"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them," Jesus said in Matthew 18:20.

"Making food and giving someone your undivided attention as you share what you've prepared elevates an act of love to a spiritual practice," says Catherine Fowler Sample, writer and producer of the popular film The Dating Project. In Gather Together, she encourages you to get together with others to explore your faith and deepen your relationship with God and each other.

Fowler Sample offers more than forty recipes along with a dozen reflections on faith, friendship, and community for Catholics who crave authentic connection, fun gatherings, and good food.

Primarily aimed at young adults but great for Catholics of any age, Gather Together supports your faith and fellowship and encourages you to connect with family, friends, or fellow parishioners. The spiritual reflections and seasonal recipes will help you build the community you need in your life.

Catherine Fowler Sample shares her experiences of learning to trust in God's providence, getting to know herself, and discovering how to offer support and receive encouragement within your life in thoughtful, heartfelt reflections. While these reflections get real about the challenges of building community, you'll also see the sweet and savory rewards of this holy work. Each month has a suggested theme for a gathering, along with reflections, a prayer, and conversation starters to help your gatherings get off to a perfect start. There are recipes for each month's theme with various courses that you can create and share. The dishes come from classics with a modern twist, traditional family favorites, and originals from Fowler Sample's kitchen. For example, in January, you can ponder the wisdom of St. Clare of Assisi over Italian soup; and June encourages peace over perfection, as you bake imperfect sweet-potato fries and toss together a steak cobb salad.

The starters, entr es, side dishes, and desserts in this collection also offer suggestions for vegetarian, gluten-free, or lactose-free eating. Fowler Sample's recipes appeal to both the new cook and the seasoned chef and include shortcuts for dishes and suggestions for sharing meal prep with others.