1 March 2021
Grandparents Special Day
David Ahern
Current editor of The Majellan, David has spent more than 40 years as an editor/journalist
Grandparents and the elderly will be recognised each July for the enormous contribution they make to family life. Pope Francis said the World Day for the Grandparents and the Elderly would be an annual church-wide event to be held on the fourth Sunday of July.
“The Holy Spirit … arouses thoughts and words of wisdom in the elderly today: their voice is precious because it sings the praises of God and guards the roots of peoples,” said Pope Francis.
“They remind us that old age is a gift and that grandparents are the link between generations, to transmit to young people an experience of life and faith.
“Grandparents are often forgotten and we forget this wealth of preserving and passing on the roots. For this reason, I have decided to establish the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly.”
Pope Francis said the importance of grandparents and grandchildren getting to know one another should not be underestimated. “As the prophet Joel says, grandparents seeing their grandchildren dream, while young people, drawing strength from their grandparents, will go forward and prophesy,” the pope added.
The annual event will be held close to the feast of Jesus’ grandparents, Saints Joachim and Anne. A special Mass will be offered by the pope to mark the occasion on July 25 this year.
The pamphlet Praying for Grandparents is available from the Majellan Bookshop for $4.00, postage included. See page 48.