Diocesan

Blessing of a family souvenir

Regional parish picnics
Parish

Parish Picnic and activities

Outdoor Mass

Children’s Mass where children are involved in the ministries

Offertory Procession-roster families on until Advent commences

Children come up around altar during family Mass

Blessing of couples celebrating anniversaries each month

Renewal of marriage vows for significant anniversaries

Regularly outreach to Catholic families

Home Mass and meal

Family blessings

Send cards for wedding anniversaries

Prayer for families in the Prayers of the Faithful

Family Group Gatherings

Blessing of Family Homes

Progressive Dinner

Remember to include the nursing homes in any family celebrations

Once a month have Mass at someone’s home

Link a parish Mass to a School Mass or ecumenical celebration

Make a list of interesting things to do in your area and publish to list for families to do together

Send out a postcard with parish information eg church times and distribute card-maybe before Christmas

Parish Mass with coffee and nibbles to follow

Family Masses throughout the year-include Children’s Liturgy

Invite Parish Priest to a family meal

Integrate a message to families in the homily

Put young families in contact with other young families

Tree of Life on church wall-include photos of families

Family/Individuals

Saying night time prayers together

Saying Night blessing as ritual

Grace before meals

Have a date set each year to gather as an extended family

Garden together

Sit at the table and share a meal and stories of family members

Go to the movies as a family

Visit relatives

Have a special event eg Easter egg hunt, car rally

Help the family next door with running errands

Blessing our children

‘Adopt’ a family and invite someone who is living by themselves to join in a family meal

Do something special on Grandparents Day (July 26)

Take a meal to a lonely, elderly couple

Construct parish lists

‘Twin’ with family in detention and write to them

Invite another family in your parish to share a meal with your family

Pray the rosary as a family

Sharing God’s experience as a family

TV free days for families
Schools/organisations

Celebrations for Father’s Day, Mother’s Day , Grandparents Day

Shared celebrations after events eg Sports Day, Graduation

Share information in Newsletters

Promote the importance of prayer in the family

Have an Open Day where families visit where their relative works

Invite ‘family’ to visit nursing homes to promote a sense of family eg Grandparents Day