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Ministry/Group Name
Growing Families Ministry
Commission
Pastoral Care
Mission/Purpose
Our primary mission is to reach out to families with new children.
Regular Activities
Through a network of parish volunteers, we offer support to families with new children. When a parent contacts the parish office to arrange a baptismal date, a Growing Families Core Team Member makes contact with the parent(s) to offer congratulations and to assess how the family is doing. A variety of means of support is offered to the family, e.g., meals, transportation, respite care or simply a listening ear. If a family requests any support services, the Core Team Member contacts parishioners who have volunteered to provide such services and puts them in touch with the requesting family.
As a subgroup of Growing Families, we have in place a support network for couples with infertility issues and those considering adoption. Any parishioners dealing with these issues and desiring to talk with couples who have been through them may contact the Parish Office for assistance.
The following Growing Families Ministry meetings/activities are open to all parishioners:
- Parents Playgroup (meets the 2nd Friday and 4th Wednesday each month)
- Parenting Workshops
- New Baby Welcome (held once a year)
- Christmas Cookie Exchange for Families with Adopted Children
- Quarterly Social Gatherings for Families with Adopted Children
Spiritual Growth/Benefits of Participating in this Ministry
This ministry has been well received by new parents. While they do not often request meals and respite care, these moms and dads are eager to meet other parents in the parish. The greatest asset of this ministry has been its ability to bring these new parents together to form friendships and foster support on this journey called "parenthood" --an awesome task for which we are perhaps never truly prepared.
Specific Requirements to Consider if Participating in this Ministry
The commitment of a Core Team Member includes an average of four meetings per year and an assignment of approximately ten families to contact each year. The commitment for a parish volunteer is very flexible and comes on an as-needed basis. Each volunteer may only be called on once or twice each year. While the time commitment is minimal, the appreciation shown by these families is immense.