St. Theresa Parish Builds Community and Hope Through Jubilee Series

At St. Theresa Catholic Church in Palatine, the Come and See series has become a centerpiece of parish life, offering parishioners a chance to deepen their faith while sharing meals, conversation, and hope. Launched in 2022, the annual fall and winter program was born out of a desire to reimagine parish life after the pandemic. This year’s theme centers on the Jubilee Year of 2025.

Parishioner and volunteer Cathy Buescher, who serves as a lector, member of the welcoming team, and part of the parish’s Laudato Si’ garden group, has been on the six-person planning committee since the beginning. “After the pandemic, there was such a strong feeling that we needed to build community again,” she explained. “We wanted to create opportunities for parishioners to come together, get to know one another, and talk about our faith. Come and See grew out of that vision.”

Building Community Through Meals and Faith

Each Come and See evening follows a simple format: a potluck meal, a presentation, and small-group discussion. The shared meal is the foundation of the evening. “To build community, you need to have a piece in it, “ Buescher said. “When we ask people to bring food, it’s like the multiplication of loaves and fishes—there is always more than enough. It’s a way of saying, ‘You are part of this.’”

Themed potlucks, from chili cook-offs to cultural nights featuring pierogis and traditional dishes, help set the tone for evenings that often draw anywhere from 25 to 80 participants. Permanent name tags, Buescher noted, help people “call each other by name, which is such a simple but powerful part of building community.”

Faith Sharing in a Safe Space

Presentations cover a wide range of Catholic themes—from saints like Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, to theology, catechesis, music, and social issues. Yet the real heart of the evenings is in the conversations at the table. “Growing up, you didn’t talk about your faith,” Buescher reflected. “It wasn’t until college that I heard people share how God was working in their lives. Come and See is about creating that safe space where people can share their faith stories.”

The planning committee carefully chooses topics that speak to today’s spiritual needs.

“People are in need of hope for so many reasons we hear in the news every day,” Buescher said. “But hope isn’t just a fuzzy feel-good. Even in the crucifixion, we know God is with us, and new life exists on the other side.”

Strengthening the Parish

The impact of the series on St. Theresa’s parish life has been profound. “People know each other now,” Buescher said. “I know their names and their lives and the importance of faith to them. It feels like the early days of the Church—people really know one another and support each other.”

Attendance isn’t the only measure of success. Buescher recalled two young men, twins, who attended quietly for several weeks. “One night, one of them shared a little during group discussion. That was a huge step. Sometimes it’s about just one person being touched, knowing they are not alone.”

Living Out Hope

For Buescher herself, being part of the series has deepened her understanding of hope. “I’ve been through really challenging situations,” she said. “At the time, I didn’t know if I had hope. But looking back, I can see that God was with me, that I wasn’t abandoned. The series reminds me over and over that resurrection is always possible—that God is present even at the bottom.”

Looking ahead, the winter series will focus on the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, beginning with prayer. “It feels like we’re a different parish now than before the pandemic,” Buescher said. “Through Come and See, we’ve rediscovered how much people need both faith and community. It’s about knowing you’re not alone—because the body of Christ is alive here.”