What is a St. Gregory's Pocket?
Many women and their families are looking for more community — physical, real-time community in their neighborhoods. We kept hearing from our readers, “If only we could meet up with you in real life, or read up with other people who like this blog!” We are all in need of friendship, of helping neighbors, of people who they can spend time with in real life in order to build up the culture and form the bonds needed for flourishing families.
Most of all (and you might not realize this yet!), we need a solid community to provide good friends and peers for our children when they are older. Before you know it, you'll be in that second decade with children about to be teens.
You need friends — a good solid community — for the future.
So, maybe we can't meet all of you, but we can help you meet each other!
You don't want to have to join a club or drive an hour or go to a conference just to meet someone who shares your faith and your desire to live differently. You definitely don't want to make all your friends online.
You want to find the women in your area who share your goals and your philosophy.
The St. Gregory's Pockets are just that — little “pockets” of people in a given geographical area. Pockets of people who would like to get together naturally, to share the seasons together, to help out when a mom has a new baby or someone is sick, to have kids who can play together, to have picnics where men can talk to other men who care about raising strong families in a counter-cultural way.
Use the St. Gregory's Pocket to find the women and families where you live and connect with them. All it takes is a couple families who can then welcome more families, and sooner or later you'll have a group – you'll see!
Why use Facebook to have the Pocket's “registered” here?
We aren't that fond of Facebook. But it helps with this. Mainly it's a way to be private and safe, because the groups are private, not public.
When an individual or a group of friends forms a Pocket – anywhere in the world! – they use Facebook and then can list the Pocket here on this page. Then it's in the directory here (below) for other people from that area to find!
For instance, someone from Duluth sets up a Pocket and it's listed here. Then when another person from Duluth thinks, “Hey, I wonder how I can make some great friends,” all they have to do is check the list here, and voila! – they can connect with the Duluth group through the directory listed below.
Using their Facebook profile, they join that group and then can be in touch with those other Duluth friends in order to get tea together, have a reading group, set up a meal train for someone in need, or whatever else they want to do to build a friendly culture together! The St. Gregory's Pockets project relies on Facebook for making the online connections that will facilitate the real-time connections. (We do have a few Pockets that are hosted by ladies who have posted their email addresses in case you are not on Facebook.)
To Understand a Little More:
- Here's the post from the day we kicked off the St. Gregory's Pockets project — and why St. Gregory is our patron! Read to get a little more of a sense of what it's all about.
- Read this post to get a sense of what the vision is for a St. Gregory's Pocket – the vision for a group of people who are intentionally forming a healthy, happy, friendly, faith-filled community — and also read about some fallacies.
- Read about Bold Friendship, a post which contains some general tips if you are interested in getting a Pocket started in your area, or if you want to think about how to be a good member of a Pocket.
- Is there no Pocket in your area, but you're scared to start one, yourself? Here is a post with encouragement and some practical tips.
- Need some ideas of what to read and discuss? We have a suggested reading list here to get you started.
A LIST OF ST. GREGORY POCKETS:
(If you don't see your area listed in the directory: see below for info on how to start a Pocket and FAQs)
{contact the person using their email, if provided, if you are not on Facebook.}
Washington, DC
Washington DC area group Elizabethlilleyg [at] gmail [dot] com
Alabama
Alaska
Anchorage etomaria [at] gmail [dot] com
California
Sacramento munsill.laurel [at] gmail [dot] com
Colorado
Connecticut
Northeast Connecticut StGregsPocketNortheastCT [at] gmail [dot] com
Southern Connecticut stgregspocketofsouthernct [at] yahoo [dot] com
Delaware
Florida
Orlando stgregspocketorlando [at] gmail [dot] com
Georgia
Indiana
Central Indiana stgregspocketofcentralin [at] gmail [dot] com
Illinois
Chicago–Western suburbs stgregschicagowest [at] gmail [dot] com
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Northern Massachusetts/Southern New Hampshire
Michigan
Ann Arbor A2StGregoryPocket [at] googlegroups [dot] com
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
Manchester deirdrefolley [at] gmail [dot] com
Northern Massachusetts/Southern New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
Rio Rancho Rioranchogreg1 [at] gmail [dot] com
New York
Southern Tier (Broome and surrounding counties)
North Carolina
North Dakota
Bismarck/Mandan lillianbielinski [at] gmail [dot] com
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City ascapbidd [at] gmail [dot] com
Oregon
Willamette Valley mangiamamma [at] comcast [dot] net
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Nashville jenny.y.townsend [at] gmail [dot] com
Texas
Fort Hood clevri [at] gmail [dot] com
Texoma to North Texas area krschb11 [at] gmail [dot] com
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
Canada
Britain
Europe
Lisbon-Cascais St. Greg's Pocket
Japan
Don't see your town/city/area listed above?
