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Report from the PFGM NSW Co-ordinators’ and Leaders’ Day 2011

March 6, 2011

We started the day with a prayer service organized by Marg and Paul Casey (Wollongong diocese). With their amazing creativity, they led us into Morocco for our opening prayer and into our hearts. Many of our leaders from all around NSW, came forward and lit the light of Christ for all their people, especially their sick and those who had gone home to the Father. You were remembered. Something special happened that took us deeper into our hearts. The photo…

Queensland Floods 2011 – Letter from Dan Daly FDNY

March 1, 2011

To My Good Friends Down Under, It is with alarm and sadness that I followed, first the great floods and then a cyclone of historical proportion in Queensland. It seemed that this natural onslaught would never end. I watched with disbelief the graphic videos of the houses being swept away by the floods and, not long after, houses being blown away by the cyclone. I heard names like Toowoomba, Tully, Mission Beach and Brisbane. These were all places where I…

Queensland Floods 2011 – Where in Australia is Father Peter???

February 4, 2011

Fr. Peter continues his ‘Mission’ in Queensland since 14 January. He has been in the area of Brisbane and at the parish of Albany Creek. Next was Bundaberg and Hervey Bay. Now, at the request of the Bishop of Rockhampton, he continues to Emerald for weekend Masses. He is able to offer a down-to-earth spirituality which he is so very good at. Straight after Emerald, he will be in Townsville to assist where possible with many of our Family Group…

Queensland Floods 2011 – Baskets of Hope

January 16, 2011

Salvation Sunday – Brisbane — 16 January 2011 Greetings and every blessing for this New Year. I am in Brisbane because I simply could not sit on my hands in Sydney when so many of our brothers and sisters, many in our Passionist Family Groups, have suffered trauma throughout Queensland. I wanted to personally offer any help in whatever way possible. It’s wonderful to be with Gwen & Russ Winterscheidt, Directors of our Passionist Family Group Movement in Qld. Gwen…

Celebrating International Family Group Day – 2nd May 2010

May 2, 2010

Throughout the world on this Sunday Family Groups gather in their parishes to put into practice their motto, “A Family for All” with the Eucharist followed by a feast for everyone. Family Groups began right here in the Broken Bay Diocese in 1972 in the tiny church, St. Anthony in the Fields, in rural Terrey Hills. Now part of the Frenchs Forest Parish. The intimate little community there, where people cared for each other, began to grow quickly. It was…

Report from the PFGM NSW Co-ordinators’ and Leaders’ Day 2010

March 7, 2010

An inspiring and ‘Spirit-filled’ day was enjoyed by over 80 Family Group Co-ordinators from parishes across NSW. Fr Peter McGrath, founder of the Passionist Family Group Movement, led this annual review at St. Anthony in the Fields where Family Groups began in 1972. A recent recruit to Fr Peter’s team, Peter Kennedy, added additional insights, support and direction to the development of the movement. So why was this day so special to me? It touched my heart. It renewed my…

Father Peter McGrath cp turns 70

August 17, 2009

It’s all in the fingers … Turning 70, there is no way I can count that many years on my fingers any more than I can count all the blessings that I have received over the years. I want to say a big Thank You to all of you who prayed for me, sent best wishes, came to our Mass and party and, in so doing, not only honoured yours truly but in particular my family and my beloved Mother…

Fr Peter McGrath visits St Joseph’s Passionist Family Groups

June 8, 2009

On a cold winter’s night, Monday June 8th, 2009, over 40 of St Joseph’s parishioners came to the supper room to meet Fr Peter McGrath the founder of the Passionist Family Group Movement. He is friendly, humble, gregarious, energetic, even outrageous but he touched our hearts and urged us to consider one simple request – how could any Christian ignore it? His question “will you support others in your parish?” With a classic back to the basics attitude he grouped…

The 50th Anniversary of Fr Peter’s Ordination

May 15, 2009

Fr Peter McGrath, who celebrated his 50th anniversary of Profession as a Passionist, wishes to convey the following sentiments and share this reflection: When Tony Egar and myself celebrated 40 years of Ordination at St. Anthony in the Fields, Terrey Hills, we both wrote very similar comments on a little book mark that was printed for the occasion. I would like to update that bookmark and instead of beginning with 40 years, now have 50 years. “Fifty years is a millimetre for…

Black Saturday Bushfires, Victoria, 2009

February 7, 2009

Green Leaves – Resurrection Hope Even while the terrible fires were still burning and great columns of ash and smoke were billowing into the sky, help was being offered from far away in Vermont USA. It’s amazing how human hearts are open by tragedy and grief. It’s as if it was Good Friday all over again. The loss and the devastation was conveyed across the world. So our Family Group Coordinator, Tammy White, from the First Congregational Church in Manchester,…