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How to build a welcoming and family-friendly parish

Elizabeth Davies, Chris & Vince Joyce

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In this workshop

• Getting in touch• Hallmarks of family-friendly, welcoming

parishes• Why is family-sensitivity important?• ‘Family Groups’ as a parish resource• What next?

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Getting in touch

Take a moment, in pairs, to think about:An experience of a family-friendly parish orAn experience of a family-unfriendly parish

Identify 1 thing you look for as a sign of a family-friendly parish…. And share!

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Hallmarks

A welcoming, family-friendly parish:• Offers understanding, friendship and support • Is a source of help in times of need• Enables everyone to feel a sense of belonging• Nourishes and celebrates families, of

whatever size, shape, spirituality or life-stage• Recognises itself as a family of families

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This might look like…

• A parish forum, to keep in touch with families• Parish gatherings for having fun together• Rescheduling to accommodate family time• ‘Match’-making of families with families• Liturgies with a family perspective • Toddler groups, grandparent groups, couple

groups, singles groups, parent groups, family groups etc

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Why?

Families tell us that:• Family life is tough enough• Friendships with others in the parish helps• Not everyone feels known, loved and

accepted for who they are• A supportive parish community is essential for

parents’ role in evangelisation

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Parents pass on faith by….

• Having a growing faith in God themselves• Practising and articulating Christ’s teaching at

home• Introducing their children to ritual and prayer• Brokering their children’s relationship with the

wider Christian community

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Family Groups

Family Groups are a parish resource that:• Offer understanding, friendship and support • Are a source of help in times of need• Enable everyone to feel a sense of belonging• Nourish and celebrate families, of whatever

size, shape, spirituality or life-stage• Recognise themselves as a family of families

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Family Groups

• Introductory film• What struck you?• Ten top tips• Any questions?• Testimony

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Introducing Family Groups

Insert film about Family Groups downloadable from http://www.catholicfamily.org.uk/projects/proclaim-15-building-family-friendly-parishes

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Introducing Family Groups

In pairs, what struck you? What opportunities can you see? And challenges?

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Ten Top Tips (1)

• Plan events well in advance• Keep events ‘low cost’ so everyone can join in • Involve the whole group, including the

children• Get group members to take the lead in

rotation.• Organise monthly events, no matter how

many can/can’t make it

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Ten Top Tips (2)

• Plan a House Mass once a year.• Try and plan a weekend away • Keep in regular contact with group members• Contact those who have not been for a while –

they may have clashing commitments• Consider offering them a transfer to another

group (with coordinator agreement)

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Any Questions?

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Testimony

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What next?

What will you do next as a result of what you have heard here today?

• Check out www.catholicfamily.org.uk• Take a copy of our materials• Keep in touch by signing up for our ebulletin• Complete the Family Groups follow-up form?