Dear Parishioners and friends,
On the feast day (26th July) of St. Anne and St. Joachim the parents of Mary, the mother of Jesus, we celebrate Grandparents’ Day. It is an occasion to honour our grandparents. We have many grandparents within our church community, and we see in them the beloved elders of our families, the keepers of memories, and the gentle stewards of wisdom and faith. Grandparents are not only our roots in this world but also living witnesses of God's faithfulness across generations.
In a fast-changing world, our grandparents remind us of enduring values, like love, prayer, patience, and sacrifice. They teach us how to hope and persevere through the trials of life. In their quiet witness, grandparents shape the hearts of their children and grandchildren for generations to come.
“Children’s children are a crown to the aged.” – Proverbs 17:6
Pope Leo XIII (not the present pope) was often called the "Pope of the Family”. He emphasized the sacred bond between generations. In his encyclical on Christian marriage (1880), he wrote: “The family may be regarded as the cradle of civil society, and it is in great measure within the circle of family life that the destiny of the State is fostered.” In the same spirit, we see how grandparents serve not only their families, but also the wider Church and society through their faith-filled presence, prayers, and example.
We also remember the words of Pope Francis: “Grandparents are a treasure. Often old age isn’t pretty, right? There is sickness and all that, but the wisdom our grandparents have is something we must welcome as an inheritance.”
On this Grandparents’ Day, may we celebrate, cherish, and listen to our elders with reverence and love. May their stories continue to inspire us, and may we honour them not just in word, but with our time, attention, and affection. Let us give them the comfort of knowing that we find joy in sitting and listening to their story. They have a lot to teach us through their life experiences.
Dear grandparents, today we give thanks to God for your presence in our lives. We pray to God that He may bless you abundantly with peace, health, and joy.
God bless you.
Fr Silvio
