In this year of preparation for the Jubilee, which the Holy Father wishes to be devoted to prayer, the theme of the World Day is taken from Psalm 71, “Do not cast me off in my old age”, the plea of an elderly person who reflects on the story of his friendship with God.
By cherishing the charisms of grandparents and the elderly, and the contribution they make to the life of the Church, the World Day seeks to support the efforts of every ecclesial community to forge bonds between the generations and to combat loneliness,
Here are some communities that have made Sacred Scripture concrete: “It is not good for man to be alone” (Gen 2:18).
Every year, in one of our parishes in CAIRO, EGYPT, we celebrate this day by throwing a little party for grandparents.
This year, we began the celebration with a mass to thank God for all the graces we had experienced. Then we had a little party with singing and games. At the end we gave a small gift to our dear grandparents. Let’s ask the Lord to give them good health.
IN LAOS, showing tenderness to the elderly is a good tradition that is passed down in the families of the Laotian people. Caring for the elderly means showing love and gratitude to parents and grandparents. Children care for the elderly with love, patience and a sense of gratitude: they are a fragile treasure to be wrapped in tenderness. In our community, too, we have great care for elderly sisters.
IN UPPER EGYPT. The children and their grandchildren wanted to wish their grandparents a happy feast with the fruits of the season. It’s a way of expressing their love and giving joy to their elders, who are considered a precious presence in their lives.
Sunday, 28 July 2024, IV World Day for Grandparents
