“John 17 Mission: Building Parish Community,” an experience of lay spirituality presented by New York-based lay ministers John and Kathleen Colligan, will be held at Holy Trinity Church in Peachtree City from March 7-10.

The purpose of the mission is to build a stronger sense of parish community and to develop a renewed awareness of what it means to be Catholic today. The focus is on practical, down-to-earth ways to love each other more fully. The Colligans, who have presented missions in more than 100 parishes in the United States and Canada, will offer many examples of how to build Christian community based on everyday family life experiences.

“The mission is presented by lay people for lay people,” said Father John Walsh, pastor of Holy Trinity. “The schedule is designed to accommodate parishioners who could not participate in a full weekend retreat. We invite and encourage all Catholics living in the community to attend the mission, even if they have been alienated from the Church.”

Dr. John Colligan is a former dean at Binghamton (N.Y.) University and former superintendent of Catholic schools there. He and Mrs. Colligan are co-directors of the John 17 Center, which is devoted to the development of materials and programs for strengthening marriage, family life, and lay leadership in the church. They are also co-directors of family life education in the southern region of the Diocese of Syracuse, N.Y. The couple has been married for 44 years and has five children, ages 36 to 43, three by birth and two by adoption. They also have been foster parents.

In addition to parish missions, the Colligans have written and presented workshops focused on reconciliation and healing. They are active in marriage preparation and marriage enrichment and have facilitated groups for the grieving and the divorced. Dr. Colligan also has spoken extensively about his miraculous healing from cancer in 1996 through the intercession of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha.

The Colligans will speak during all the Masses at Holy Trinity on the weekend of March 6-7 and will give talks on March 8-10 following the morning and evening Masses at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Topics will include “Where is God in my everyday life?” (Monday), “How does my personal behavior affect others?” (Tuesday) and “How can I find inner peace?” (Wednesday).

For more information about the upcoming parish mission at Holy Trinity, to inquire about Mass times, or for other questions, contact the parish office at (770) 487-7672.