Everybodys Welcome
Everyone's Welcome is an initiative to support parish communities in becoming friendlier, more family-sensitive and more welcoming of all, including those at the heart of parish life as well as those on the margins. A range of resources have been developed in dioceses and through the project office, all of which are free to download at the Everybody's Welcome website (opens in a new browser window). Family-sensitive, welcoming and friendly parishes are the foundation of the Church's care for marriage and family life as well as for the next two stages of the Celebrating Family initiative: Home is a Holy Place and Passing on the Faith.
Everybody's Welcome? Helping Your Parish to Become More Friendly for Families of All Kinds is a simple package to help parishes explore new ways to be more family friendly. It's about listening to what everyone has to say. It's about sharing a fresh vision for your church. Download a copy of Everyone's Welcome.
The Ministry of Welcome is a four or five session training resource for parishes. It aims to enable all parish groups to understand why welcoming visitors and strangers matters, that all parishioners need an ongoing welcome and to prompt parishes to improve their own welcome policies. Download a copy of the Ministry of Welcome training resources.
What is Life Like? is a series of seven leaflets to help parishes understand and meet the needs of families facing specific challenges: divorce and remarriage, bereavement, disability, mental ill-health, living without a shared faith in God, belonging to two Christian communities and with gay or lesbian family members. Download copies of What is Life Like .
Top Tips for Busy Parishes are labour-light ways for busy parishes to create a welcoming, friendly and family-sensitive atmosphere. We have developed twelve simple ideas, one for each month of the year, that dont demand an intensive programme or the establishment of a new group. You are probably doing many of these already. Read the top tips for Busy Parishes here.
Family Groups are a resource for developing friendlier parishes, currently being trialled in parishes in Manchester, Kendal and London. The Marriage and Family Life Project Office is looking for more volunteer parishes intersted in piloting this strategy which seeks to put into practice Our Lord's commandment to love one another. Read more about Family Groups here.
The Mental Health Support Project grew out of the development of the What is Life Like? leaflet on mental health. A small working group is developing a network of those interested in this topic and exploring what more can be done to develop pastoral care for those affected by mental ill-health. Read more about The Mental Health Support Project here or email Roberta Canning, Volunteer Development Worker.