The Rt Rev Peter Doyle, Bishop of Northampton, and Patron of The Family Group Movement (England & Wales) will be the chief celebrant at the first ever national Mass for Parish Family Groups at the Cathedral Church of St Mary and St Thomas, Northampton on Saturday, 6th May 2017 at 12.30pm.

Family Groups now exist in parishes in the dioceses of Arundel & Brighton, Cardiff, East Anglia, Liverpool, Nottingham, Salford, Shrewsbury, Southwark and Westminster. The Mass will celebrate all the effort it has taken to get the movement off the ground over the last ten years as well as the comfort of belonging that Family Groups have brought about; solid witness in a parish to the need to spend time together as brothers and sisters in Christ, whatever the size, shape or structure of a family. Family Groups alleviate loneliness and provide the informal accompaniment that is the basis – and often the most effective form - of all pastoral care of marriage and family life.

The Mass will bring together parishes from across England and Wales and will be followed by a shared lunch. For more information about this event and to request an invitation please contact Chris and Vince Joyce (Co-Chair of the Steering Group for Family Groups in England & Wales) on: [email protected] or contact Hannah Moruzzi at the MFL Project Office on [email protected].

Visit the Family Group Movement Page to find out more about getting Family Groups started in your own parish.