Eons ago, When I was in Algonquin, many a pastor and parishioner, would worry about losing catholics to a mega-church in the northwest suburbs. The Sunday services there were a multimedia extravaganza. The music was loud and had an upbeat tempo. Lots of folk, especially the young would flock there on on weekly basis. Some would still have their kids baptized, the Eucharist, etc, at the catholic church, but go to the mega church on Sunday.
With all of the concerns and fretting, what very few realized is that the 'real' parishioners of that church met on Wednesday nights. It was then they had bible study, support groups for various concerns and needs of peoples. The Wednesday meetings, not Sunday, was where the community really gathered.
At church we are challenged to "Go forth and love and serve our God." As we grow though, and enter into a society that can be hostile to our beliefs, it is good to have support and catechesis on our journey. A typical homily might be seven to ten minutes in length, but in a small group we can discuss St. Paul for an hour or more. And while we pray before and after mass, what would it be like to discuss the Eucharist with other catholics.
Small Christian communities go beyond just learning about our faith, but offer reflection, support and encouragement, and especially strength and courage in our faith life. One of my favorite groups was back in Algonquin. A group of young parents would meet on Friday nights to discuss parenting issues in a Christian context. Again it offered them an opportunity to nurture and nourish faith, as well as support each other.
It seems that is what we need in the Church today. A way to extend our Sunday worship into the rest of the week. Our journey is not meant to be taken alone, but to be fostered in the context of a community. Jesus sent the apostles out in pairs, St. Paul had other catechists with him, all to foster the faith that had been hand down to them.
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