Parishioner of Holy Trinity Church in Peachtree City have adopted the slogan, "We Are Family," in an effort to recognize the individual and extended families making up the parish community.

The parish Pastoral Council selected "We Are Family" to convey a focus of unity as a parish family and union with Christ, explains Debby Giusti, who heads the council. Throughout the school year, the theme will be celebrated through the liturgy, religious education program, service projects and other parish activities.

"We've grown so large and there are so many groups that we faced the prospect of becoming fragmented," Mrs. Giusti said. "Following a day of reflection with our parish leadership last spring, we decided that our first goal should be to join hands and work together."

Eight suggestions for the theme were submitted by parishioners, Mrs. Giusti explained. "We Are Family" was selected for its simplicity. "So often, individual organizations use the 'family' concept, and it can begin to sound like a cliche," she concedes. Comments from parish organizations indicated agreement with the choice.

The Pastoral Council created a special "We Are Family" logo, which superimposes the outlines of people from all walks of life over the parish's familiar logo of three interwoven circles intersected by a triangle.

A banner was designed for the altar that features every photo from Holy Trinity's pictorial directory. Parishioners collaborated on a "We Are Family" prayer and a new song, "In the Eyes of God." T-shirts were designed, and several hundred parishioners were sporting their new shirts when the parish's annual picnic, sponsored by the Men's Club, was held Oct. 10.

During his sermons on the kickoff weekend, Father Edward O'Connor, pastor, emphasized the message behind the theme. "It says something about who we are and who we want to be as a Catholic parish," he pointed out.

"We would like to be all things: caring, loving, prayerful, dedicated, ecumenical, Catholic, generous and loving to God and to each other," Father O'Connor added. "Our slogan can help us to focus on one thing that is fundamental to all of these. It will allow us to reflect on one way that we can be better Catholics and a better parish."

He asked parishioners to be reminded of the example of the Holy Family in their efforts to be faithful, prayerful and loving to each other. "We are also looking beyond our own family unit to the community," he added. "We are called to be family and be committed to reach out to those around us."

Mrs. Giusti hopes that the selection of "We Are Family" is the beginning of an annual tradition that will grow stronger and become ever more inclusive.

"We hope that future themes will extend to broader concepts that embrace the community outside the parish family, where many parishioners are already involved," she added.

To that end, at each Mass during the weekend, parishioners joined in asking for the Lord's help in bonding as a parish and reaching out to the community in the "We Are Family" prayer.