No problem: just start your own group! See below for instructions!
Setting up a Pocket/Getting Started: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Setting up a new Pocket is very easy!
To set up a Facebook Group:
Log onto Facebook and set up your closed (but not secret!) Facebook group, adding me (Leila Marie Lawler) as a member if you don't know anyone else yet, and making me an admin.
Email Me at LMLDBlog dot gmail dot com with the link. Then I will post your link here and others can join you, after following the instructions on your group page.
Set the following post as the top, “pinned” post on your FB group (just copy and paste the italicized portion):
Welcome! Please comment here to acknowledge that you've read!
This is a St. Gregory Pocket! We want to be friends, discuss interesting topics, and help each other along the journey of life and love. Here is the post on the site Like Mother, Like Daughter that explains why St. Gregory and what we are about. (use this URL: http://www.likemotherlikedaughter.org/st-gregory-pockets/)
To pin this to the top of your FB group page, post it as your status update. Then click on the little arrow in the upper righthand corner and choose “Pin to top.” This will keep this as the first thing visitors read when they go to your group.
Set the “page description” (right-hand side of the group discussion page) to say the following (again, just copy and paste):
This group is a place for Catholic/Christian women (esp. readers of the blog www.likemotherlikedaughter.org) to get in touch so that we can meet up in person and connect in our area!
While there are many online groups for chatting and sharing info online, the purpose of this group is to facilitate REAL LIFE connections and get-togethers.
A place for ladies in the [insert your location name here] area to connect in order to make play-dates, tea times, book clubs, etc.! Please invite anyone you think would be interested, and let's get together!
No age limits – new moms, experienced moms, single ladies, married… we all just want to connect!
As soon as you are able, make another local person admin along with you. The more admins the better. Then they can also add their new acquaintances and Facebook followers whom they've vetted. I am only on there in case the group languishes and needs to be revived, or there is some problem for some reason.
*Here are more hints that might help:
About the St. Greg's Pocket set-up process:
- In order to be linked here on the blog so that other readers can find you, you need to set up a Facebook group. You don't have to be on Facebook in any other way (you don't have to friend anyone or fill out any of the profile info, for instance). Someday maybe we can have a forum here, but we don't want to get into that right now — we want to get you all connected as soon as ever may be! So please just go for it so that your area gets represented here. (Read the info above for directions.)
-
You almost certainly will start your Pocket by inviting people you know, however marginally. Be brave or ask someone else to help you once you set up the group — even that one other reader who finds you. If you think you are alone in your far-flung locale, don't worry. There may actually be another reader somewhere near. But even if not, you can still do it.
You can use the blog as the starting point. Leila spells that out here and here and here. For instance, how about just getting other moms together to talk over menu planning… or couples to discuss an important Church document? Just say, “There's this blog I read… would you be interested in getting together to discuss?” And send them the link to right here! You can always say, “I'll be in the library children's room at such-and-such time. Come say hi!” If nothing else, you will have had a nice trip to the library with your tot.
- As admin on your Facebook group, you are in charge of approving new members — not Sukie. You can make other people admins though! And then they can be in charge of approving, if you would rather not. Be patient — that person will appear.
