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Members' Stories:

'Here you will find a collection of stories and experiences 

from across all the parishes in which the movement is alive.

If you have any experiences you would like to write about, please email us.  

Submissions should be sent in .doc format, if at all possible, and any photos in .gif or .jpg format. 

ENCOURAGEMENT FROM AN OVERSEAS  MEMBER

Heard the question, “What ever happened to ……?”

At all parishes there is always a coming and going of people. It seems that Family Groups do make a big difference in helping to keep a ‘bonded’ connection with those who have moved on.  Many families who have moved from Sydney have remained ‘honorary’ members of their original group, some even joining a group in their new parish.  We often receive letters from people who have moved to other States, even countries, telling us that one of the first things they did as they re-settled was to join a Family Group. As Father Peter McGrath, founder, says, “Once in a Family Group, always in a Family Group”. 

This all came to mind when a member of my own Family Group, who moved to England , came back to visit.  If some of you remember and have ever asked, “What ever happened to Chris & Edgar, Sally, Maddy and Daniel?”   Well, they are basically still in England with the children scattered (Spain, Sydney & the UK) as they pursue their chosen careers. They remain an important part of our Family Group.

We recently held an informal dinner of all the women while Chris was visiting her daughter, Sally, in Sydney.  It was a wonderful night of catching up and hearing all the latest news of our growing families.  Our original ‘bonded’ connection has never diminished.  I would like to quote a few lines from Chris sent after this evening:

 “I saw this card and needless to say it reminded me of “Family Groups”.  A group of people with all sorts of interests from different backgrounds, doing a range of jobs whilst at the same time ‘being there’ for each other, as and when needed….a special group of people who help to make a difference to peoples’ lives. That’s certainly how I felt on Tuesday evening.  For me it  was very special. Thank you for providing the opportunity to catch up with such good people.   Love, Chris”

Barbara Lunnon, Terrey Hills NSW (AU)

THANKS  & RECOGNITION OF A FOUNDING CO-ORDINATOR OF FAMILY GROUPS

Family Groups have been going for 21 years in our parish.  When Sr. Emimelda was sent to help with the families in St. Clair, our parish was known as the ‘land of nappies’ at that time.

Sr. Emimelda had heard about Family Groups at Castle Hill where they were having an information night so Sister, Jeanne, Annette and Maureen went to learn more about Family Groups to see if they would be good for the families in our parish.

They came back excited because they knew that this was exactly what we needed at St. Clair.

Fr. Rooney invited Fr. Peter to come talk with us. We had meetings at Jeannie’s home and eventually we started our Family Groups with  30 families.  It was very daunting with about 32 children in each of the 3 groups!  And today there are still members of the original groups still around.

Family Groups have been great for our parish and we owe a lot of this to Jeanne Appleton As she retires from her role as a Co-ordinator, we would like to thank her for bringing Family Groups to St. Clair. 

Jeanne is a great ambassador for Family Groups and its motto, “Love one another”. Jeanne shows everyone kindness, understanding, love and friendship. And that’s what Family Groups are all about.

Thanks, Jeanne, we all love you.

Cheryl Tindall Holy Spirit, St. Clair NSW (AU)

WHAT IF I'M NOT CATHOLIC?

His homily was unlike any I'd ever heard. I was mesmerized by every word. He was expressing my exact sentiments about how people should act in church. This man's message was simple on the surface, more complex as one had time to consider his words. He was asking us to be neighborly, to spend time together and to develop community spirit. This Catholic congregation was being invited to shift its thinking. To move out of sit-in-the-same-place, keep-your-coat-on, and leave-as-fast-as-you-can behavior.  The most incredible part? The man issuing this invitation was Father Peter McGrath, a Passionist Priest from Australia! How did he suggest this congregation accomplish the above? By forming a community of Family Groups.

My Catholic husband, Brian, had talked about Father Peter and the concept of family groups. He said he had been invited by Father Jacques to be a family group leader. My first thought was "how can I be a leader of a group of Catholic people if I'm not Catholic? 

Five years later, I know the answer to that question. Any one can be part of a Family Group, whether as a leader or a member. I'll relate back to what Father Peter said the first time I saw him. We just need to get together and enjoy each other's friendship and eventual love. There are no rules about who or what you have to be. I had put my own biases in the way of feeling accepted. I discovered that no one cared that I wasn't Catholic; they only cared about me. 

