GROWTH Ministry

Aims and Objectives
The community is for disabled children, adolescents, adults (core members) and their families and friends (volunteers).

a.To share the Word of God, prayer and the Eucharist with all members, family, friends and communities.
b.To recognise and use the gifts of all members.
c.To provide support for parents and families.
d.To organise gatherings, outings, pilgrimages and celebrations as an avenue for housebound members to renew their spirituality and fellowship.
e.To seek guidance and expertise in developing the spirituality of the core members.


A Brief History of GROWTH
In 2003, a group of parents with children with disabilities and friends approached the Parish Priest (Fr Nicholas Ng) for permission to form a group within the Parish for people with disabilities.

The initial aim to form this group, which is now known as GROWTH, was to provide respite care and an opportunity for parents and caregivers to share their experiences.

The name GROWTH was chosen to reflect its purpose and that is “Grow With The Handicapped’.

Fellowships with hymns and simple activities were organised at the Parish Centre. Every now and then an outing to the nearby places like the Kuching Waterfront, Reservoir Park, Friendship Park would be held.

Over the years, some of our members were baptized and others confirmed. Monthly Mass were held specifically for the members at the Day Chapel and special Christmas parties were held yearly for invited members.

However, when COVID-19 hits Kuching, the group went into hibernation.


Come Join GROWTH
Jesus loved to celebrate. An invitation from Jesus to any celebration was a call to healing, wholeness, hope and life in Him. Jesus invited everyone to His celebrations. There were no exclusions and, in fact, Jesus sought out people living on the margins of their community to celebrate with Him. He welcomed, celebrated and recognisedthe value and dignity of every person.

As the body of Christ and through our baptismal promises, the Church commissions us to invite and welcome all people to our faith communities. People with disability and their families and friends are no different. The Church calls parishes to be places that encourage and demonstrate sensitivity to the circumstances in which people find themselves. They can be places where parishes practiseflexibility, love and respect so that people with disability, their families and friends might feel welcomed and invited to explore and grow in a deeper relationship with God through the sacraments.

Please call St Joseph Parish for membership. You can join as core members, or as volunteers. We welcome all with any expertise e.g. youths, choir members, bloc rosary members, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, nurse, nutritionist, doctors, etc.