Photo by Andrew Nelson

LITHIA SPRINGS—Over the loudspeaker, the 1980s hit “That’s All” by Genesis filled the air. Dogs sat at their owners’ feet. Father Jack Knight of St. John Vianney Church cracked jokes, cautioning the growing crowd of trivia teams in the brewery not to cheat.

“I will have to pray for your soul,” he teased.

The team “Smells and Bells” was up against “There’s No Crying in Trivia,” “Here for the Beer” and “Cooke Monster.”

“Father Jack” is written in chalk on the sign outside Skint Chestnut Brewing Company promoting the trivia competition.

“Everybody knows it’s going to be a crowded night,” said a longtime player.

Father Knight’s presence at the brewery is a sign of how believers—with the help of the Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI)—are rethinking evangelization. Parish members have embraced opportunities to build relationships with people beyond the church walls.

This work with the CLI was introduced into the Archdiocese of Atlanta in 2025. The parish is one of several exploring ways of revitalizing faith life. Each parish sets their priorities and with the help of facilitators, moves toward fulfilling the goals. The Rooted in Christ—Growing in Faith capital campaign includes funds to expand this effort so at least a quarter of the parishes in the archdiocese can participate.

One of the inspiring results of this CLI exercise is seeing how people are growing into their roles, Father Knight said.

“They’re really the hands and the feet and the eyes and the ears of Jesus on the streets and they’re tapping into their God-given call to evangelize,” he said. The priest said working with CLI has been fruitful to move toward parish goals because it provides “structure without rigidity.”

Data analysis, prayer guide priorities

St. John Vianney Church was founded in 1968. It is located just outside the perimeter on the west side of the archdiocese. The suburban parish has seen a boom in members. Since he became the pastor, about 200 new families have joined each year, said Father Knight. Its active membership census has grown from 1,375 to 2,400 households. To keep up with growth, an added seventh weekend Mass soon became standing room only, he said.

With the guidance of the CLI, the parish participated in the Discipleship Maker Index and drew between 1,200 and 1,300 surveys.

Father Knight said the parish leadership used both data analysis and prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament to discern the spiritual needs identified in the survey. The results gave the parish leaders a roadmap of three priorities: deepening relationship with Jesus; fostering a culture of vocations; and a mission beyond the church walls.

People clearly wanted to deepen their relationship with Jesus, said Father Knight.

The parish in response expanded the opportunity for eucharistic adoration. In the past, it was restricted to the first Friday of the month but now it is available every Friday, adding 24-hour continuous prayer on the month’s first Friday. A target goal is to have between 150 and 200 weekly worshipers at adoration.

Parish leaders welcomed the growth of people in the pews, but they also wanted to ensure newcomers were not lost in the crowds, he said. A monthly welcome dinner at the church rectory now gives parish staff the chance to greet newcomers and knit connections.

The second long-term priority is fostering vocations and family life. Father Knight said the survey revealed a weakness in encouraging vocations, where three out of four respondents reported never inviting a man to consider the priesthood.

A new ministry aims in 10 years to have three to five parishioners enrolled in formation for the priesthood, permanent diaconate or religious life. The plan is to make those discussions a normal conversation among parishioners, he said. “Not forcing but just asking” about vocations, he said.

To enhance adult spiritual growth among adults, parish leaders are organizing a new format for small faith groups to fill the gap.

Pub nights spur conversation

The final priority leads to this downtown pub where craft beer is being fermented in large vats behind Father Knight’s trivia table. A large poster promoting the parish stands beside him.

Parish leaders aim to focus on outreach, connecting with the large number of nonpracticing Catholics and people without any faith tradition. Parishioners here will soon be wearing special T-shirts to help spark conversation and prayers.

In the past, the priest sat with friends at trivia night and competed against others. But a friendship with the owners of Skint Chestnut Brewing Company and their need a few months ago for an emcee put him in front of a microphone. Now, he’s here once a month, asking questions to stump the audience.

Some folks said they did not know him as a priest when he came as a trivia player, until he started showing up in his black shirt and Roman collar.

Mike Cleveland, 64, said folks were surprised, and the talk was they should have “filtered” their language. Now folks start filling up the tables an hour before the trivia begins. Cleveland said people seem to appreciate the priest’s good sense of humor.

Later, Father Knight playfully chided all the teams for their incorrect answers.

“Everybody got it wrong. I’ll pray for you,” he said.

Mary Thayer, a parish member for six years, was one of a dozen parishioners here. She was on team “Smells & Bells.”

Thayer, 62, recalled striking up a conversation with a tattooed man as they sat at the bar. She asked about his inked cross on his arm. He asked about her T-shirt depicting a monstrance and the Blessed Sacrament. Their curiosity about each other’s symbols became a “universal conversation” about life, she said.

“We don’t have to keep our faith within the walls. We can go out,” said Thayer. “There are so many opportunities out there. This is one of them.”