Grow in Love in the Parish
A Parish-Based Companion to the Grow in Love School Programme
Grow in Love in the Parish complements the Second Class / Primary 4 Grow in Love programme used in primary schools. It strengthens the Home–School–Parish partnership by involving children and their families in parish life during the year the children prepare for First Communion and First Reconciliation.
The programme is designed to help children:
- Experience a deeper sense of belonging in the parish community
- Develop a greater appreciation for the Church and its traditions
- Find their place in Sunday Mass, as active participants in the faith
Parish Newsletters
The newsletters, distributed at a monthly Mass, are designed to run in parallel with the Grow in Love for schools programme and reinforce key concepts and mirror the themes, providing a bridge between home, school, and parish.
The programme includes engaging prayer activities for children and reflective faith questions for parents to encourage discussions at home.
The newsletter has four common features:
- "This Month's Feature" which is linked with the topics covered in the Grow in Love school programme. Example; October - The Rosary
- "With your child this month" highlight aspects of the Grow in Love programme that helps parents open discussions with their children based on their in-school learnings
- "For Parents" written in a more approachable language for adults, for parents to read and enrich their own faith.
- "Prayers" introduce, each month, a new prayer, designed to be cut out and displayed on the child’s poster, helping to establish a regular family prayer rhythm.
Parish Leader Notes
The Parish Leaders' Book is designed for priests and parish leaders, providing speaking notes that align with the key themes of each month’s newsletter and can be incorporated into the homily. It also includes a short note for the parish newsletter to raise awareness of the preparation programme for children celebrating Communion and Reconciliation.
In addition, it offers practical tips for setting up a prayer space in the church and preparing materials for use during Sunday Mass, as needed, such as Holy Water in January.
Its main purpose is to help foster a shared language of faith among parents, children, and the parish community.