question for other catholic parents...especially in rural areas

[curiouserandcuriousersaidalice]

So?if you lived in a small parish with no school and only a handful of children ? none of your dc?s ages, and you don?t want to join another parish (your parish is so small that there would be a big gap if the families with children left), how can you arrange for your 11 yo dc to meet with other catholic children ? say at a children?s retreat or similar? At the moment our dc are fairly isolated...they sometimes see other catholic children when we visit other parishes, but would like to interact with them.

no other children attending the church?

If not, dunno.

If so, try to invite them round, organise a dvd evening/ bowling trip. Ask priest for ideas, contacts etc?

why not take them on a retreat - Worth Abbey does family retreats which are lovely.

Another suggestion - what else happens in your diocese?
Do they have a youth worker who could make some suggestions? (No idea if such a position exists in a diocese)

How about finding out about pilgrimages? My cousins were always going off to Lourdes and they have grown up to be the kindest most lovely people.

As a resting Catholic my suggestions may be a bit useless so I hope someone can help you some practical suggestions.

X

Walsingham, in Norfolk does children and youth pilgrimages. Perhaps your diocese organises trips?

Thanks for your replies - there are only a handful of children in our parish and the others are either much younger or much older than mine. There were more but a couple of families moved away in the last year. It's a lovely friendly parish, but very small. My dc are welcome and valued but very concious of being the only catholics in their school.

I've tried asking our priest for suggestions, he's sweet but he doesn't really understand.

I've e-mailed Worth abbey. Maybe something will come of that.

Do you have neighbouring parishes. Our parish was recently merged with 2 others. There are 3 churches and most things are still done seperately but one of the things that is done collectively is events for the age group you describe. Could you contact neighbouring parishes and organise something together?

Have you heard of Catholic Peoples Weeks (CPW)? They are family camps and holidays with loads of activities, talks, workshops etcwww.catholicpeoplesweeks.org.uk/welcome.htm http:www.catholicpeoplesweeks.org.uk/welcome.htm

www.celebrateconference.org/

Someone running the baptism course at our church recommended this (I think she runs the crèche at one of them). Apparently her children really enjoyed them, from primary age right up to teenage.