Like a lot of people to whom Family Groups mean so much, my husband and I are ex-patriots (of the UK and South Africa). Almost 10 years ago, Ken and I responded to an appeal at Mass for new Family Group members given by Carolyn. We were very soon to become parents and I was searching for a way to bring our children up in the Catholic faith in a way that would involve my non-Catholic husband in a non-threatening way.
In June 2006 a woman we call Jenny came to a weekend at Holy Cross for leaders and coordinators of Family Groups. She came with others from her country parish and during the weekend she shared a remarkable story with those of us who were there. We have recently met Jenny again on one of our parish visits and she shared another chapter of that story with us.
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
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
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…
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…
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…