Guess who's coming to dinner?
March 14, 2023
By Elizabeth Elliott
Parishioners from Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Atlantic and St. Mary Parish in Anita never know until the night of their parish dinner who is going where for their monthly gathering.
Hosts don’t know ahead of time who is coming, and guests don’t know until that night where they’re going.
The idea grew from Beverly Ginther’s hometown Maryville, Mo., parish where her sister and mom are parishioners. 
“They had been doing it for many years, and so I thought it was a really cool idea,” Ginther said. “I thought it was neat, so I brought it back here.”
For the past three years, from January through April, individuals 18 and older from Ss. Peter and Paul Parish and St. Mary Parish sign up as hosts or participants on the fourth Sunday of every month.
Ginther confirms their availability and asks the hosts their plans for a main dish and desires for side dishes. Hosts supply the main dish and drinks.
After everyone is confirmed, Ginther will give the guests an address of where they are going.
“I get a little anxious and worked up when I call people because it never goes perfectly. It never does,” she said. “I can understand that.”
Dinner is a surprise for everyone.
“The people that are hosting don’t know who’s coming. The people that are participating don’t know whose house they’re going to,” Ginther said. “I know in today’s modern technology world, you could look up on your smartphone and figure out whose address you’re going to.”
But, she advised, “Don’t ruin part of the fun.”
People are building camaraderie among those that participate.
“Especially the elderly, they love to get together,” Ginther said. “They would like to do it every month, year-round really.”
She said for whatever reason, it’s hard to get hosts.
“There are some people that love to entertain but other people do not,” Ginther said.
The point of the gatherings is to get to know people that you might not necessarily get to know in the parish.
Ginther dispels a misconception among some people concerned about what they’ll talk about. It’s just dinner, she said.
“Some people say they can’t sit down and talk about church for an hour,” she said. “We don’t talk about the church at all.”
The meals are meant to create deeper connections.
“You can communicate better with other people when you have a personal relationship,” she said.
Father Trevor Chicoine, the pastor, said he’s seen a few good fruits come out of this program.
“Not only has it led to a mixing around the parish so that folks who didn’t know each other get to know each other, but through conversations, it’s organically led different folks to find out about other things going on in the parish that they might be interested in,” he said. “It’s a totally blind date and it’s really easy to incorporate new members.”