In an effort to engage face-to-face with parishioners in one of the most ethnically-diverse parishes in the Diocese of Fort Worth, congregational leaders of St. Joseph Catholic launched a weekend-long house meeting campaign that drew 546 people into conversation. After each mass, parishioners were invited to stay an additional 30 minutes to get to know others in their congregation; multiple conversations were held in the circular sanctuary.

Congregational leaders who form the parish development team used the listening campaign to jump start their parish development process to hear concerns and identify new leaders for the church. The intent is to "develop disciples to live out the mission of the church in the community." Leaders heard stories of unemployment and isolation. They also heard from parishioners who wanted to join certain ministries but had never been asked!

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With 52 thousands of Central American children currently detained at the Texas-Mexico border, religious leaders of Allied Communities of Tarrant (ACT) banded together to call on their Congressional representatives to protect all the legal protections made available for such kids in 2008.

One parishioner, Lorena Hattarki, shared her story as a young girl fleeing cartel violence in Colombia decades prior: "My experience was very different... When I got off the plane, no one was there to say, 'Get out. Go back.'"

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