“It’s important for children to see people they love practicing their faith, spending time with them and learning about God in a way that may be different from the rather hurried life of family life,” said Mary Anne LeGall. “… It is important to tap into that lived experience that grandparents have of seeing God acting in their lives and share with them all the different miracles that have occurred … to help them really look forward to that relationship with God.”
LeGall shared thoughts about grandparenting following the July 28 Mass celebrated in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, West Trenton, as part of the fourth annual observance of World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.
Ever since Pope Francis declared World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly in 2021, Our Lady of Good Counsel has been one of a number of parishes from around the Diocese to remember their elderly parishioners with special blessings, prayer intentions and words of gratitude. Many Our Lady of Good Counsel parishioners attended the celebratory Mass and reception that followed where grandparents and the elderly received a special blessing from their pastor, Father Ariel Robles as well as enjoyed refreshments with their families and each other. In their conversations, parishioners shared memories and wise insights about the importance of the elderly to the vitality of today’s Church community.
“It is important to have the succession of generations, to see that things are not always the same, they are not always the way they are now,” said Claude LeGall, a parishioner and grandfather.
The celebration of World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church continued with a reception in the parish hall, giving families a chance to socialize and share camaraderie. Elise Stankus photo Noting that the annual observance falls on the Sunday closest to the Feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of Jesus which is July 26, Mary Anne Le Gall added, “My name is Mary Anne so I do have a devotion to our Blessed Mother and when I’m reminded it’s [St. Anne’s] feast day, I definitely pray to her and ask her for help in living as a good grandmother,” she said.
During the Mass, Father Robles related the Gospel story of the multiplication of the loaves and fish to the integral role that grandparents play in the Church as well as society.
“The multiplication of the loaves and fish is a multiplication of God’s love,” he said, then added that the blessings of faith, wisdom and love are the three baskets of blessings that grandparents bring to the community.