Some time has passed since Russell and I have had the opportunity to travel to North Queensland. When we returned earlier this year we were so pleased that it was just like ‘old times’. Our first port of call was to have a night with Liz and Jeff Tillack in Townsville….
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Family Groups Can Work for Solo Parents The Family Groups exist to bring each one of us in touch with the reality of life and the presence of our faith at grass roots level. It is easy to sit down and discuss the problems of others, even to analyse and categorise them, so that one ends up with a neat little package. In the meantime people live, rejoice, suffer and die. Families grow, diminish and often break down. In the…
It was a glorious sunny Autumn morning – truly worthy of the International Family Groups Day. Here at Sacred Heart, Booval, Qld., we celebrated with Mass, followed by morning tea for all. How fitting it was that today’s Gospel and Homily were centred on “Love One Another.” Twenty-eight years ago, two young Passionist Priests, the Traynor brothers, came to run a mission in our parish. Definitely not the traditional Fire and Brimstone variety of the past. At each session, Father…
On a beautiful Autumn morning I sit watching the sun rays dance across the water listening to the soft singing of the breeze passing through the trees. I have arrived early to the meeting spot that in ten minutes time will be filled with warm greetings, the excited shouts of children and an atmosphere of unconditional acceptance and love. I am awaiting the start of our monthly Family Group get together. While I sit and wait I reflect on the…
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.
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
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…
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…
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…