Our Youth Ministry
I’m Maria Beasley, Youth Coordinator for the Holy Family Parish. I’m employed by the Parish and my role is to focus on leading and developing young people’s faith and helping them grow in the Christian life. With clergy and parents, I support children, teens and young people on their journey of faith.
This support comes in many forms, in outreach and engagement, building relationships with schools, and colleges, as well as local experts and organisations to promote faith exploration. In sacramental programmes, such as First Holy Communion and Confirmation, as well as OCIA and supporting catechists and children’s liturgy volunteers.
I couldn’t do what I do without the support of volunteers, such as catechists, youth leaders, parish group leaders, our Parish Pastoral Council, clergy and parish office secretaries to make sure that we are thinking of our Youth and their spiritual development in everything we do. And obviously ensuring compliance with safeguarding policies, working with our safeguarding leads so that our children and young people are always safe.
Below are some of the activities that are part of the Holy Family Youth programme. Please do contact me if you’d like more information, or if, as a young adult, you would like to get involved!
Youth Ministry Co-ordinator
Maria Beasley
Email: youth@holyfamilyparish.org.uk
The Holy Family Board Game Café
Introducing the Holy Family Parish Board Game Café. The café is free of charge and is open to ALL teenagers from their 14th birthday until the end of school year 13.
The café is a place where young people can meet and be themselves. They can come alone, bring friends (if they register) make new friends and play and learn new board games. We have teenagers on our organising group from all our churches, as well as our Youth Leaders so we try to keep up to date and ensure that we have some ‘Lit’ games as well as some traditional ones.
NB. The café is open to all teenagers not just those who attend our Catholic churches. The café has a tuck shop, and all food and drinks are sold at cost price.
We do have a few policies which we need all attendees to comply with. This helps us to make sure that all teenagers have the best experience!
We want our Café to be as inclusive as possible – and we know that not all disabilities are visible. For this reason, we would like to know if your teenager is Neurodiverse, or there are any needs that they have that we can support when they attend, to be as comfortable as possible and have a great experience.
The café will be open once a month (to begin with) usually on a Sunday afternoon 3pm – 5pm. Please check the Events Calendar for dates.
NB. The Board Game Café in March will take place on Saturday 13th March as there is no Sunday availability that weekend.
Flame Festival 2027
Flame is the Largest Catholic event in the UK for young people, hosted at OVO Arena Wembley, and run by CYMFed.
In 2027, Flame will take place on Saturday 6th March – The theme for Flame 2027 is “Take Courage” which is also the theme of World Youth Day in Seoul.
We will be taking 50 of our teenagers who have been confirmed to this event in 2027!
Guests that will be at Flame 2027 include Bishop Evelio Menjivar, Pacific Climate Artists and One Hope Project. More guests will be added in due course.
More information:
Alexander Devine – Advent Calendar Appeal
In the past two years, we’ve donated over 500 advent calendars to children in the Maidenhead hospice. Each year, we want to encourage our children to think about those less fortunate than themselves.
Please look out for our next appeal and how you can get involved.
Neurodiversity
As we know, not all disabilities are visible. With the increased diagnosis of various neuro diverse conditions, such as autism, dyslexia, ADHD, etc conditions, the needs of these children and young adults are only now starting to be recognised. And we need to play our part. Sadly information and support is often limited to those affected and their parents, carers and guardians. This is something that we need to start to think about.
Father Kevin and I have been investigating catholic resources and sadly, there aren’t very many! So we are leading in doing what we can to help.
We are currently helping neurodiverse children and young adults to navigate sacraments, such as First Holy Communion and Confirmation, with 121 support, away from our usual programmes.
We also have a neurodiverse service each month at St. Thomas More, specifically tailored to the needs of those who cannot take part in regular services and masses. Please check the Events Calendar for the dates.
Children's Bible
I believe that every child should have a bible, that is age appropriate, by the time they are 8. To this end we’re working with our schools, St. Edmund Campion and St. Marys, as well as Father Kevin in St. Thomas More, where we have children who attend various catholic and non-Catholic schools in the area, to provide a bible to each child giving the gift of God’s word to all primary age children.
This is funded by the Parish. If you would like to donate money to next years bibles, please do let me know.
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