Reflections – Page 3 – The Passionist Family Group Movement

The Secret to True Happiness?

April 11, 2011

The Passionist Family Group Movement May Have the Answer

In April 2011 the Office of National Statistics will ask the UK population to rate their own well-being in the first official Happiness Index. David Cameron’s £2 million plan to measure the nation’s happiness makes good an election pledge which promised a significant coalition investment in the quality of life as well as in economic growth. Speaking at the Google Zeitgeist Europe conference last year the Prime Minister said, “It’s time we admitted that there’s more to life than money and it’s time we focused not just on GDP but on GWP – general well being.”

Renewed Heart

July 25, 2010

With a renewed HEART I am sending you an APPLE

Uncommon Gratitude

July 18, 2010

The title of a book sent to me while in hospital for my heart operation. How appropriate. UNCOMMON GRATITUDE.
How much do I have to give thanks for? Beyond all measure. A cup full and running over.

The Power of Family Groups

March 29, 2010

Early in August Father Peter McGrath ran a Sunday for family groups. He asked me along with others to make a presentation on how family groups had influenced my life.

From The Monastery – to the Garden – to Grace Cottage

August 14, 2007

The following is Fr Peter’s version of how the Statue of Mary has come to rest at Grace Cottage. It was written from Grace Cottage on the Feast of the Assumption, 2007 by Peter McGrath. Please come and see the statue for yourself one day. The Dawsons have been at the very foundation stones of our Passionist Family Group Movement. While St. Anthony in the Fields, Terrey Hills was the tiny parish of origin, the Passionist Monastery at St. Ives was…

Jenny’s Story – A little help can mean so much

February 15, 2007

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.

A Wedding Proposal at Riverstone

November 29, 2006

Mark was invited to join a Family Group about 3 years ago. He was divorced and had only just recovered from a freakish accident which left him unable to continue to work.

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.

A Family For All

April 21, 2002

(An article from Alternatives, a newsletter of Catholic Adult Education Centre, Sydney. April, 2002)
In this article, Fr Peter McGrath cp, founder of the Passionist Family Group Movement, explores the value of family groups and shares what many are experiencing – belonging to a true Christian community.

Lay movements in the Catholic Church

February 1, 2000

This extract is from the Tui Motu’s review of lay movements in the church since the Vatican Council defined the church as the People of God. The Passionist Family Groups The successor to the Christian Family Movement has its origins much closer to home. The Passionist Family Group Movement was started in 1972 by Fr Peter McGrath cp in the Terrey Hills parish, New South Wales. It has grown steadily and now it operates in 420 parishes in English-speaking countries touching…