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The Middlesbrough pilot began in the Thornaby cluster of schools and parishes, in an after-school session at St Patrick’s School on Wednesday 10th November 2010, with a cup of tea available from 3.30, beginning the meeting at 4.00 and finishing at 5.30.

 Invitations went to:

• Head Teacher and RE Co-ordinator from each school in the cluster

• One or two parents nominated by each school and personally invited by the school (parents happy to share in a small group of other parents from other schools/parishes*)

• Parish Priests and one or two catechists from each parish

• One or two parents* nominated by each Priest and personally invited by him

Children coming with parents were cared for in a separate area during the meeting.

Timetable for the meeting:
3.30       Cup of Tea
4.00       Welcome and Opening Prayer
4.10       Split into 3 working groups: School, Home, Parish in a facilitated   discussion on: ‘What does Passing on the Faith mean to me?  What is my role in this? What do I need from the other partners in this task (Home, School, Parish).  What is their role?  What can I offer them?
4.50       Gathering of all 3 groups – where to from here?  (feeding into national conversation)
5.15       Closing prayer and depart

Review
Following this first session, the leading group (Caroline Dollard, Mrs Peggy Swinhoe (Head teacher, St Patrick’s) Mr James Conwell (RE Co-ordinator), and Jane Cook (Adult Formation Adviser) reviewed the process, before continuing with the next cluster group.  Overall it was felt that the timing (3.30 – 5.30, including ½ hour for cup of tea at start) was good, and the process of welcome, prayer, background, group work, plenary, closing prayer worked well.

For the next pilot session: What have we learned?

• getting the right balance of families: need another forum for ‘ordinary parents’ to come and have a chat – cards on the table – what do you think, we want to explore what ‘passing on the faith’ might mean to you, and how we can support you in this?

• From a teacher’s point of view – we want this to be linked to the home – and help families to see sacraments as beginnings/gifts and not rewards.

• Need help with understanding/appreciating the RCIA process, and also a little church history particularly of the Mass – to give the staff a perspective for their support of families in passing on faith.

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