This Sunday, 26 July, Catholics across our Diocese will join the universal Church in celebrating the Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, a special occasion dedicated to giving thanks for the gift of older generations and recognising their invaluable place in the life of the Church, our families and our communities.
For this year’s celebration, Pope Leo XIV has chosen the theme, “I will never forget you” (Isaiah 49:15), inviting the faithful to reflect on God’s unfailing love for every person, especially in the later years of life§.
Drawing on the words of the prophet Isaiah, the Holy Father reminds us that God knows each of us personally and lovingly, promising that no one is ever forgotten. His message speaks directly to grandparents and older people who may experience loneliness, isolation or the feeling of being overlooked, offering instead the reassurance of God’s enduring love and the care of the Christian community.
In his message for the Day, Pope Leo writes:
“The painful feeling of being forgotten is, unfortunately, shared by many people, and among them are quite a few elderly people… God’s love, which forgets no one, offers itself as an act of justice and a response to the anonymity in which human life all too often ends up lost.”
The Holy Father also encourages younger generations to renew the simple but profound practice of spending time with older people.
“May this day… be an inspiration for everyone, especially the young, to revive the beautiful custom of visiting their grandparents, the elderly members of the family and even those who have no one to visit them.”
Established by Pope Francis in 2021, the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly is celebrated each year on the fourth Sunday of July. This year, the celebration falls on the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus and the patron saints of grandparents.
Pope Leo XIV has invited every diocese throughout the world to mark the occasion through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the Cathedral Church. The Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life has also encouraged dioceses, parishes and communities to celebrate the Day in ways that reflect their local circumstances, with pastoral resources available to support local celebrations.
As we prepare to celebrate this Sunday, we are invited to reach out to the grandparents and elderly members of our families, parishes and neighbourhoods. A visit, a telephone call, an invitation to share a meal or simply spending time together can become a powerful witness to the Gospel and a reminder that no one is forgotten.
The Holy Father concludes his message with a heartfelt appeal to older people, thanking them for their faithful witness and prayers:
“Dear elderly brothers and sisters, I thank you for supporting me every day with your prayers, especially when you recite the Holy Rosary… May the Lord always renew us in faith, hope and love – He who never forgets us.”
May this World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly inspire us all to honour the wisdom, faith and love of older generations, recognising them not simply as recipients of our care, but as cherished members of the Body of Christ whose lives continue to enrich the Church and whose witness remains an enduring gift to us all.