Over the past years, being involved in the Family Group has brought me closer to the Church. I have become involved in more activities, therefore I've gotten to know more people and have broken my own cycle of mistrust and insecurities. 

The Family Group Movement in our church reminds me of those perennials that grow close to the ground and spread around the base of the other flowers a little farther every year. Our groups, with nurturing, have grown in number. They also have started interacting so that the involved members are not limited to knowing only families in one group.

 I now see the time before and after Masses looking more like a vibrant community of people than ever before. As with the perennials, the Family Groups are spreading around the other church activities and functions, and connecting the people at St. Charles in many ways. To me this is the meaning of Church, a place to go and love God and each other. It doesn't matter if you are not Catholic. It just matters that you are there. 

Karin Congleton St. Charles Borromeo Parish Brunswick, Maine USA  

FAMILY TREASURES  (Never too old)

Recently our 10 year old son was involved in a school project which required him to locate and write about a "Family Treasure". His immediate response was to name Mildred - after all, he says, "she's pretty old and she's part of our family group so that makes her a family treasure!" Daniel's other treasure is his baby sister Vanessa. They are our oldest and youngest members of the Allen Family Group in St. Patrick's Parish.

And, of course, he's right. Daniel enjoys Mildred's company. At 91, she is our most senior member - but age is no barrier. Failing eyesight is about the only thing that keeps our Mildred from getting into too much mischief, but it doesn't stop her from attending the majority of our group activities. We often drive her to the various activities and she copes amazingly well in the back seat of our van with our three boys. 

Our youngest son (Thomas - age 4) has been cuddled by Mildred since birth so has no hesitation in giving her a hug when she requests one. Daniel has discovered a "mine of adventure" in her youth - things like shooting down a zeppelin during WWI - and likes to hear her descriptions of the castles of England (particularly as his class has been studying medieval times and he's right into knights, castles and methods of torture!) 

Mildred is indeed a living treasure - and we are blessed in our group with several more too. May we always remember and consider the needs of our "oldies" as well as those of the children and keep the "families for all" alive and well. 

Norma & Shane McCormack FG Coordinators St Patrick's Parish Napier, NZ 

OUR FAMILY GROUP'S STORY OF SHARING THEIR LIVES

In August this year our Family Groups here at St. Michael's will be nine years old. The years have flown by and the Hanlon Family Group is still together, sharing good times and many outings. The nine families have been with us for almost the whole nine years with the exception of one family who only seem like they have been with us from the beginning of the groups forming, but in fact joined us a few years after we started when they moved here from the country. 

Between us now we have 18 adults and 20 children (4 of whom are teenagers). We have had fluctuating numbers and at times had up to 13 families and many, many children. A couple of families have moved away, and others have tried it and found that it wasn't for them.

This is all pretty normal as Family Groups go, but it always strikes me as exceptional, the way a bunch of very different people in very different age ranges, walks of life and points of view are able to rub along together and give each other loads of love and affection. How they continue to turn up to almost every planned event showing that the group is still very important to each and every one of them. Neil and I have had the privilege of leading this group and have had the honour of all the members being loving and kind to us in return. We are blessed to have them share our lives. 

Recently Neil decided to take the big step of becoming a Catholic and was received into the Church on Easter Saturday at St. Michaels. One of the very special moments of the evening was when Fr. John invited the community at the service to welcome Neil in their own way. Immediately a sea of wonderful, loving parishioners joined a queue to hug him and shake his hand. Neil was truly moved by this and he said later that he felt that he was really wanted and loved as part of our parish family. 

Our trusty leader Fr. Peter McGrath (Passionist Family Group Founder) has always told us about not preaching at Family Group outings and is a firm believer in letting the Holy Spirit do it's work. I have to say that this is great advice. Neil didn't join the groups with the intention of joining the church, this was an added bonus. However we both know that the contact and the sharing within the Family Group has given him the encouragement to take the step. 

What the Family Group Movement does best is open up doors for sharing lives with others in good and bad times and in all types of sticky situations. If we remember that it is with God's love that we gather then all kinds of little miracles will happen. 

Family Groups have been the mainstay in our Parish Community and it is with a great feeling of anticipation that the Hanlon Family group goes forward into the 21st Century. 