In fact, you have done a lot by setting up the group! Others can do other aspects of the organizing if you are not comfortable. Make your needs known. Just say, “I've exerted my last bit of organizing ability by making the group. Could you help by [state need here].”
- If you want to set up an email list so that emailing is efficient, that's fine with us. We won't be involved with that part of it. But the public (but closed) presence needs to be on Facebook so people can find you from here.
-
Please pray for this! You know how important it is to try to eat locally? Well, even more important is being friends locally! One bit of leaven can leaven the whole lump of dough. Want your community to be one of life and love? Be friends!
Arlie Crabtree says
I no longer have Facebook, but surely other like-minded people are in St. Louis, MO. I am not Roman Catholic, but an Orthodox Christian.
Liz says
I’m in St Louis! I created a bare bones facebook account just for this project yesterday (after quitting my real account six months ago), but I’m hesitant to start the group myself because 1. I’m not Roman Catholic, either (Lutheran (LCMS, the traditional/conservative kind), and 2. we just moved to the area and I don’t know many other moms here yet (and 3. I’m kind of shy).
Sukie says
You are both welcome! Liz, no need to hesitate–you don’t need to be Catholic, and this is meant to be a means of connecting people!
Mary Catherine says
Liz, start a group! There are LOTS of LMLD fans in St. Louis, and in fact I’m trying to engineer some groups to bring Leila here to talk. I’m not feeling called to start a new organization at the moment, but please start it and I will post and post to get others to join!
MacKenzie says
I’m in the St. Louis area too (and I’m not Catholic either)!
Liz says
This is a great response! A friend of mine here in StL had a bit of time yesterday and set up a group after we talked about it, so keep an eye out for it to appear in this page! I look forward to meeting you!
Woman of the House says
I’m Lutheran, too, but I live in Columbia. Is two hours too far for me to think about driving? lol I’m afraid yes, but maybe there are Columbia people who are interested. I’ve lived here just three months and have not yet met many people.
Emily B says
I’m in Sedalia and would possibly be interested in a Columbia group as it’s only about an hour away. I’m not on Facebook. So I’ll keep checking back here to see if you or anyone else starts a mid-Missouri group!
Denise T. says
Hi –
I saw all the people from St. Louis and just wanted to say I am from the city, too! I am a Roman Catholic mom who has several kids, four in college and three at home. I don’t have facebook on purpose, but I was wondering if we can join without having a facebook. I am hopelessly Medieval when it comes to computer things, so I ask patience as I learn more.
Thanks!
Mrs. B. says
Facebook asks me to sign in 🙁 Why can’t we see a group’s page without logging in? Who is organizing the DC group?
Sukie says
Mrs B–I am. That’s disappointing–I thought you would at least be able to see the description! But you can email me–suzanneelizabeth at gmail dot com–and I will keep you updated!
Mrs. B. says
Thank you! I’ll send you an email.
Carolyn says
I’m not on Facebook, but would love to join up with other like-minded moms in Dayton, Ohio. I am Catholic and would be happy to join a group and help organize things in the Dayton area if someone sets it up!
Kelly says
Carolyn – I am in the Dayton, OH area, too! I will sign up on FB according to the instructions above….Watch for it!
~Kelly
Carolyn Hall says
Fantastic – I will look for your link!
Carolyn
Carolyn says
Kelly,
Is the Mansfield/Central Ohio the link you set up for Dayton? Just curious as that is the first one in Ohio I have seen. Thanks!
Carolyn
Julie says
Carolyn,
Search “St. Gregory’s Pocket Kettering” on FB. It looks like that may be the one Kelly set up. I’m in the area, too, and looking forward to meeting like-minded people 🙂
Carolyn Hall says
Julie,
I’m not on FB, but will try to look at it using their directions somehow. Can you be as close as Kettering? I’m in Centerville!
Carolyn
Leila says
If there is another pocket — send us the link! We will post it here.
