Parish Toolkit:

Mass & Picnic Meet-Up
for Foster & Adoptive Families

Summer and early fall is the perfect time to host an event at YOUR parish or diocese! Warmer months are a great opportunity to bring families together for fun, connection, and the start of a strong support network.

Could your pro-life ministry, Knights of Columbus council, or another parish group sponsor a simple gathering for foster, adoptive, and kinship families? A casual, free event is a great way to welcome families, begin building relationships, and identify those your parish may want to support—perhaps through a Springs of Love Chapter or another ministry.

Mass Resources

Holding a special mass for families as part of your gathering reminds foster and adoptive families that they are part of a larger faith family – and we are all praying for them!

Party Planning & Preparations

  • Select Your Venue: 
    Choose a location with plenty of tables and seating, and a clear area for setting out food and drinks. If you’re hosting the event outdoors, make sure there’s ample shade—especially in hot or sunny weather. Access to a microphone and speakers is a big plus for welcoming families, leading games, and playing music. At our Columbus event, having cheerful background music helped set the tone and made everyone feel more relaxed and ready to connect!
Tip: Test your AV equipment ahead of time! Before the big day, make sure you’re familiar with how to set up and use any microphones, speakers, or music players you plan to use. A quick run-through will help ensure everything runs smoothly—and save you from last-minute tech stress when it’s time to welcome families, share announcements, or cue the music for games and dancing!
  • Plan a Crowd-Pleasing Main Course:
    Keep it simple, fun, and flexible! Choose a main dish that works for both kids and adults—like pizza or grilled hot dogs and hamburgers. Be sure to include a few options to accommodate different dietary needs (gluten-free buns, veggie burgers, cheese-free pizza, etc.).

  • Get your parish involved! Reach out to various ministries to help with:
    –  Setting up and decorating your space
    –  Donating food or drinks
    –  Volunteering as grill-masters or dessert bakers
    –  Planning and running games and activities for the kids

  • Volunteer Roles to Fill:
    –  Setup & Cleanup Crew
    –  Emcee
    –  Food Servers
    –  Grill Master/ Pizza Pick-up/ Etc.
    –  Game Leaders & Helpers
    –  DJ (a curated Spotify or Pandora playlist with family-friendly songs works great!)

  • What to Ask People to Bring:
    –      Assorted drinks (juice boxes, bottled water, soda, flavored sparkling water)
    –  Salads, fruits, and side dishes
    –  Snack foods and desserts
    –  Prizes for games (Five Below is a great place to shop!)

  • Organize with Ease:
    Create a SignUpGenius or Google Doc with all your needs—both supplies and volunteer roles. Share it with participating ministries, or even your whole parish, to invite broader support.

Important Note: Any volunteers working directly with children should have completed VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children training through their parish, which includes required background checks—especially important when working with youth in foster care.

Activities and Games

  • Start with an ice-breaker: Help families get to know each other with a fun game everyone can join!
    –  Try Break-the-Ice Bingo (you can download our version or customize one on Canva)
    –  Host a family trivia game with simple questions about animals, kids shows, etc.
  • Outdoor Fun Must-Haves: Bring a few easy crowd-pleasers.
    –  Beach balls or balloons
    –  Sidewalk chalk
    –  Frisbees
    –  Cornhole
    –  Bubbles (a bubble machine is pure magic!)
  • Classic Picnic Games: Try limbo, musical chairs, hot potato, a scavenger hunt, and various relay races. Other ideas include a hula hoop contest or even a watermelon eating contest!
  • Build Traditions: Try introducing a special annual game, group photo moment, or a favorite shared prayer. Small traditions can grow into beautiful memories that families look forward to each year!
For More Ideas: Looking for the perfect fun to add to your event? Head over to our Games & Activities page for easy, family-friendly ideas to keep everyone smiling and engaged!

Sample Bulletin Announcement:

Attention all foster and adoptive families (and those discerning)!

You’re invited to the Springs of Love Mass & Picnic for Foster and Adoptive Families—sponsored by St. John Neumann Pro-Life Ministry—on July 15. Join us for Mass at 6pm at St. John Neumann in Sunbury, followed by a picnic with food, games, and activities for the kids.Please RSVP at (insert web URL, email, or phone number) so we can plan food and activities accordingly. We look forward to seeing you there!

Create a Flyer

Access the Canva template and get started creating a flyer to promote your event! Canva login is required.

Plan Icebreakers

Get your event going with an icebreaker! Download the PDF or make it your own by editing our Canva template.

Sample Timeline

Before Mass (Arrive Early):
– Set up the space: non-refrigerated foods, drinks, outdoor toys, games, and the sound system.
– Make sure signage is clear and welcoming, and volunteers know their roles.

6:00 PM – Mass Begins
Volunteers quietly step out during Mass to:
– Set up food and beverages
– Fire up the grill or pick up pre-ordered food
– Cue up family-friendly music and test sound system

6:30 PM – Mass Ends
– Invite families to head over to the picnic area
– Gather together for a blessing before the meal

6:40 PM – Dinner & Icebreaker Game
– Once everyone is eating, kick off a light, fun game to help families connect—like Break-the-Ice Bingo.
– Tip: Set a clear time limit (e.g., “You have 8 minutes—whoever fills the most boxes wins a prize!”) to keep energy up and things moving.

6:50 PM – Main Games Begin

Invite families and kids to participate in games like:
– Musical Chairs
– Hula Hoop Contest
– Limbo

7:10 PM and Onward – Free Play & Optional Activities

Transition to open play and casual activities:
– Relay races, scavenger hunts, or water balloon tosses
– Sidewalk chalk, bubble machines, lawn games, or playground time

Allow space for adults to chat and build connections while kids play.