Name: Friends on the Journey

Location: Montrose, Colo., some 250 miles southwest of Denver.

When Started: 1986. Catholic psychotherapist Susan Danner decided to form a women's support group modeled on a local men's group in the area. The first eight women she invited all agreed to join, and despite some departures due to death or relocation and with some additions, Friends has been going ever since. (Unfortunately, the men's group did not long survive.)

Membership: seven women in their 40s and 50s; includes married, single, divorced, mostly well educated and liberal, all members of St. Mary's Church in Montrose.

Format: Meets every Friday at 6:30 a.m. in the former parish convent for Scripture reading (usually the texts for the following Sunday liturgy), discussion and spontaneous prayer (sometimes with taped musical accompaniment). Leadership is rotated, as is the providing of breakfast afterwards -- which can range from fritattas (an Italian omelet) to cold cereal.

Outreach: Members are involved in various St. Mary ministries including RCIA, organizing social events and a parish-sponsored peer counselor program to assist troubled persons.

Benefits: Mutual support among the members, who have become close friends, who care for one another during good and bad times, and who openly share their views on spirituality and faith.

Quote: "We don't want to be exclusive, but for this thing to work, you simply have to have people who are compatible. You have to be selective. You can't just advertise it for everyone in the bulletin. We've had those kinds of groups in the parish before and they tend to break up pretty fast."

Source: Susan Danner, 970 249-5384.