Families on a Mission Families on a Mission - Creation Care - Download A Family Service and Mission Experience for Your Parish

Also sold as physical binder (with free eResource included).

A Resource Unlike Any Other!

A way to give your parish families the experience of service, justice and discipleship.

You will be hard pressed to find another resource like Families on a Mission. This unprecedented program will help your parish engage whole families in service immersion experiences in your local community. Not only will families grow in faith as they serve and learn together with other families from your parish, but your parish will also be recognized as an indispensable resource in your local community by meeting real needs. Lasting relationships will be formed among the families and between your parish and service agencies in your community. There really is nothing else like Families on a Mission.

Creation Care Theme based on Laudato Si'

This edition of Families on a Mission will help you facilitate service projects based on Pope Francis' call for us to care for our common home in Laudato Si'. It includes suggestions for planning a local service project with an ecological basis.

How Families on a Mission is One-of-a-Kind

1. The primary difference between Families on a Mission (FOAM) and other service learning immersion experiences is that FOAM includes entire families, not just teens or young adults.
2. FOAM is offered in the community surrounding your parish. You won't be traveling long distances to provide service.
3. You and your volunteers run the program. You will not be partnering with a professional staff, so you are free to tailor the program to suit your local situation.
4. There is no per-person fee for FOAM. You pay one fee, and you receive the entire program for as many participants as you want. At your discretion, there could be additional expenses for supplies and meals.
5. Resources are provided in Microsoft Word format so you can change them to make them work for you.
6. Families go home each night. You will not need to arrange overnight accommodations.
7. FOAM is for your parishioners only. It is an excellent parish community-building experience.

Family Service Is Important

Eugene Roehlkepartain and Jenny Friedman summarized research results in their 2009 article, “Engaging Families in Service: Broadening Service-Learning's Reach, Impact, and Support.” The article draws on an abundance of research showing the benefits of family service to children, youth, parents, whole families, service organizations and the civic community in general. Providing ways for families to serve together is good for everyone.

Typical Schedule

FOAM is flexible and adaptable, but the typical structure is an evening orientation followed by three days of service, which can work especially well during the summer months. It can also be offered over a long weekend, as a weekend-only event, and in other ways (see preview of director's guide).

• Initial orientation session (2 hours)
• Each of two days of service
  • Morning send-off session (about 30 minutes)
  • Time for community service (about 4 hours)
  • Service learning session (about 3 hours)
• Closing Liturgy

The resource kit gives you everything you need:

• Talking points, instructions, and Powerpoint Presentations for all sessions.
• Prayer services
• Craft instructions
• Game and icebreaker instructions
• Marketing guidance and promotion materials, including bulletin blurbs and logo artwork
• Registration guidelines and forms
• Service site guidelines, including suggestions for selecting, establishing, and maintaining sites, plus checklists, resources, and forms.
• Volunteer management resources
• A reproducible participant journal
• Closing liturgy planning sheet