Proposed Theme: Grandparents – and Great Grandparents
The Joy of Love: Pope Francis
We must reawaken the collective sense of gratitude, of appreciation, of hospitality, which makes the elderly feel like a living part of the community. Our elderly are men and women, fathers and mothers, who came before us on our own road, in our own house, in our daily battle for a worthy life. (191)
Very often it is grandparents who ensure that the most important values are passed down to their grandchildren, and many people can testify that they owe their initiation to the Christian life to their grandparents. Their words, their affection or simply their presence help children realise that history did not begin with them, that they are now part of an age-old pilgrimage and that they need to respect all that came before them. (192)
A family that fails to respect and cherish its grandparents, who are its living memory, is already in decline, whereas a family that remembers has a future. (193)
On Monday next, our parish prays for the 24 hours for Marriage & Family Life. This is part of a Movement of Continuous Prayer for Marriage & Family Life as other parishes and groups take on the prayer for the other days of the month.
To make this prayer continuous, many people in our parish have committed themselves to a specific hour of prayer in such a way that the whole day and night are covered.
Everyone is invited to join in this prayer, either by taking on an hour, or by including this intention in your own prayer during that day.The theme for July is Grandparents. This is so important for this year as the close relationship of grandparents and grandchildren has been affected by the restrictions that had to be there because of Covid-19. So much has depended on family life over the past three months and more. As we come out of the lockdown may God be with all families to heal any hurts that may be there; to strengthen the love of husbands and wives, parents and children; and, this month of July, grandparents and grandchildren.
Information: There is a Grandparents Pilgrimage to Knock in September 2019
Website: http://www.catholicgrandparentsassociation.org
Email: info@catholicgrandparentsassociation.com
Contact phone number: 00353-85-8704722