Living Joy: A 4-session, in-home series
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HERE'S THE INVITATIONInvite guests to journey with you as you invite them into your home.
A simple, 4-week opportunity to offer hospitality, build community, and share faith - right from our homes - around a topic we can all relate to. "Living Joy" is about discovering and embracing how to truly live joyful lives, as adults.
Will you consider inviting friends or family and hosting a group? It's simple but powerful!Creator of "Living Joy"
"God created you for JOY—
and he wants that for you
here and now!
You just have to cooperate
with his plan and follow
some simple steps."
Chris Stefanick
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THE BASICS
Why are we doing this?
Jesus is calling each of us to go beyond the walls of our church and share him in our homes and neighborhoods. But let's be honest, sharing our faith can feel daunting.
We all know people who are searching or curious about faith but aren't ready or haven't found the time to commit to something at church, like Alpha or a Bible study.
This 4-week "Living Joy" series provides a simple, relatable way to connect and explore faith.What is Living Joy about?
Living Joy is a video-based series for adults by Chris Stefanick (Real Life Catholic) that explores 9 simple rules for rediscovering and living true and lasting joy - that comes from a life rooted in faith and community. Each week centers on a different key aspect of joyful living. With humor, practical wisdom, Scripture, and real-life stories, it’s designed to reach people wherever they are on their faith journey.
Each session includes:- Time for fellowship
- Two short videos (~12 minutes total)
- Discussion questions, with opportunities for conversation and prayer
What does a host do?
It’s simple! As a host, you:- Invite a small group of people.
- Pick a weekly meeting time, ideally during the 4 weeks of October 19 - November 9, for 90 minutes each session.
- Offer a welcoming space at your home.
- Set out some snacks and drinks. Don't rush the fellowship! Begin each session with time for conversation.
- Press play on the 2 weekly videos. (Videos are available online for hosts.)
- Go through the discussion questions as a group. No teaching involved! Just make space for meaningful conversation. (Discussion guide is provided.)
- Close with a short prayer from the heart.
- Reach out to your group via text or email between gatherings, inviting them back.
Who should I invite?
Any adults you know! This is about personal invitation. Think about who might need a gentle way to re-engage with faith or community—and invite them. Your group might include:- Friends or neighbors
- Family members
- Fellow parishioners
- People who’ve stepped away from church or are spiritually curious
How long is the commitment?
Just 4 weekly gatherings —with the option to continue.- Each session is stand-alone, so if someone misses a week, they won’t fall behind.
- The full series includes 11 sessions, so groups may continue after the 4 weeks, if they choose.
When do we start?
Meet once a week.
You pick the day of the week and time.
Meeting for 90 minutes is ideal, to provide time for fellowship.
Find more FAQs below - Time for fellowship
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OTHER QUESTIONS
Do my group members need to register or sign up?
Nope! This model is based on personal relationships and invitation. The people you invite simply reply directly to you.
Only hosts sign up (see interest form below) for access to the videos and discussion guide.What does it cost?
Nothing! Thanks to the generosity of Chris Stefanick and Real Life Catholic, the Living Joy content is free for all our hosts at St. Gabriel Church. Hosts will receive instructions to create a free account and access the videos and discussion guide.
Serving simple snacks and something to drink is ideal but not required. Consider rotating snack duty.Is training needed?
No training is involved! We'll provide you with a short guide for inviting people and hosting, and we'll stay in touch along the way.May my group meet at the church?
With personal hospitality being central to this experience, meeting in homes is key. Your home doesn't need to be big or a showplace--just welcoming! Space will not be provided at the church for this series.Is the parish organizing groups?
Personal invitations are key to this experience, so the parish is not organizing groups for the Living Joy series. We will continue offering many other ways to connect and grow in faith that are hosted at the parish, including Alpha.What if tough questions come up?
We’ve got you covered! We'll provide an opportunity to submit questions to Dr. David Glasow, our Director of Adult Evangelization.
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The Living Joy study is offered by Chris Stefanick with Real Life Catholic.
Learn more about Real Life Catholic here
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