Carmel and Neil Hanlon Booragul, NSW Australia  

JOINING A FAMILY GROUP - MY PERSONAL STORY

I had moved to Fennell Bay five years ago out of an unhappy marriage and my self esteem was very low at times. I decided to make the very best of my life for the rest of my life and in a very positive way, decided to join in with parish life and a new community. Thus I joined, amongst other things, a Family Group. 

I learned quickly that if I wanted to get something out of it, I had to put something into it and so my great journey with the Philippa/Tyezynski Group started.

I work shifts, and felt the Family Group came first so I often had to change shifts or leave functions early to go to work on night shifts. However, if I couldn't manage to go to the outings I explained why and offered to do what ever I could to assist to make our outings a success. 

My journey with my Family Group has been very rich and rewarding.  I have been able to open up to various people and share many of my life experiences, thus healing many of my previous hurts. I have been able to put my past behind me and live in today, love my own children unconditionally, as well as love all the members of my Family Group. 

I cannot describe the way I feel about Family Groups, It is like a "warm fuzzy feeling". I feel loved, cared for and nurtured. I know if ever I need anyone for anything I only have to ask or call out and Ill have some one to cloak me in love and be there for me. Wonderful isn't it! 

Mary Fletcher Booragul, NSW  Australia 

SPIRITUALITY IN FAMILY GROUPS

“It takes guts to get grass roots”

The following quote leapt out at me as I was reading a book recently. It is from an American counsellor and theologian looking at issues leading to social and personal breakdown in our modern age. The quote itself is from "Bradshaw on `The Family'.  "We are spiritual beings on an earthly journey. Our spirituality makes up our being-ness. We are essentially spiritual." 

This quote reinforces the simplicity of the Family Group message that caring for each other as Christ cared for us should be at the heart of our Faith. So often we hear it said that Family Groups are not spiritual enough. Perhaps we try too hard to get spiritual without realizing that we simply are "spiritual beings." 

In the formal religious Catholic environment, we nurture our spirit with prayerful discussion groups and meaningful liturgies. Now, through Family Groups, we are finally realizing that the greatest leap in Faith occurs when we reach into the guts of each other's lives and take responsibility for each other. 

As we stretch ourselves to `reach in', we sometimes discover those dusty, dank closet skeletons. We are now reaching the grass roots level of our journey as Family Group members. Do not despair, for in realizing that we are all `essentially spiritual' we are gifted with the understanding that if we look hard enough into that dark closet you will see the Light of Christ shining. It may not happen overnight, but you will see it. 

Doesn't it sound so easy? WRONG!! In difficult times, it is often the Leaders' task to facilitate the healing. We have unique, creative and committed Leaders who have had to deal with a multitude of problems, many of which most of us are never aware of. Their patience is boundless, their doors always open. 

Let's keep the disappointments to a minimum for these kind and generous people who have committed themselves to us. Let's resolutely re-dedicate our lives to our Family Group, renew our commitment to each other as `spiritual beings', bring acceptance and understanding with us to our Family Groups, make our gatherings a priority and be responsible for the spiritual well being of each other. 

Mary Croger
Parish Coordinator
Booragul, NSW Australia 

WHY JOIN A FAMILY GROUP?

After a great weekend for all the New South Wales Family Group Co-ordinators, we were thrilled when we got home to some phone messages from people interested in joining Family Groups. 

One caller, a new mother suffering from a mixture of post natal depression, loneliness and exhaustion, said that she saw lots of hope in the words of the logo.... "A FAMILY for ALL" 

As the family has a fairly long and hard-to-pronounce surname, we had a slight degree of concern as to which group they should be placed in, but on hearing the name, the designated Leader announced, "What a great name - my wife's father is Polish. They'll have a lot in common!" 

The Family Group Spirit was also very evident when a family `wandered' into one of our Groups by accident. Their initial embarrassment must have been short-lived because they joined the Group right then and within the week were helping to plan the year's activities. 

We as Co-ordinators are privileged to hear more and more stories like these about peoples' needs being met and new friendships being formed. I think I could easily become addicted to reports of groups bonding on their first weekend away or of shy people losing their reserve or of single Mums and Dads getting a bit of a break from the constancy of parenting. Yes, it's a tough job, but someone's got to do it!

Dennis and Elizabeth Farrar
Springwood, New South Wales  Australia