On an episode of the popular sitcom “Parks and Recreation,” classic comic heroine Leslie Knope (played by gifted comedy actress Amy Poehler) started a grand tradition known as Galentine’s Day, a festive February holiday upon which sister friends gather to talk, laugh, celebrate and commemorate.
Since the inception of Galentine’s Day, women across the country have celebrated through luncheons and brunches, girls’ nights out, and fun gift exchanges. Hernando County hosts its own version of Galentine’s Day in the sublime form of SOUL Sisters Happy Valentine’s Day Friendship Pot Luck and Movie Day, to be celebrated Saturday, Feb. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon at St. Theresa’s Parish Hall of St. Theresa Catholic Church, 1107 Commercial Way, Spring Hill.
Each lady in attendance is encouraged to bring a dish to share that starts with one of the letters in the word FRIENDS—and as they feast, all in attendance will enjoy a showing of the 2014 film comedy “Moms’ Night Out.”
“I started the SOUL (Sharing Our Unique Lives) Sisters women’s fellowship as a way for women to gather in friendship and faith, and we’ve been going strong for two years now,” said SOUL Founder and Faith Formation Director at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Mary Chapman. “Each month has a theme, food, fellowship activities, and faith sharing. This is our third Valentine’s theme (last year’s was love letters from God).”
This event puts a spiritual spin on the concept of the ladies’ social. “The focus of every gathering is experiencing God in our everyday lives and sharing life experiences,” Chapman explained. “Sometimes, it involves a movie, a craft, or silliness (frivolous fun). I always encourage the ladies to bring a friend or two or more; it is not just for St. Theresa parishioners. It’s not just for Catholics. It’s for women who want to experience faith in a sisterhood.”
SOUL plans many fun events throughout the year. “We have an annual tea party complete with hats and fanciness. We are having a women’s retreat on March 2,” said Chapman. “We sip and paint and have even worn slippers!”
“Moms’ Night Out,” the film set to be screened for the SOUL Sisters Movie Day, is a PG-rated comedy centered around four friends who experience a crazy night out while their husbands stay home and watch their kids. Sarah Drew from “Grey’s Anatomy,” Patricia Heaton from “Everybody Loves Raymond,” Andrea Logan, Abbie Cobb, Sean Astin from the Astin/Duke acting dynasty, and country music icon Trace Adkins all appear in the spiritual filmmakers and brothers Andrew and Jon Erwin’s film.
The winner of the GMA Dove Award for Inspirational Film of the Year, “Moms’ Night Out,” is widely known as a clean Christian variation on the concept of the chick flick, just as SOUL Sisters Happy Valentine’s Day Friendship Pot Luck and Movie Day serve as a Christian variation on the concept of Galentine’s Day.
For more information about SOUL Sisters Happy Valentine’s Day, Friendship Pot Luck and Movie Day, contact Mary Chapman at [email protected].
