Name: Prayer and Pasta

Location: Milwaukee, Wis.

When Started: Four years ago after Nancy Metz White attended the national CTA conference and decided she "needed something in between." She called friends and associates in the Milwaukee area and formed the group.

Membership: Currently four married couples and three singles from various parishes, most in their 50s or early 60s.

Format: Prayer and Pasta meets about every five weeks in alternating homes. The host provides a pasta or chicken dish and the others bring salad, bread, wine and dessert. The meal, which usually takes two hours, begins with a prepared blessing, and the conversation often includes a sharing of the members' joys and sorrows. Between the basic meal and dessert, the group pauses for a blessing of bread and sharing of wine in a "commemoration of the Last Supper" -- but not intended to mimic or supplant the Eucharist. This is followed by a two-hour liturgy, which consists of readings, discussion questions and prayer organized by one of the members.

Sources: Readings on Scriptural themes such as the meaning of the Sabbath, the importance of friendship or the message of a particular section of the Bible, such as the Book of Ruth, are provided (or written) by the members alternately. Recent subjects have included Archbishop Rembert Weakland's pastoral letter, "Eucharist Without Walls," and Joan Chittister's talk at the 1997 CTA conference.

Outreach: Several members bring meals to a homeless center; most are very involved in their own parishes. Two, Nancy Hennessy Cooney and Nancy Cannon, have authored a book, "Come to the Table" (published by Sheed & Ward), about getting children to enter meaningful conversation during meals.

Quote: "The meal is an absolutely essential part of what we do. It's community building, it's sharing, it's opening up to one another. When we share bread and wine we do what Christ did at the Last Supper. We're not saying this is a Mass; everyone can make of it what they will."

Source: Nancy Metz White, 414-332-9538