Adopt-a-Grannie - (It's a BIG Ask)

You may actually do similar but this is specific to parish/schools/families allowing all three to be as one within our parishes.

The content of this idea is aimed at primary school age but could be adapted for high school.

The idea is that a class from one of the parish’s local schools “Adopts a Grandma/Grandad”.

The Grandma/Grandad in question is one of our older and wiser parishioners who would go into their adopted classroom and provide assistance and a link back to the parish.

Benefits:

I think you can see what the benefits would be, but, in essence:

• The volunteers/pioneers would be representing the schools local parishes

• They would become a conduit between parish, school, child and family.

• They would be a “familiar” face and a point of contact to the child & family if the child and family were to come to our church

• They would impart a wealth of knowledge about their Catholic faith and what it means to them

• It would allow parishioners to become more involved in the local schools from a parish perspective

• It would allow parishioners to leverage our evangelical efforts – becoming, if you like, a “light to the classroom :)”

• It would spread our evangelical efforts outside of our own church walls and in to the family unit – indirectly of course

The Actions Required:

At a high level, the following is what we believe is required:

• Ask ALL Priests/parish Councils if they are OK with this idea and ask if any parishioners from ALL parish’s would want to take part (I would hope and assume they would)

• Seek approval and buy in from the schools Headmaster/Mistress, and where applicable, Chaplain & Board of Governors

  • Inform them that the school overhead would be minimum and if any money was required to be spent as this idea grew and the “adoption” took hold, then the parish’s would foot any bills (please see below)

• Announce the idea to the parishioners and ask for volunteers to come forward for an initial meeting in the church.

  • Use the bulletin to inform people and for them to take away and think about it

  • Ask the volunteers to come forward for an initial meeting in the church.

    • We would of course do CRB checks etc (cost to be paid by the parish)

    • It would have to be stressed that this was voluntary work and not paid work

    • It would NOT be replacing the teachers assistance

• Prior to start up, a letter would be sent home to the parents promoting the “Adopt a Grandma/Grandad” and explaining its goal, namely to bring closer relationship between parish, school, child and family.

What is Required from the “Adopted Grandma/Grandad”:

We won’t be sending parishioners out as “sheep amongst wolves” :) but we will give them direction which would be:

• Go in to the classroom at least once a week for a morning or afternoon (or more if needed and if the volunteers have time)

• They would do such things as “Gospel Story Time”

  • This would be based on the forthcoming Sundays Gospel so that it ties in with the Sunday Mass and Children’s liturgy at our own church

Support from the Parish:

As the weeks/months go by and we gain feedback that the “adoption” is proving positive, we could:

• Provide additional resources to “bring the families” more closely in to the fold.

• There is a chargeable resource called the “Wednesday Word” (http://www.wednesdayword.org)

  • I’m not one for spending money as I believe envangelisation should be zero cost, but reviewing what the Wednesday Word is trying to achieve fits in nicely with our evangelical goals.

  • It will also provide a structure for the volunteers and material that can be sent home with the child that reflects the Sunday Gospel at the Mass and Children’s liturgy