Carolyn Hall says
Hello,
Is the Kettering St. Greg’s Pocket active currently? I asked awhile back, and am still not on FB but would love to join if people are meeting. Is there a way to contact you through email? I’m in Centerville/Wash. Twp.
Carolyn
Carolyn says
Kelly,
I see the link for Kettering. Is there a way I join in using just my email or your email? I thought Leila mentioned something like that – like you didn’t need a FB account to join. Please let me know.
Thanks!
Carolyn
Isabelle says
I’m not brave enough to start a group, but keeping my eyes peeled to see if any European groups get started… Either that or have it confirmed that I am the sole representative for the whole continent…
Erica says
Isabelle, I will be in Athens, Greece early next year, where in Europe are you? I was curious about the same thing when we move.
Isabelle says
Unfortunately I’m in England. I’m French so I go to France quite a lot as well, but not Greece! i’m really sorry, I hope you find more people closer, maybe people will read the comments!
Valerie says
Hey Isabelle, I’m French living in the US. Nice to see other Frenchies reading lmld. 🙂 hi Erica! Good luck to you seething up European pockets.
Sue says
Hi Isabelle, where in England? I live west of Cambridge.
Isabelle says
I am in Nottingham. I am considering setting up a Roomy British Pocket (using up all the courage I can muster, and fearing the empty page of emptiness). It would be stretching the definition of “local” (sorry Auntie Leila), but it would be a step up from “America is just too far away”.
Sue says
Set something up! You never know! Nottingham is a little over an hour away from me.
Libbi says
I am in Cambridge but too scared to start a pocket as I feel overwhelmed by my own life right now.
Elle says
You’re not the sole representative, Isabelle! I’m in Wales, but am also not brave enough to start a group.
Isabelle says
do you think we can count as a pocket? surely on an American scale, we’re practically neighbours! (I’m in the East Midlands)
Elle says
We could be a roomy pocket!
Liz Lockhart says
I’m in Wales – well Welsh border, but not quite brave enough either!
Liz
Martha says
Another reader here in Wales! 🙂
Elle says
Maybe we’ll end up with a Welsh pocket!
Leila says
Martha, Elle — do start one if you can — the idea is to connect with other people locally. So much good will come of it.
Ajda says
You’re not the only one in Europe! I come from Slovenia, so perhaps we could meet halfway… in Germany? 😀
Isabelle says
I like your thinking! It’s nice to see the Old Continent represented anyway! Go Europe!
Stephanie in Germany says
I’m in Germany, near Muenster! I just might be the half way meeting up point!!!! I also have a girlfriend here who wants to join!
Isabelle says
Haha, believe it or not, I am actually planning on visiting Muenster in December, this pan-European reunion couls ACTUALLY happen!
Stephanie in Germany says
So, do we make a Europe pocket? Anyone else coming to Muenster in December?
Unbelievable Isabelle! Do you speak German, too?
Isabelle says
Go for it! I would join! Otherwise, I’ve created a British pocket which has not been moderated yet, I’m sure we can stretch it a bit if need be, and make it European!
I don’t speak any German, no, unfortunately, I was planning on relying on German people speaking English, and on my German-speaking friend!
Stephanie in Germany says
Maybe your friend would like LMLD?
Susannah says
I am in Madrid, Spain and have another British friend here who also reads LMLD. We do not leave the country much but I do love Germany . . .
Ajda says
I’m not planning any trips to Muenster (yet), but I am fluent in German, having studued in Austria for six years 😀
Perla M. says
I’m in Italy, however, I’m not on Facebook. I’d be interested to connect with other LMLD readers in Europe as part of some kind of pan-European group, though. I might be doing some traveling next year, so there might be some possibility for me to meet up with some readers.
Would there be any interest in creating a Google or Yahoo group?
Mary Ann says
In Gaming, by chance? My husband and I are ITI alumni.
Sarah says
I’m not on Facebook, but if there are any other ladies in the Central Indiana area interested I’d love to help get something started!
