Earlier this year, it was announced that Sunday 25th July 2021 would be the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.
Pope Francis decided to institute a Church-wide celebration of a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, held on the fourth Sunday of July, close to the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus.
In January 2021 Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, said the establishment of the Day of Grandparents and the Elderly “is the first fruits of the Amoris Laetitia Family Year, a gift to the whole Church that is destined to continue into the future.”
Here is a message from Pope Francis for the celebration of this first occasion:
You can see the English script of the message below:
More Resources
Catholic Grandparents Association
The Catholic Grandparents Association have a page of resources and suggestions for celebrating the 25th July, including a prayer for the occasion. See HERE.
Amoris Laetitia Family resources
The Dicastery for for Laity, Family and Life have a page with more resources you can use HERE.
We hope you and your parish can find some way of marking this important occasion of the first ‘World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly’ on Sunday 25th July this year, and we look forward to this becoming an annual day of celebration of later life and older people in the years to come.