About Us:

The Passionist Family Group Movement  is an international organisation, which was founded in 1973 by Father Peter McGrath CP in the parish of St. Anthony in the Fields, Terrey Hills, Sydney Australia.  Since then, it has grown from those very humble beginnings to an important part of community life in over 400 parishes in six countries. The Movement is Ecumenical and continues to grow.

The aim of the Movement is to build Christian community through the development of extended families. With loneliness and isolation so prevalent in our society, there is a genuine need for people to know and support each other. Family Groups create an extended family atmosphere within the community and are open to everyone.

Our focus is on people caring for, loving and accepting each other just as they are and, in so doing, building up the Christian community. A Family Group is very human in the deepest sense of the word. The faith level of Family Groups runs deep, "Matters of the Heart” 

Our faith is to be human with each other, to love each other, warts and all. In these very difficult times that confront us, the world needs, more than ever, to return to the values of the family.

Why have Family Groups?

Most parishoners admit to three important realities:

1. There is a need to get to know others better and to develop more of a community spirit.

2. There is a need to support others. This support is needed especially for solo-parents, those with non-Catholic partners and the generally disadvantaged.

3. They would like to help others, but they don't know who in the parish needs help.

These needs are all heart needs, not head needs. 

The Family Group Movement strives to meet these basic heart needs.

The post Vatican 2 church lays heavy emphasis on two factors that very much affect the local parish:

1. The local church is called to be a community.

2. The laity is called to exercise its proper role within the church, according to the abilities of its members.

The Family Group Movement strives to encourage pastoral care and leadership of service, highlighting the variety of ministries that can be undertaken by each ordinary person.