Grace says
I’m not on FB either, but will be moving to Lafayette area this coming fall, if you are still in the area and still interested in starting something!
Sarah says
Yes, I’m still in the area. Hope we can start something this Fall!
Ginger says
I am in Ventura County, California. Simi Valley. I don’t know anyone yet that I can make a friend to join so if you know someone to send my way I’ll start a Facebook group.
Yeah,
Ginger
Laney says
I’am in California also, but closer to Sacramento 🙁 Hopefully more will pop up.
Laurel says
I’m near Sacramento…in Auburn.
BridgetAnn says
Ginger, there is a Great Books College in Santa Paula, CA (next to Ojai, about 20 min from Ventura)- Thomas Aquinas College and, as a result, a large community in the surrounding neighborhoods. Consider visiting the campus or attending Mass at St. Sebastian’s, the Catholic Church in Santa Paula. Really beautiful people!
Sue K says
I just clicked on the St. Greg’s Pockets tab and my anti virus software went nuts. You may want to check on it.
Hilary says
I am trying to make the St. Louis fb page, but I’m not sure how to add Sukie as an admin if we aren’t fb friends.
Maria says
Just add her as a friend first, then you’ll be able to :]
Emiy C says
I also do not have Facebook (it is SO NICE to see that in other comments, it means I’m not the only one!) but if someone is in the northeast Memphis suburbs, I’m in for helping to organize!
Sharon Andrews says
I would really like to comment on these and other sites but am not comfortable because I am forced to give access to my friends’ contact info.
Julia Mooney says
I’d love to start a St. Greg’s Pocket of Southern Connecticut. I’m in New Haven. Anyone else in the area so we can get a FB group going?
Sheila says
We’re in Naugatuck and I would LOVE something like this!
Jen says
I am just outside of New Haven!! 🙂
Kari says
Hi,
I’m in the Albuquerque, nm area and would love to have a pocket! I’m not on fb though so if there are others local who want to start it, I’m game!
Kari
Catherine says
Sukie, I’m not on Facebook either and don’t really want to get drawn into it (I KNOW that would be a bad move for me and my family). Do you think this page could also be the host for groups started via email in a city? It could work the same way, in that the city name could be listed above; but instead of a link to the Facebook page, the organizer’s email could be listed there (it’s so easy to get a free email account, the person could open an account just for the purpose of the group so as to keep it separate from their private account, if safety is a concern).
What do you think? I live in Spokane, WA and would love to see a group like this start here.
Maria says
Agreed! I deleted mine because I wasn’t good at moderation and didn’t want to get back into it.. I tried for this specific group, but will redelete if necessary. (I’ve hidden all feeds and deactivated notifications!) But! I did create a group (in Anchorage, btw) and provided my email for those who don’t do facebook.. Maybe that’ll be a good work-around? Hope so! (Or even maybe a meet-up group? Though you have to pay for those, I believe..)
Anyway, glad to hear others are committed to no fb! (Even tho I did cave a little)
Maria
Kate S says
Hi Catherine! I know this is really old, but I’m in Spomane, too (just moved), and I would love to start/join a pocket! My husband just started as a professor at Gonzaga, and with a new baby, I’m finding it hard to make new friends. If you read this, we should set something up 🙂
Carolyn Hall says
Kelly,
Fantastic! I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one in Dayton. I’ll watch for your link for Dayton and try to join you!
Carolyn
Kimberly Beaty says
I am not sure how this all works, but is anyone around Williamsburg, VA? I do not know how I’d get the answer besides rummaging through these comments routinely – but I thought I would give it a try, anyway. 😉 I’m not Catholic, but am very happily warmed by those I quietly bump into in “Blog-Land-Shire,” discovering so many love pursuing great thoughts from minds like Charlotte Mason, C.S. Lewis, and G.K. Chesterton with a deep desire to pursue imaging the mind and heart of The Lord Jesus Himself in their homes. 🙂
Kimberly Beaty says
Whoops! Neglected to see that I should check the boxes for email notifications!
