Approaching day focuses on gift of grandparents, elderly

By Jake Samour

On July 26, Catholics around the world will celebrate the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, an annual observance that highlights the vital role older adults play in the life of the Church, families, and society. Pope Francis established the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly in 2021 to honor the vocation and dignity of seniors. This special day invites all people of faith to recognize the wisdom, experience, and spiritual gifts that older generations continue to offer.

This year’s theme, chosen by Pope Leo XIV, comes from the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I will never forget you.” These words speak powerfully to the hearts of many elderly persons, especially those who may experience loneliness, illness, loss, or the feeling of being overlooked in a fast-paced world. Through the prophet, God reassures his people that they are known, cherished, and remembered.

The theme also offers a message of hope and gratitude. Grandparents and elderly persons are living witnesses to faith, perseverance, sacrifice, and love. Through decades of joys and struggles, they have helped shape families, communities, and parishes. Their lives testify to God’s faithfulness across generations.

Many grandparents serve as the spiritual foundation of their families. They teach children how to pray, pass on family traditions, and share stories of faith that otherwise may be forgotten. Countless Catholics can trace their relationship with Christ to the influence of a grandmother who faithfully prayed the rosary, a grandfather whose quiet example reflected integrity and devotion, or an elderly parishioner whose kindness embodied the love of Christ.

Pope Leo’s message is not only directed to older adults; it is also a call to younger generations. If God promises, “I will never forget you,” then Christians are challenged to do the same. The World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly invites us to reject a culture of indifference and embrace a culture of encounter, gratitude, and belonging. It reminds us that every stage of life possesses dignity and purpose.

Parishes can mark this occasion in meaningful ways by reaching out to elderly members of the community. Visits to nursing homes and assisted living facilities, transportation assistance for Mass, intergenerational gatherings, prayer initiatives for the homebound, and simple acts such as phone calls, cards, and personal visits can make a profound difference. These gestures communicate an important truth: no member of the Body of Christ is forgotten.

The annual celebration also provides an opportunity for reflection. Each of us can ask: Who in my family may need a visit or a phone call? Which elderly neighbor could benefit from companionship? How can I honor the wisdom and experiences of older generations? What can our parish do to become more welcoming and supportive of seniors?

As the Church celebrates the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, may we give thanks for the countless ways older adults enrich our lives and strengthen our faith communities. Their witness reminds us that human dignity does not diminish with age but continues to shine as a reflection of God’s love.

May every grandparent and elderly person hear the Lord’s promise and know it to be true: they are deeply loved, profoundly valued, and never forgotten.

“Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15)

Jake Samour heads the Office of Marriage and Family Life for the Catholic Diocese of Wichita.