Following is a list of various resources that families can use to mark “World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.”
Theme: I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS
Individuals and Families
- Have children and grandchildren bless the grandparents
- Visit an elderly neighbor and be a blessing to them; do a service or bring a small gift
- Make a display table of photographs of deceased grandparents and elderly
- Create a memory scrapbook
- Remember your grandparents by doing something they loved (make a recipe, listen to music, go fishing or some other activity)
- Pray the Novena of Sts. Anne & Joachim for Faith and Perseverance • www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/natural-family-planning/upload/nfp-sts-anne-joachim-novena.pdf
For Reading and Reflection:
“Letter to the Elderly” written by Pope St. John Paul II (1999) • www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/letters/1999/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_01101999_elderly.html
“The Blessings of Age – A Pastoral Message on Growing Older within the Faith Community,” USCCB (1999- English & Spanish) • www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/blessings-of-age
“The Catholic Grandparents Handbook:Creative Ways to Show Love, Share Faith, and Have Fun,” Lorene Hanley Duquin, Word Among Us Press, February 2018
More Resources:
Catholic Grandparents Association website (emblem, poster, prayer)
• www.catholicgrandparentsassociation.org/
Franciscan Media, Saint of the Day:Saints Anne & Joachim
• www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saints-joachim-and-anne
Holy See – Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life webpage
Jesuit Resource.org
• www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/prayer-index/prayers-for-grandparents
Diocese of Trenton webpages:
• dioceseoftrenton.org/golden-years