Dancing, Haggis, Pancakes and Paper Roses - A Busy Six Months for St Mary's Family Groups

Many thanks to Penny (and John) Cassidy for sharing the following report and pictures on a busy six months for the Family Groups in St Mary's and The Holy Family Parish, Ipswich:-

Hello,  Penny here,

Just thought you’d like to know what our Family Groups have been up to since we last met in January.

The biggest number of folks recorded was 50 when two groups and their friends  joined forces and held a Burns night. It was fully authentic with a toast and address to the Haggis, glasses were raised also in a special toast to Fr. Peter McGrath and Gwen and other family group members across the world, lots of haggis, tatties and neaps were consumed and great fun was had by all, £200 was raised for Iceni a local drugs rehabilitation centre in  Ipswich.

On the other end of the scale our newest group whom we call ‘Yummy Mummies and Dashing Daddies’ met for a chat over a cuppa (except no daddies were present this time), three slightly jaded new mums and their  babies swapped stories of labour and ‘after’! The session was livened up by a few toddlers who showed the babies how to get the most noise from their new musical toys. When energy permits a second meeting is planned!

A highlight of another group was an Italian lunch. Because of increasing numbers, the venue for this changed three times and eventually St Mary’s Church Hall had to house the crowd. All loved plate after plate of Italian food cooked by a young  Italian Mamma- tasty favourites with  a few regional specialities thrown in. ‘Building the highest Tower of Pisa’ was the most popular game and Fr John  our Parish Priest and the children easily won with their novel idea. 

An expert Caller put another family group through their paces. They learned lots of new moves in addition to a whole new vocabulary as they “promenaded” and “dosey doe’d” throughout a recent Saturday afternoon.

Valentines and Shrove Tuesday provided ready-made themes for a few groups. One group held a ‘favourite music for Valentine' evening and had a paper rose making competition with a prize for the best rose; while another did a quiz with a Valentine theme supported with modest sips of lovingly chosen wine! The children preferred the activities of Mardi Gras and reports say that  most pancakes did end up in the pan-eventually!

In the depths of Lent another group held a parish wide Hunger Lunch to support Cafod’s work in Africa.. This was hugely popular and all appreciated the Cafod film presentation, the African music and art and the taster table of typical food eaten by the poor of that continent.

Then to celebrate Easter one group held ‘Easter Egg Bingo.' Because of the popularity of this group, it had to be held in Holy Family Parish Rooms.

The most popular event amongst several groups was the Ten Pin Bowling. Several groups reported that it allowed children to mix in a safe, fun environment. One group had 30 people playing with just three watching. They now plan a wine tasting evening for the adults.

Tea/ coffee after the 9am Mass is popular and on-going but the refreshments after the 10.30 Mass had petered out some years ago. With initiative and persistence, one of our groups resurrected this practice and faithfully serve tea/coffee every month along with delicious home-made cakes.  More than a dozen parishioners (mostly senior) enjoy a cuppa and a chat now after Sunday mass.

Most recently a family group had a lovely pub lunch and walk in Felixstowe. So successful was it that a further visit is planned for a visit to a riverside pub on a summer’s evening.  BBQs, seaside trips –even a train journey are planned for the summer months.

A big ‘thank you’ to all the groups for their contributions. Please keep me telling me about all your meets and take photos at every opportunity.

Penny

If your parish has any great ideas for Family Groups or details of upcoming events, reports or pictures that you would like to share on this Blog please contact the MFL Project Office