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Where has our Family Time Gone?

April 2, 2014

How can we get back some good Old Fashioned Family Time? The following quote from a local Sydney newspaper got me thinking about this question …
“Walking through the waiting room of our busy psychology clinic this morning, I heard three families swapping stories about their Earth Hour experiences. One described the fun they had turning off the TV, PlayStation and stereo and playing an old-fashioned game of charades by candlelight. Another described the challenge of playing cards by candlelight with six children. One mother mused on how nice it was to simply sit and talk as a family.”

Building Parish Communities through Better Communication

March 29, 2018

Fr Brian Lucas writes …

“The respective roles of laity and clergy need to be respected but all parish life is not necessarily dependent upon clerical leadership or approbation. The laity have a natural right to form associations.

Brad’s Story

May 18, 2006

On Sunday 18th May, 2003, Brad Hunt was busily cleaning up at the end of a lovely family BBQ which he had cooked for his father in law’s birthday. As some of the family prepared to leave, Brad sneaked into the garage to grab his new prized possession, a skateboard which his wife, Wendy had given him just a week earlier for his 37th birthday.

Blessings from Ballina

May 12, 2008

I have just returned home from a beautiful autumn day spent with our Sandpiper Family Group at Ballina. We were blessed, this week, with having a visit to our parish of a group of young sisters from Canberra who are in the community for the Missionaries of God’s Love. They have been working with the youth of the parish in preparation for WYD 2008 and they came to our family group barbeque before heading home. by Maureen Murphy

Report from the PFGM NSW Co-ordinators’ and Leaders’ Day 2009

February 22, 2009

The day started with our Parish Mass at St. Anthony’s at which 84 extra people as well as our usual congregation were present. These extra people were representatives of about 40 of our FG parishes across Sydney and were from Broken Bay, Parramatta, Sydney, Wollongong , Newcastle and Wagga diocese. The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Peter McGrath and was not only celebrating Family Groups but also part of the day of mourning for the victims of the bushfires in…

10th Anniversary of 9/11

March 29, 2018

As we all remembered the tragedy of 9/11 ten years ago, Father Peter McGrath was celebrating a Mass of Remembrance in Auburn, Maine USA with the parish of St. Phillips where their 7 Family Groups were celebrating 15 years. Fr. Roger Chabot, Pastor when Family Groups were first started but now retired, returned to take part in the Mass and the following celebration. Also, Chief Dan Daly was giving a heart rending presentation in Dublin to remember the victims of…

Finding friendship in a new Family Group

June 18, 2010

I am a member of the new Family Group at St Agatha’s Parish Pennant Hills. We had our first meeting with Margaret & John Tibbits, in their home, and we had a lovely evening together, where we shared rather a lot about ourselves. It seemed a time of promise and over a cup of tea we decided to arrange our first outing – a picnic at Putney Park, on the Parramatta River. Chris and Tom arrived ahead of time to see…

St. Patrick’s at St. Bernadette’s

March 17, 2012

On St. Patrick’s Day, there are only two types of people in the world – those who are Irish and those who want to be. At St. Bernadette’s at Castle Hill, this time-honoured day of celebrating our Irish heritage, customs and culture represented an opportunity by the Family Groups both to foster Parish community and to raise funds for Fr. Peter and his staff at French’s Forest. On 17 March 2012, over 130 people gathered in the parish hall to…

Hands Across the Pacific

March 29, 2018

The First Congregational Church of Manchester, Vermont USA has provided a helping hand by way of a financial donation to the Family Groups of Tully. FAMILY CELEBRATION: This support came at a time when the area was and is still getting back on its feet after the devastating Cyclone Yasi. It was time to gather as one community and rejoice in all the good things after months and months of dealing with the massive clean up. Many lives are still on…

A Weekend away at Gerrigong

March 29, 2011

Shirley & Ian Marnoch organised a weekend at Gerringong and members from several Family groups attended. The weather was not very good with some rain most days but no one seemed to care and with lots of chats, some hardy swimmers and a few outdoor games everyone was happy and “singing in the rain”. Kevin Roberts