Home – Catholic Grandparents Association

Helping to pass on the faith and keep prayer at the heart of family life.

17th December 2017 – Pope’s Advice to Children: Talk to Grandparents, Elderly, God Meeting Sick Little Ones on His Birthday, Francis Stresses ‘Preserving Children’s Joy’

“Don’t sadden children. When children see that there are problems at home, that the parents quarrel, they suffer. Don’t sadden the children. They must always grow with joy.” The second thing you must do for children to grow well, the Pope said, make them talk with the grandparents: “the two extremes of life, because the grandparents…

A wonderful day at the 6th Catholic Grandparents Pilgrimage.

Here are some pictures from Sunday. We will have a full report shortly….

Year of Faith

The Pontifical Council For the Year of Faith has invited the Catholic Grandparents Association to a meeting on 24th September to plan for a gathering of all the Catholic Movements .This gathering will take place in St Peter’s Square on May 18th 2013 Vigil of the Feast of Pentecost.

1st Grandparents pilgrimage in Malta.

On Friday 20th July our president Maire Printer joined a large group of Grandparents from the village of Hal Balzan in Malta for the 1st Grandparents pilgrimage in their country. Stephen and Georgette Gatt, residents of the village were inspired to organise the event when they read about the CGA in the Universe newspaper last year.

IEC Speech 2012

At the 50th International Eucharistic Congress, the Founder of the Catholic Grandparents Association, Catherine Wiley, gave the following speech which received a standing ovation. Her speech is reproduced here following hundreds of requests from those in attendance. Witness and testimony of Grandparents and practical experience to families Many of us here today are Grandparents,…

IEC 2012 – Standing Ovation!

Catherine Wiley, Founder of the CGA, received a standing ovation at the International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, when 1300 people – some of whom had to listen from outside the venue – acknowledged with their applause the overwhelming need for an organisation such as the Catholic Grandparents Association. Following the success of the speech, enquiries…

Will our Grandchildren be Catholics?

Catherine Wiley, Founder, and Maire Printer, President of the Catholic Grandparents Association are preparing for the Seventh World Meeting of Families to be held in Milan in May. Catherine will address the gathering on the subject “Will our Grandchildren be Catholics?”

On your Marks .. Get Set .. Granny!!

On 6th May 2012 one of the members of the Catholic Grandparents Association will be taking part in the Mini Marathon … Maudie McGing. We were delighted when she said she’d like to take part in order to raise money for the Association … and we could hardly believe it when she admitted to being…

Worldwide Grandparents’ Pilgrimages

Preparations are in full swing now for all the Grandparents Pilgrimages taking place world-wide in 2012. 14th June Croatia 12th July Slovakia 14th July Aylesford, UK 22nd July Walsingham, UK …. Tenth Annual Pilgrimage!! 26th July Fatima 26th July Brittany 20th July …

CGA warmly welcomed by new Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown

Catherine Wiley, native of Castlebar, Founder and Maire Printer, President of the Catholic Grandparents Association were warmly received by the the new Papal Nuncio Archbishop to Ireland when they met with him recently in Dublin and introduced him to the work of the Catholic Grandparents Association.

Vatican Television

We have been invited by Vatican Television to take part in an interview for their Weekly “Octava Dies” . This interview would then be broadcast throughout the world. We were honoured that the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization recommended us for this interview.

Catholic Schools Week

Catholic Schools Week in Ireland was launched in St. Mary’s College, Dundalk, Co. Louth on Thursday 26th January with a special liturgy. Some of the students and teachers gave witness of their faith

Congratulations to Fr. Richard

We were absolutely delighted to hear the news that Fr. Richard, Knock Shrine was appointed as new Parish Priest of Knock in succession to the late Msgr. Joseph Quinn.

Granny Anne

Jesus’ Grandmother is the Christmas figure that time forgot. If we can bring her back into our communities, she can be a source of strength for the family – especially the grandmothers of today, says Verena Wright. This article was published by Redemptorist Publications in their Your Journey to Christmas 2011 (Dec 2011 edition). All…

GRANDPARENTS DAY IN LIVERPOOL

‘GRANDPARENTS DAY IN LIVERPOOL’ will be celebrated by a Grandparents’ Mass to be held on Sunday 18th December at 11 am in the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool. The celebrants are The Most Reverend Patrick Kelly, Archbishop of Liverpool Diocese and Rt Rev. Brian M Noble, Bishop Emeritus, Diocese of Shrewsbury. Refreshements…

