Celebrate Grandparents and the Elderly on Sunday, July 25

Catholics around the globe will honour the older members of their community this weekend during the first-ever World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, happening on Sunday, July, 25.

Earlier this year, Pope Francis announced this new day when we will show appreciation for the great gifts that older people share with the world. This is an important message for our society, which often does not value the contributions of older people.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, as an act of love, many of us were separated from the older members of our families. It was a painful time, but it also reminded us of the joys that grandparents and elderly people bring to our lives.

The theme for this first World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly is, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).

You can read and watch a message from Pope Francis on the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly here.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has also produced a video for this special occasion, which you can watch here.   

Also, the Office of Formation for Discipleship at the Archdiocese of Toronto has put together a great list of resources that will help you reflect on how grandparents and the elderly enrich our lives. You can see those resources here. 

This weekend, let us spend some time showing gratitude for the older members of our community, and remember the older members of our families who have passed on.

The World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly will now be celebrated ever fourth Sunday of July, close to the Feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus.