At 9am Mass on Sunday 21 May, our Family Groups celebrated 35 years in our Parish and 50 Years since they first began in 1973 in Terry Hills, NSW. Many of our family group members came together to renew our commitment, remember the past and celebrate with the Eucharist and birthday morning tea.

Family Groups began in our parish in May 1988 with 22 groups! Elaine & Ted Hallam were our original coordinators and did an amazing job of launching and establishing the groups. We remember Ted who recently passed away. We thank our many coordinators and leaders for all their leadership and support over the years, in particular: Denise & Des Grissell, Toni & Hilton Roach, Carol & Peter Briscoe, Jane & Bruce Johnson, Jenny & George Searson, Nola & Bill Moore, Colleen & Alan Henshaw, Sylvia & Denis Ryan, Dorothy Maloney and many more including our current coordinators Cathy & Mike Hawtin.

We acknowledge them for their leadership, time, support and effort that they provided to the Family Groups in our parish. We ask God to bless those members who have passed away and be close to their families.

We thank every single one of our members past and present for joining and committing to the purpose and aims of Family Groups and for all of friendship, support and fun we have had and continue to have together. Thank You!

By Leanne Hyland

For the 50-year anniversary of the Passionist Family Group Movement, Paul Traynor, National Coodinator (NZ) wrote this reflection– it is worth a read!