Last chance to enter our prize for a 2 night break in Westport

We are delighted to let you know that the winner of our competition for the 2 night B&B and one evening meal in the Castlecourt Hotel for 2 people was Philomena Costello. Congratulations to Philomena! She was delighted as she said she never won anything before! Thank you to all our members who have renewed…

CGA FOUNDER ADDRESSES EUROPEAN SHRINE DIRECTORS CONFERENCE

The founder of the Catholic Grandparents Association, Catherine Wiley, has addressed the annual conference of the European Shrine Directors in Walsingham. Ms Wiley urged Shrine Directors to host annual Grandparents Pilgrimages. She said that the idea for the Pilgrimages was inspired by Our Lady herself. “The very idea was inspired by Our Lady here in…

CGA TO ATTEND LOURDES PILGRIMAGE LATER THIS MONTH

The CGA has been invited and will attend the Rendez-Vous Familles pilgrimage in Lourdes at the end of the month (Oct 29-30). The pilgrimage is a celebration of the generations and is being led by Bishop Perrier, Bishop of Lourdes. He is also the chair of the European Shrine Directors, who held their annual conference…

Pope Benedict’s Universal Prayer for Grandparents – Irish

STANDING ROOM ONLY FOR GRANDPARENTS PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK!

It was standing room only at the Basilica of Our Lady of Knock last Sunday for the annual National Grandparents Pilgrimage organised by the Catholic Grandparents Association. Homilist, Fr Benny MacHale, spoke about the unique relationship between children and their grandparents, describing it as a ‘special bond.’ He said that many children are more affected…

GRANDPARENTS DAY IN SCHOOL!

Pictured at the Grandparents Day in School at the St Colmcille’s National School, The Quay, Westport on Friday 8th Sept 2011, left to right: Máire Printer, CGA President; John Meaney, St Colmcille’s Principal; Catherine Wiley, CGA Founder; Liamy Mac Nally, CGA Administrator. Grandparents Day in School was introduced into this country by the CGA. It…

CGA President meets with Scottish Singer.

During her recent visit to her native Scotland for the inaugural Catholic Grandparents Pilgrimage in Carfin, CGA President, Máire Printer, spent a lovely afternoon in the company of renowned singer, Susan Boyle.

HUNDREDS CELEBRATE INAUGURAL GRANDPARENTS PILGRIMAGE AT CARFIN GROTTO.

More than 300 pilgrims attended the inaugural Grandparents Pilgrimage in Carfin Grotto in Scotland on Sunday (Aug 21st). The Chief Celebrant, recently retired Bishop of Aberdeen, Bishop Peter Moran, spoke about the vocation of Grandparents and their value in society and the church. Bishop Moran said that Grandparents are like Eliakim in the first reading from…

GRANDPARENTS CENTRAL ROLE IN WORLD YOUTH DAY!

The following is taken from the WYD website: Grandparents are being invited to participate in World Youth Day, not just watch as spectators. World Youth Day organizers have created a Grandparent’s Club for those who are over 60. 15, 211 membership cards were sent out to Grandparents across Madrid and being made available on line…

SCOTTISH GRANDPARENTS PILGRIMAGE A ‘FAMILY AFFAIR’!

The President of the Catholic Grandparents Association, Máire Printer, is in Scotland this week, ahead of our inaugural Grandparents Pilgrimage on Sunday, August 21st. Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Carfin is the venue for this unique event. Mass will start at 2.00pm followed later in the afternoon by the Rosary and Blessing of the…

HUNDREDS OF HAPPY PILGRIMS ATTEND PILGRIMAGE IN AYLESFORD.

Hundreds of people attended the inaugural Catholic Grandparents Pilgrimage in Aylesford Priory on Saturday July 16th 2011. The event, though dampened by some inclement weather, failed to dampen the spirits of pilgrims on what many people described as an inspirational and uplifting day. The event was organized by an inter-diocesan committee from the Archdiocese of…

MEETING FORMER TAOISEACH ALBERT REYNOLDS

60th Anniversary of the Pope’s Priestly Ordination.

Blessings on Pope Benedict today – 60th anniversary of his priestly ordination. Comhghairdeas! Today is also the feast day of St Peter & St Paul. An extract from a poem in today’s Divine Office readings for St Peter & St Paul: “Rejoice, O Rome, this day; thy walls they once did sign With princely blood,…

Thank you from office of Pope Benedict XVI