Third World Day for the Grandparents and Elderly 2023
To make Christian Families and their welfare the top priority of the Church. And to recognize their central role in promoting God's plan for humanity and the Church.
To strengthen the bonds in family and empower them to further the cause of Christ of building God's kingdom in this world.
Creating a Christian atmosphere where Christ is the center of family life and a where Gospel values are practiced.
Guiding young men and women to understand Christian marriage and family life by discovering the dignity and beauty of the Sacrament of Marriage.
Helping to heal the brokenness in marriages and families when they encounter discord and conflict.
Parents-Children Interactions: Digital Free Family Hour (DFFH) is a programme where the family sits together, prays, eats, speaks and plays together for an hour, at the most, without the use of any electronic device.
Family Cells: to empower families and enrich parish family life; to build Christ-centered homes that pray. The role of the Family Cell is to build, nurture and enrich relationships within and across the families of the parish. The cell comprises of five to six families with a religious sister or two or/and the assistant parish priest, helping them to interact with one another, creating formative small communities and becoming a leaven in the parish. The Family Cell meets once a month in the church premises.
Home Mission: Extensive visits to families offering comfort and solidarity to families in the Parishes with the help of Priests, Religious, Parish Council members, BCC members and Seminarians. This mission is to visit, listen, learn and reach out to the cares and concerns of the families.
Elizabeth Retreats: Retreats for pregnant women and expectant parents. Held in the month of December every year.
Teams: A team of dedicated and trained couples, Religious sisters, priests and laity
Director, Family Apostolate
(All the Grandparents and Elders may be received by ushers and encouraged to occupy the first pews)
Today the Church celebrates the 3 rd World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. Pope Francis instituted this Day in 2021 since, he believes, grandparents are often forgotten, yet they "are the link between generations, passing on the experience of life and faith to the young."
As we reflect on the theme for this year chosen by Pope Francis "His mercy is from age to age" (Luke 1: 50) we pray for our grandparents and elderly in our family and society, that they may be blessed abundantly for revealing God’s merciful actions in their words and actions through the relationships they share.
In his message for you this year, Pope Francis recalls that the theme “His mercy is from age to age” (Lk 1:50), takes us back to the joyful meeting between the young Mary and her elderly relative Elizabeth (Lk 1:39-56). The Holy Spirit had descended upon Elizabeth, and had earlier, descended upon Mary, prompting her to respond with the Magnificat, in which she proclaimed that the Lord’s mercy is from generation to generation.
That same Spirit, the Pope observes in the Message, "blesses and accompanies every fruitful encounter between different generations: between grandparents and grandchildren, between young and old."
As we begin this Holy Eucharist, the lighting of the candle is a reminder of God’s presence around us and within us. Dear grandparents and elderly, you are a living sign of the goodness of God who bestows life in abundance. You are models of faith and perseverance to the young who rely on you as a sign of hope. We want to tell you that you are precious, loved, cared and wanted. Let us take this light to brighten our lives and the lives of everyone we touch, so that they can see and experience the tenderness of God’s love through us and our perseverance and faith in Him.
Penitential Rite
Gloria
1st Reading – Wisdom 12:13, 16-19;
Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16;
2nd Reading – Romans 8:26-27;
Alleluia – CF. Matthew 11:25;
Gospel – Matthew 13:24-43
- Homily
- Apostles Creed
CELEBRANT: God’s love endures forever. We thank him for the gift of our grandparents and the elderly and place before him their needs.
Our response is: HEAR YOUR CHILDREN, O LORD.
CELEBRANT: Lord, we thank You for listening to the prayers we have made, especially for our grandparents and the elderly, who are our strong pillars of faith and values, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
OFFERTORY PROCESSION (optional, by grandparents/elders): Host and wine; Candles (one Packet); Chalice with a paten and water and wine cruets
Two grandparents (Two) – Host and wine; Youth (One) - Candles
Elders (Man and a Woman) – Chalice with a paten and water and wine cruets
I give thanks to you, Lord, / for the blessing of a long life / For, to those who take refuge in You, / grant always to bear fruit.
Forgive, O Lord, / resignation and disillusionment, / but forsake me not / when my strength declines.
Teach me to look with hope / to the future you give me, / to the mission you entrust to me / and to sing your praises without end.
Make me a tender craftsman / of Your revolution, / To guard with love my grandchildren / and all the little ones who seek shelter in You.
Protect, O Lord, Pope Francis / and grant Thy Church / to deliver the world from loneliness. / Direct our steps in the way of peace. Amen.
CELEBRANT: As we come to the end of our celebration this morning, we will pray our final blessing.
Invite the community to extend their hands over the grandparents and elderly while the Celebrant says the prayer:
God of mercy, / Who have given the gift of long life to Your children, / Grant them Your blessing.
Let them feel the sweetness and strength of Your presence / Turning back to the past, let them rejoice in Your mercy and / looking to the future, / let them persevere in the hope that does not die. / Praise and glory to You for ever and ever. Amen
