Introducing Back Together Sunday and a New Seasonal Strategy for Welcome and Hospitality |
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Dear Parish Leaders,
Throughout the year, there are natural moments when people become more open to reconnecting with their faith and finding a place to belong. As families establish new routines in the fall, gather with loved ones at Christmas, and celebrate the hope of Easter, many are searching for community, purpose, and a deeper relationship with God. These seasons provide some of the Church's greatest opportunities to personally invite people to reconnect with Jesus Christ and His Church.
That is the vision behind Together.
Formerly known as Together Sunday, this renewed initiative is more than a single day on the calendar. It is a practical strategy for helping parishes build a lasting culture of invitation, hospitality, and belonging. |
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A New Seasonal Approach |
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Rather than celebrating Together Sunday on one designated date each year, parishes are now encouraged to choose a weekend that works best for their community during three natural seasons of invitation: |
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Back Together |
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Back-to-School (August–September). As families establish new routines and parish ministries begin again, this is an ideal time to welcome people back to Mass. |
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Christmas Together |
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Advent and Christmas naturally draw many people back to church. A joyful welcome can become the first step toward lasting reconnection. |
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Easter Together |
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Lent and the Easter season invite people to renewal, making this another powerful opportunity to extend personal invitations and celebrate the joy of belonging. |
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Your parish may choose to celebrate one, two, or all three of these opportunities each year. |
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More Than One Sunday |
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Together is not about increasing attendance for one weekend.
It is about helping every parish become a place where people feel genuinely welcomed, known, and loved.
Our hope is that the habits developed through Together become part of the everyday life of every parish. |
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Back Together Sunday:
Resources to Help Your Parish |
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The updated Back Together Sunday toolkit is now available and includes resources to make implementation simple, including:
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Planning timeline
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Bulletin announcements
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Verbal announcements
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Social media graphics and posts
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Invitation flyers
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Letters and email templates
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Phone call and personal invitation resources
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School communications
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Hospitality planning tools
These resources are designed to be flexible, allowing each parish to adapt them to its own community and chosen celebration date.
Christmas Together and Easter Together Resources are coming soon. |
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Thank you for all you do to help people encounter Jesus Christ and experience the welcome of His Church. We pray that Back Together Sunday will strengthen the culture of hospitality in your parish and inspire countless personal invitations that lead others home.
Together, let's build communities where every person knows they belong.
Because we're better together.
In Christ,
Sean Ater
Center for the New Evangelization
Archdiocese of Cincinnati |
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