Emmaus Community in Sonoma County
“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
In 2008, after two years of prayer, reflection and debate we decided to form a faith community that would light our hearts once again with the inspiration of our brother Jesus. We are mainly a group of catholics from Sonoma County who come from many different parishes. When we first started using the hall at St. Patrick's in Kenwood for Mass, our hosts lovingly referred to us as the "disgruntled catholics." But we're not angry. Rather our motivation stems from a desire to live a more inclusive and authentic Christian life.
We believe in the promise of Vatican Council II with its message of compassion and empowerment. We're ready to break the cycle of "Pray, pay and obey" and to use the promise of baptism to become more active, more mature catholics (with a small c). We have wonderful gifts to share. Many of us have long experience in teaching, parish leadership, counseling and working with the poor.
We gather as sisters and brothers to appreciate one another, to provide strength, to understand our brokenness, to sing and celebrate. We are all volunteers and each one of us provides a gift to the community. For some it is the gift of leadership. For others the gift of concelebrating the Eucharist, organizing a retreat, reading at Mass or providing food for the potluck. Everyone shares. Everyone is welcome.