We all need encouragement
An extraordinary affirmation comes to us from Fr Peter Bickley, PP of St. Michael’s Traralgon, Victoria.
Rewriting the Final Judgement – Family Group Style
I was sick and you took care of me. “I am an eight year old boy dying of AIDS. You took me in as one of your own. You helped me to celebrate my life and impending death with the Family Group.”
Building Parish Communities through Better Communication
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.
10th Anniversary of 9/11
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…
Hands Across the Pacific
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…
Tribute to Fr. Peter McGrath CP
Fr. Peter has had an amazing impact on the Parishes in England and Wales in which he inspired the setting up of Family Groups. His easy and at times ‘unholy style’ of communication set aside barriers of British reserve in Church. He raised awareness for the need of friendship, support and love in the Parish. Through his wealth of stories and anecdotes he enkindled a new desire for love and belonging.
Mary Ingham’s Retirement Celebration
On Sunday Feb 25th 2018, St Anthony in the Field’s, the little church and parish where Family Groups were born saw a most wonderful celebration for the retirement of Mary Ingham after 46 years of involvement in the birth, development and support Passionist Family Groups in Australia, New Zealand and in a smaller way in the USA, England and Ireland. The gathering was co -hosted by the PFGM Interim Leadership Team
Christmas 2015
My Brothers and Sisters, I want to thank each and every one of you for your continued generosity, compassion and loyalty to our simple life-giving, community-building Passionist Family Group Movement. The Christmas Hampers (baskets) are an outstanding example of this; practical Christian love to families. Hampers are now in many parishes, having their humble beginnings in 1968 with 11 Hampers in the St. Ives parish – even before St. Anthony in the Fields, Terrey Hills. A week ago I had…
The PFGM in England: Parish Family Groups – a Priest’s perspective
Sunday, afternoon 30th October 2011 will forever live in the memory. In the cycle of nature winter had begun, however in St. Wilfrid’s Parish Northwich it felt like the beginning of a new springtime. One hundred and twenty people had gathered for the launch of family groups. Among them was Eric who was grieving the death of his wife Mary; a few weeks earlier they celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of their marriage. He came along with his survival kit, a…
Christmas 2014
My Dear Family, One and All, Who can forget our young Australian Cricketer, PHILLIP HUGHES, who was struck down and killed by a rising cricket ball while batting? Who can forget the sight of the hundreds of people quietly marching behind his coffin in sorrow and support? Why would I begin a Christmas Message of Hope as I have? Many times I heard people say that Phillip Hughes would be looking down from Above, and amazed at the number of…
