Christina Kraus has always been active in her Catholic faith, but during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic the parishioner of St. Hubert in Chanhassen realized she longed for a closer faith community where she could grow spiritually and develop Christian relationships.
Kraus found that connection last October in one of the parish’s small groups. The group suits her extroverted personality and love of discussion. It is one of more than 40 small groups at St. Hubert, which means many options for people to fit their backgrounds, preferences and state of life.
Many of the groups, launched with hundreds of others throughout the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis at the start of Lent 2024 and joined by many more that continue to form, use a format known as the Parish Evangelization Cells System (PECS). During 90-minute meetings held in homes, churches or other locations, groups such as Kraus’ follow the structure of the PECS seven moments, which include song and praise, sharing, teaching, discussion, intercession, announcements and healing prayer.
Use of the PECS model and growth of parish-based small groups is encouraged by Archbishop Bernard Hebda as part of implementing his 2022 pastoral letter, “You Will Be My Witnesses: Gathered and Sent From the Upper Room.”
“I knew I was missing something,” said Kraus, whose group has 11 members of all ages and backgrounds. “And to be able to end up finding that, eventually; it’s just a blessing.”
Kraus has found support and opportunities to share and pray in her group, during good and hard times. There is camaraderie and a love of exploring and discussing the Catholic faith, she said.
“It’s the highlight of my week,” Kraus said of her group, which meets in the parish school’s library and is led by a fellow St. Hubert parishioner, Greg DeBenedetto.
“I can sometimes go in there in a down mood, and I always walk out in such a much better mood. I am enthused, I’m joyful. I am just filled with peace and happiness, and it completely changes my mood for the better every week,” Kraus said.
Kraus has received support from her group during trials. Not long after she joined the group, she was deeply saddened by the death of someone in the company where she works.
Group members listened to Kraus’ story and then comforted her and prayed with her. “We pray for healing, we pray for support, we pray for whatever the circumstance calls for. But a lot of times we may or may not know (someone’s need) ahead of time,” she said. “It sometimes comes out in the sharing of what God did for me, or what I did for God.”
Even though she was still affected by the loss, which also impacted many of her coworkers, Kraus said she began to see ways she could comfort other small group members through their grief and challenges.
“They (her small group members) kind of filled up my bucket … so I could then in turn pass that on to others and help them fill up their buckets,” she said.
The group is one of six St. Hubert small groups that are open to parishioners of all ages and backgrounds, said DeBenedetto, adding that members range in age from in their 20s to 75.
Membership in each St. Hubert small group is capped at 12. Groups benefit from being aware of the different perspectives of others in diverse stages of life and in different places in their faith journeys, he said.
“We have a whole bunch of people who all have perspectives, and it’s been so amazing,” DeBenedetto said. “It’s been such a Godsend.”
From the time Kraus joined the group, she was very open in sharing her story. Her openness helped encourage other members and made them feel more comfortable with sharing, DeBenedetto said. “A safe space opening up and loving each other and loving God, that’s what (the small group) is,” he said.
During a group study program early in the year, when members were learning about their personal gifts and how to use them to serve the Church, God and the community, Kraus discerned she had a gift of empathy. Now, she has begun training to become a small group leader.
“It was just so powerful the way God was not only working through me but also making me understand and realize that was a gift that I give to others,” she said.
Helping people who are interested in joining a small group find the right group for them is a goal at St. Hubert that Andrea Krautkramer believes other parishes also share. “A good group, a group that works for you, rather than (one) you leave, rather than you give up on a really important ministry,” said Krautkramer, St. Hubert small group coordinator.
People who are not parishioners, or who are not Catholic, also can join, though the small groups are essentially Catholic, Krautkramer said. “If small groups can not only get you more connected to the community and to the Lord, and bring more people into the Catholic Church, that would be amazing.”
Through her small group, Kraus said, she’s found support not only for her faith journey but to discern how she can help others. While all small groups can be beneficial, taking time to find the best fit can make all the difference, she said.
“It can be life changing if your heart is open to it.”
