them out. These individuals need extra reassurance that both Jesus and the group accept them as they are. The group helps them see that everyone—including the leaders and the parish priest—is called to grow continually as children of God. The ongoing journey remains a main focus for everyone.

Accountability and Commitment – Counting on Each Other. An SCC relies on all members for its health and success. Members need to attend meetings. If someone misses a meeting, another member should call to check in and see how they can help ensure they attend the next time. If people anticipate missing a meeting, they should contact the leader (or assistant leader) to discuss options—rather than simply notifying them that they cannot attend. When members miss a meeting, it’s not their “perfect attendance” that’s affected; it’s the community and the relationships within it.

Time Together as a Community – Forging Bonds. Spending time together helps build bonds and strengthen the community. Game nights and other social events also foster connection through shared experiences. Additionally, potluck dinners that celebrate the conclusion of a discussion series are valuable.

Support – Generous Friendships. The community must support each other. While trust, vulnerability, accountability, and commitment are all elements of support, true support goes much further. Support means members can depend on one another. They are willing to give of themselves far beyond what is expected.

Support can be as simple as offering a ride to Mass or checking in after a tough week. It also checks on individuals who miss a meeting or are facing difficulties. This kind of support aims to be a friend beyond the group. Members of a supportive community feel comfortable asking for advice on decision-making or seeking prayers for their own struggles.

The SCC in Action

Small Church Communities (SCCs) are transforming how many Christians practice their faith. Rooted in the early Church tradition of believers gathering in homes, SCCs offer a more personal and relational experience of Church life. Unlike traditional parish structures, SCCs prioritize human connection, shared faith experiences, and spiritual growth. They are increasingly viewed as vital to the Church’s mission of evangelization and discipleship. This vision of SCCs highlights their unique role in renewing both individual lives and the broader church community.

People have different ideas about how SCCs fit into the structure of the Church. Some regard SCCs as the Church in miniature, or even as “cell” churches—living units that constitute the larger body. Others view them as the domestic church extended to neighbors. Some even identify SCCs within the Church’s hierarchical structure. First, the Vatican; then the diocese; then the parish; then the SCCs; and finally the domestic church. Bible studies and other groups usually do not share this view.

Some pastors encourage and oversee SCCs, which are more formally recognized as a level of church in such settings. Many pastors have no interest in SCCs. Occasionally, an entire diocese will promote small church communities.

Lessons from RENEW

In the 1990s, our diocese, like many others, oversaw the formation of small church communities through the Catholic RENEW program. The diocese made a concerted effort to encourage participation and was quite successful. The experience pleasantly surprised most participants, as they found great value in the fellowship and support of the groups. When someone shared their struggle for the first time, we realized this was sacred ground—Christ was there among us. Many groups chose to continue after finishing the provided materials, despite most having been strong-armed into attending and finding the materials unimpressive. They became hooked on the fellowship and support. Although finding worthwhile materials was a significant challenge, many groups persevered in various forms for many years.

In RENEW, we learned that the SCC excels at one thing better than any other level of church: helping ordinary people connect their daily lives to their faith. SCCs meet people where they are. The SCC also excels in another area: focusing on human relationships—with each other and with God. Thomas Merton argued that prioritizing tasks and products over human relationships is the greatest evil of our time. Often, American life, and even parish life, becomes focused on completing all the tasks. SCCs prioritize people, their experiences, and the relationships they form.

Evangelical Focus

The SCC calls us to work for the Kingdom, for the New Evangelization, and for forming new disciples. While many SCCs are not evangelical in nature and do not continually expand or reach out to others, healthy, faithful SCCs certainly do. The vision I propose for SCCs clearly includes this. An evangelical SCC constantly seeks to attract new members, help form disciples, and start new groups. For our purposes, a successful and healthy SCC is equivalent to an evangelical SCC.

The SCC extends its influence to benefit society. In addition to evangelization, discipleship, and service to the parish, these SCCs work for the Kingdom beyond the parish—they address social issues and other community needs. The SCC can indirectly support this work by developing spirit-filled disciples, or it may directly participate in such efforts as a group.

Of course, SCCs primarily improve society by forming and nurturing disciples. Everything else, no matter how strongly encouraged, is secondary.

Moving Forward

Many view SCCs as a new way of being church. Many see SCCs as the church’s hope for the future. Popes, the Vatican, and the US Conference of Bishops have supported SCCs. For many, SCCs are the Church’s best-kept secret.

SCCs embody a movement to join, a vision to share, and a spirit to catch. They are far more than just another group or ministry. SCCs are essential to nurturing and promoting the New Evangelization, ongoing formation, support, and fellowship within our families, extended families, small church communities, and parishes. SCCs are the indispensable support groups that help Christians overcome the influences of our anti-Christian, pleasure-centered, and rebellious society. They help us steadily grow in faith, hope, and love—in virtue, detachment, and generosity—on our Journey to God.

It’s not only the Church that needs SCCs—we need them, because God designed us for community.

Community thrives only when it is rooted in faithfulness—to Christ, to His Church, and to one another. That faithfulness is the foundation we’ll explore next.

To Faithfulness →

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Questions to Contemplate

1. Need for Community – Why do you think so many people today feel disconnected from others and even from God? Why do we so often struggle to make deep connections? Have you ever experienced a moment when you realized you needed community more than you thought?
2. The Basic Vision – What are your thoughts on the basic SCC concept? How is each element—small, church, community—essential to the life of the group? What makes an SCC distinct from a typical class, Bible study, or prayer chain?
3. Basic Fellowship – Why do you think each of these “essential ingredients” is crucial for a successful fellowship? Which of these elements do you think is the hardest to build in modern life, and why? Which ingredient have you personally found most life-giving in your own friendships, faith groups, or family life?
4. Deep Connections – Why is personal sharing and mutual support essential to true Christian community? How do these bring the faith to life and help us apply it to our lives? Can you share a time when someone else’s faith story helped you see God’s work in your own life?
5. Not just another ministry – Why are SCCs sometimes called the “Church’s best-kept secret”? What does it mean to say SCCs are a “new way of being Church” and a hope for the future? If you could more fully incorporate SCCs into parish life, what might that look like?