The Archdiocese of Seattle’s 136 parishes officially became 60 parish families July 1 as part of Partners in the Gospel, the archdiocese’s strategic pastoral planning initiative. Within each parish family, teams of staff and parishioners have started to work on the process of becoming one canonical parish over the next three years.

Throughout summer and early fall, parish families hosted events like picnics, potlucks, movie nights and even a pig roast so parishioners from each of the parishes in the family could mingle and get to know each other. These fun events also provided an opportunity for new pastors and parochial vicars to meet their congregations.

Below are some snapshots from parties and welcome events around the archdiocese.

An afternoon picnic brings together parishioners of Parish Family 14 — St. Alphonsus, St. Benedict and St. John the Evangelist in Seattle. (Photo: Racquel Servito)
Father Roy Baroma greets parishioners of Parish Family 8 — Holy Cross in Lake Stevens, St. Mary of the Valley in Monroe and St. Michael in Snohomish. (Photo: Courtesy Parish Family 8)
Father Val Park meets members of Parish Family 24 — Holy Family and St. John Mary Vianney in Kirkland. (Photo: Courtesy of Parish Family 24)
Children play during Vacation Bible School for Parish Family 45 — Our Lady of Lourdes, Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater and St. Joseph, all in Vancouver. (Photo: Courtesy of Parish Family 45)
Parish Family 6 (Our Lady of Hope in Everett and St. Anne Mission in Tulalip) gather at Our Lady of Hope for music, a blessing of the community garden and a pig roast. (Photo: Rowland Studios)
The staffs of Parish Family 36 —Holy Cross and St. Patrick in Tacoma and St. John Vianney on Vashon Island — spend time together in prayer and conversation. (Photo: Courtesy Parish Family 36)
Parishioners welcome Father Patrick Freitag to Parish Family 16 — Our Lady of Fatima, Sacred Heart and St. Anne, all in Seattle. (Photo: Courtesy of Parish Family 16)
Father Michael Dion gets to know parishioners of Parish Family 31 —St. Theresa and St. Vincent de Paul in Federal Way — over coffee and doughnuts. (Photo: Courtesy Parish Family 31)
A Welcome Mass for Priests brings together Parish Family 2 — Assumption, Sacred Heart and WWU Newman Center, all in Bellingham, St. Joseph in Ferndale; St. Joseph in Lynden; St. Anne Mission in Blaine; St. Peter in Deming; St. Joachim in Lummi — on a Friday evening at St. Joseph Church in Ferndale. (Photo: Monica Ann Photography)

This article appeared in the October/November issue of Northwest Catholic magazine. Read the rest of the issue here.