Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to some of your questions with links to find more information.
Can't find the answer you're looking for?
Contact us - we're happy to help.
Can't find the answer you're looking for?
Contact us - we're happy to help.
What is the purpose of the group?
Our purpose is to provide spiritual and social support to women in all stages of Motherhood, but especially those whose children are in infancy through elementary school. We offer educational speakers, fun activities, faith sharing, fellowship, and friendship. We are a Mom-centered group, in that we focus on nurturing ourselves as women during our meetings so that we can return to our families as stronger, more faithful, more replenished beings.
Do I have to be Catholic to join?
You do not need to be Catholic to join. Although we come together as part of a greater Catholic community, we welcome Moms of all backgrounds, faiths, & cultures. We are, after all, united by our experiences as women, Mothers, wives, sisters, & friends.
When & where does the group meet?
Throughout the year we meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursday mornings for guest speakers, topical discussions, faith sharing, or various kid-friendly activities. Usually these meetings are held in the music/conference room at the OLQA parish center. We meet from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and child care is available for the entire 2 hours. Child care drop off starts at 9:30 along with coffee & light breakfast for the moms. Opening prayer for our meeting is at 9:45. Summer schedules are less structured and generally entail kid-centered activities throughout Orange County. Contact us for more details.
Do I have to come to every meeting?
Attendance at our biweekly meetings is completely at your convenience. We have found, though, that regular appearances definitely help in forming friendships with others in the group, in obtaining valuable parental support from other Moms or from our guest speakers, in nurturing spiritual growth at the parish, and in simply maintaining our sense of peace (and general sanity!).
Is childcare available during meetings?
Childcare is available at morning meetings during the school year. Per Diocese regulations, all sitters are safety trained and fingerprinted. Contact us for more details.
Do I have to pay to join?
No. We welcome all who find what they are seeking. We do ask for a small donation to help to cover the costs of guest speakers, supplies, and to build our ministry to reach as many Moms as we can but this is not a requirement to attend any of our gatherings.
If you plan to utilize the Child Care available there is a fee required to participate however we do not want this to detract you from coming so, please contact us for more details.
If you plan to utilize the Child Care available there is a fee required to participate however we do not want this to detract you from coming so, please contact us for more details.
What's involved in a typical meeting?
- After settling the children in the playroom, we gather in our own meeting room for breakfast and fellowship. Agenda begins with the lighting of our trinity candle and a morning prayer.
- A light breakfast is provided as well as a simple snack (i.e. fruit or veggies) for the children.
- We start each meeting with a discussion of the upcoming Sunday's Gospel. Materials are provided prior to the meeting to prepare for this discussion for those inclined to do so. Approximately once per month this faith sharing is expanded into a full discussion, comprising the entire meeting.
- Different guest speakers/presenters from the community visit most weeks to address topics relevant to us as women, wives, and Mothers. Some meetings consist of our own roundtable discussions (no guest speaker) centered around faith-based or parent-based books, articles, or issues. After any meeting agenda, we often hang out & socialize until childcare pick-up, or wrap up with discussion and prayer.
Are you a MOPS group?
No. We are not affiliated with the MOPS (Mothers of Pre Schoolers) Organization. Membership is open to Moms of all ages with children of all ages.
What else does the group do?
We have monthly Moms Night Out (MNO) events, Book Club, Bundle-of-Joy Dinners (we bring dinners to any member mom who has just given birth), and special events outside of our weekly meetings. We maintain a small library of materials mostly from past speakers, which can be checked out by member Moms. We network with other OLQA groups such as the Parish Baptism Ministry and the School Rosary Group. We take part in community service activities including Meal A Month at the Southwest Community Center and Casa Teresa, with whom OLQA parish is closely connected. For more information on what we do, please visit the Our Ministry Page.
