This Parish Connections website is a living site, updating regularly and growing as the connections expand across Vancouver Island.
Mission
Parish Connections is an unofficial grass roots communication initiative to build catholic communities by offering a place to share our events; by sharing lessons learned, how to overcome (event planning) challenges and celebrate wins; and by offering a safe place to ask for help! As a body of believers, we recognize the importance of strengthening our bonds and building new connections. Our mission is to try, one Parish at a time.
History
I was reminded yesterday of the true beginnings of “Parish Connections”…
… from the experience in a church lobby one Sunday morning as three ministry groups vied to inform parishioners of their upcoming events.
We realized that we did not know what the others were doing, and did not even know what other churches in the same Diocese were doing just down the road! There were events that we would have attended, had we known. Pamela says it like this: there were many “events I would have attended, bazaar tables to book, good food to enjoy, and shopping! Are we not a people or family of faith?”
As a new member of two ministry groups, Pamela attended many events, excited to meet people doing roles that she wanted to know more about. Initially directed to read their websites, Pamela found that connecting with a real person doing the job was very helpful.
As Pamela recalls, she wanted more time to get to know people: “if I was to find a way to set up a means to connect – to share our flyers for our events, offer a volunteer resource pool, share our experiences, even meet? Would there be interest?”
The answer from each person was a resounding “Yes”.
Hence, “Parish Connections” was born.
That’s when I jumped in, after lamenting about a similar chaotic event in another church foyer. Together we co-founded this unofficial Catholic community activity.
With improved communication, we can plan events around each other and reduce overstimulation for everyone else in the church community. Or we can plan a meet-up for all of us to share our information in a more accessible way, whether organized or organic.
Parish Connections offers that: a single calendar of events for all Catholic activities on Vancouver Island. Anyone can access it — perhaps your relatives on the Mainland might be interested in scheduling their visit with you to coincide with an Island parish community sale? Oh, and you can add the Parish Connections calendar to your own calendar app by clicking on the +sign in the bottom right corner, so you won’t miss any of the prayer group meetings or Knight rides that are coming up.
Let’s strengthen our ties to each other and send us some new ideas for ways to connect!
Thanks for reading this! I hope it gives you a better understanding of what we are about.
Your webmaster,
Katherina
updated September 5, 2025
P ♰ C 