Ladies Out to Lunch Group Offers Great Opportunity to See Old Friends and Welcome Newcomers

For over 25 years, a group of women from St. Mary on the Hill has been gathering together every month for food, fellowship, and faith-filled conversation.

“I’ve spent most of my life at the parish, and I really enjoy seeing old friends and welcoming newcomers to this lunch group,” says Kathy Bennett. “I encourage any of the ladies I meet to join us when they can.”

Ladies Out to Lunch (LOL) was formed to help all the ladies of the parish to get to know each other better and to spend time together outside of Mass. It was started by Jane Cashin and three other parishioners — Anne Proctor, Ellen Burroughs, and Wanda Roper — who helped her organize the group.

“At that time, 1997 to 1998, Jane was new to the parish herself and wanted to meet others,” says Kathy Bennett. “It evolved to include all ladies in the Parish.”

Kathy Yawn first discovered LOL when she read a notice in the bulletin after joining St. Mary’s and moving to Augusta two years ago. She had attended the parish before when visiting her son and his family in previous years, but she wanted to meet more women of the parish.

“It was at that luncheon that I met Jane Cashin, a definite angel in my life!” she says. “When Jane decided to move closer to family, she asked me to lead the LOL Ministry, and I responded that I didn’t want to do it by myself.”

That’s when Jane introduced Kathy Yawn to Kathy Bennett. They became co-leaders of the ministry when Jane moved away during the pandemic.

“It is a pleasure and so fun to work with Kathy as she knows the history of St. Mary’s on the Hill and the majority of ladies within the church,” Kathy Yawn says. “I think we both have enjoyed exploring new restaurants to introduce to the LOL group.”

The ladies meet on the second Thursday of each month at a local restaurant. They enjoy all different types of cuisine, and in the past have gathered for seafood, pizza, Japanese, soul food, Creole, Italian, and for the first gathering after the pandemic, they enjoyed boxed lunch sandwiches.

“We do not meet in December or April, and for one month — usually January or February, we have a potluck with a speaker in the Parish Hall,” Kathy Bennett says. “I have been aware of the luncheon opportunity since its beginning and began to attend when I retired.”

The group will meet again for lunch on May 12, and all ladies are welcome. Call either Kathy Yawn or Kathy Bennett in advance to learn the location and to give them a sense of numbers for the reservation.

Come enjoy lunch and get to know other women from St. Mary on the Hill!

“The meeting dates are included in the parish bulletin the two Sundays prior to the gathering,” Kathy Bennett says. “We have had as few as six ladies and as many as 25 ladies throughout the years. Currently, our oldest attendee is 95 years old.”

If you would like more information about St. Mary’s Ladies Out to Lunch group, reach out to Kathy Yawn at 478-737-9606 or Kathy Bennett at 706-825-9210.

The Ladies Out to Lunch Group