Family Groups
HAPPY 15th BIRTHDAY FAMILY GROUPS!!
WHAT ARE FAMILY GROUPS?
Family Groups are social groups - NOT prayer groups or discussion groups. They are a fun way of meeting people in your Parish, expanding friendships and building a caring, supporting, Christian community. Groups operate in their own way, just as families do - to build up a caring, supporting environment. They are a kind of extended family, relaxed and non-threatening.
Groups are meant to reflect the parish community - families, singles - unmarried, divorced, widowed. They meet monthly for any activities they may arrange. Some of the more common activities are progressive or potluck dinners, games nights, picnics, ten-pin bowling, car rallies, sports days, and wine bottling. The members of the individual groups decide on the activities for their group but the emphasis is on activities being LOW COST and for EVERYONE. Usually in one month, the activities are geared towards a family activity, and the next month the activity may be for the adults only.
WHO ARE FAMILY GROUPS FOR?
They are for everyone, without exception. Non-Catholic spouses, young and old; single, divorced or married; single parents; couples with no children or grown up children. are welcome. Whether you are new to the Parish or have been around for a while, they are for anyone who wants to meet more people or who would like to offer their friendship to others in our Parish.
If you are shy or quiet and don't know many people in the Parish, don't worry - Family Groups are welcoming and open to all. Maybe your circumstances have changed - you may be new to the Parish, your children may have left home, you may be a new parent, separated or widowed - Family Groups can offer you friendship and support.
HOW DID THEY START?
In Kippax, they started 15 years ago, growing to the current 11 Family Groups in the parish.
They are uniquely Australian and their genesis was in the late nineteen sixties and early seventies, when members of the Passionist community of St. Ives, NSW, developed a team ministry for youth formation and adult education. A group of lay people collaborated in this team Ministry. In 1972, the Passionists assumed pastoral care of the new tiny parish of St. Anthony in the Fields, Terrey Hills, Sydney. In 1973, Fr. Peter McGrath the founder of Family Groups, using the lay community, gathered small groups of families to support and love each other as way to develop and preserve a community spirit. From there developed the Passionist Family Group Movement. Lay people have always been the backbone of this Movement.
The first group in Canberra was in Kambah and it quickly spread in the ACT. It is now in every state of Australia, overseas and there is even a group in a jail in the USA.
Master and Commander!
Join now!
HOW CAN YOU JOIN A FAMILY GROUP?
Simple - contact the Parish Office or ring Jenny or John Maher at 62545021.