Leila says
Kimberly, it works quite simply — just start a Facebook group according to the directions. Add Sukie as an admin (NOT friending her — just email her from the group). Then she will post the link here under the name of your area.
That is how others will find you — and apply to be a member of your group. You will control who becomes a member. They have to prove themselves to you (and anyone you designate as another admin — not Sukie).
It won’t make sense to use the comments here to do this. They will quickly become too many! The FB group is the way to go.
Christine Drechsler says
I tried to create fb account, but had problems. I’m in Naperville, IL, could I please have email for Chicago/western suburbs contact person – would love to get connected with a pocket 🙂
Leila says
Christine, click on the link for the Chicago FB group and you will get to where you need to be.
Jessica says
Theresa, I can’t find you again on FB but email the Seattle pocket admin to get added back. sorry you got removed accidentally!
Sara says
I’m interested! Is there anyone in Indianapolis, specifically the southside/Greenwood area? I would love to connect with other like-minded people in real life!
Sarah says
I’m north of Indy, but an interested is trying to start something too.
Leila says
To Perla: If you create a different kind of group other than Facebook, we won’t be able to add it here on the page for others to find you. It’s just too many log-ins for Sukie — too many different ways to handle things.
FB isn’t my favorite thing ever, but it’s easier than google or yahoo to manage. If you go on there just for the group, you can leave the rest.
Of course, you are free to do what you like, but we won’t be able to link it here, as I said.
Donna L. says
I just want to say Thank you! to Auntie Leila and Sukie, et al for starting this St. Gregory’s pocket. There was a Mom or two from Washington State–and I often go to the East side {Spokane} to visit family…so I was in the hope that there would be a pocket there, too, for when we visit and eventually move over there!
Nancy says
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1468344986784952/
Jacksonville, Florida
Sunny-Gem says
Hurrah for the Roomy British Pocket!
Susan (DE) says
Is there anyone in southern Delaware here ? Or Salisbury, MD area? ???? I don’t know anyone…here…
Sarah says
Yes! I’m just thirty miles southeast of Lafayette. I’d love to get something started this Fall!
Elizabeth says
India, anybody? 😛
Elaine says
Hi all,
I think this sounds wonderful. But, I am not on Facebook. I see that there is already a pocket “Finger Lakes Region, NY” That might be fairly close to me. Is there any other way to connect?
Suzanne says
Hi Elaine! I’ll get in touch with those ladies and see what I can do. Can you please send me an email with your contact info? Suzanneelizabeth at gmail dot com
Thanks!
-Sukie
Maggie says
It would be good to get an occasional update on this very worthy project. I think that the FB req. Is an obstacle for many. Some of us have never had it, others closed their accounts. It’s too difficult to use FB for a single purpose. It also could force people into misleading others. For example, our parish and various groups within are always asking people if they are on FB — or telling everyone that info is on FB. It takes effort to work around this.
If I was to get FB for this wonderful project, I would 1) have to deny that I am on FB to other worthy undertakings/groups/organizers 2) possibly be drawn in when I’ve resisted at sometimes significant cost.
LOVE the idea. Needed more each day.
Wondering whether there are other possibilities for connecting.
May you be richly blessed for your efforts.
Ashley says
Hi! I’m commenting on the off chance someone in the Wiesbaden, Germany group is following this. I’m new to the area and would love to connect but I’m not on Facebook. If there is another way to connect, I’d love it if you could share. Thanks!
Ashley says
Hello! What a fantastic initiative. Would we be able to start a St Gregory’s Pocket in Australia?
God Bless
Ashley
Leila says
Yes, Ashley, of course! Just follow the instructions in this post. And let us know when you have set it up — we will post about it so that people will be alerted.
Wysteria says
I refuse to join Facebook (again) for a myriad of reasons (top one being, I have no self control when it comes to Facebook groups). Is it possible to do this with an email group provider like groups.io?