September Faith Cafe

🙏We would like to thank everyone who attended our Faith Cafe last night, what a truly wonderful gathering and we look forward to our next one on Tuesday 10th October of which details will follow Below some of our wonderful attendees comments “Absolutely loved it, I’m floating on air.” “Thank you Fr Svet, Truly inspiring.”…

Read More

Dowry of Mary Pilgrimage – at Walsingham Catholic National Shrine

This week Our Lady's Shrine is preparing for the forthcoming Dowry of Mary pilgrimage

This week Our Lady’s Shrine is preparing for the forthcoming Dowry of Mary pilgrimage which will be led by Bishop Alan Hopes, along side our new Rector Fr. Robert Billing. This is always a joyous day as many of the Ethnic Chaplaincies are present with their own unique expressions of faith and love of Jesus…

Read More

Resources for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2023

We are on the one month countdown to the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly which will be celebrated on Sunday 23 July 2023. The resources include pull up banners, social media visuals, liturgical resources and some creative and practical ways to involve grandparents and their families in your parish celebration of the world…

Read More

The vital role of Grandparents in Church and family life

We were reminded today of this wonderful interview which our Founder Catherine Wiley did with Vatican Radio. It’s well worth a listen as she stresses the important role Grandparents can play in passing on the faith and keeping prayer at the heart of family life. Click here  ENDS

Read More

Lenten Penance and the Synodal Journey

Lenten Penance and the Synodal Journey MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR LENT 2023 Dear brothers and sisters! The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke all recount the episode of the Transfiguration of Jesus. There we see the Lord’s response to the failure of his disciples to understand him. Shortly before, there had been…

Read More

Who is Saint Joseph to me? A European Art Competition open for entries

The Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe invites artists to think and create together on the figure of Saint Joseph!  How do we see in 2023 this Patron saint of the Catholic Church, Patron of fathers, and Patron of workers? This call for art works embodies two of the directions set by Pope Francis:…

Read More

Pope’s Message for World Day of the Sick 2023

Pope Francis releases his message for the 31th World Day of the Sick, and urges Catholics to heed the example of the Good Samaritan showing compassion and taking care of the sick in a world that discards the most vulnerable. As the Church journeys along the synodal path, Pope Francis is inviting the faithful to…

Read More

Christmas Greetings from the Catholic Grandparents Association

We are sending you warm greetings for Christmas from the Catholic Grandparents Association: Wishing the light of the Christmas star to you. The warmth of home and hearth to you. The cheer and good will of friends to you. The hope of a childlike heart to you. The joy of a thousand angels to you.…

Read More

Advent has begun: Let’s celebrate Bambinelli Sunday!

Advent has begun. Advent, (from Latin adventus, “coming”), in the Christian church calendar, is the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ. Advent is often described as a time of devout and expectant delight. Advent is also best described as…

Read More

Spread Peace this New Church Year

We are living a famine of peace – Pope Francis In his message for the second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, Pope Francis addressed the need for peace in our world. He said, “Our world is passing through a time of trial and testing, beginning with the sudden, violent outbreak of the pandemic,…

Read More

Re-read your life’s story to discover Christ – Pope Francis

Pope Francis continued his catechesis series on discernment at the Wednesday General Audience on 19 October, and urged each of us to examine the story of our life in order to discover the hidden footsteps of Jesus. The Pope focused his attention on how our life’s story can reveal God’s hidden actions. He said, “Our…

Read More

Ministry Seminar to assist parishes to reach out to Grandparents and Elders

On Saturday 1 October next, the Catholic Grandparents Association (CGA) will host a Ministry Seminar to facilitate those interested in establishing a Grandparents’ Ministry in parishes. The Ministry Seminar is aimed at those starting out and those wishing to enrich and enhance recently established ministries for Grandparents. So, if you are a parish that would like…

Read More

Some prayers and reflections for Autumn

We are delighted to share some prayers, reflections and quotes with you as we move on into a real feeling of Autumn and the changing of the Seasons. Pope Francis’ Sunday Angelus on 11 September 2022 This first piece is from Pope Francis’ Sunday Angelus address on 11 September 2022.  As you read these words…

Read More

Press Release: Grandparents to gather at Knock Shrine for National Pilgrimage and to celebrate the Second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 

Sunday 24 July will see grandparents from across Ireland gathering in Knock Shrine for their annual pilgrimage which coincides with the celebration of the second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, the newly introduced universal celebration instituted by Pope Francis last year. This year’s pilgrimage will mark a number of firsts: it will be the…

Read More

Teachers of tenderness – the Pope Video for July

The Pope Video for July has just been released with the prayer intention that Francis is entrusting to the entire Catholic Church through the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. This month, the Holy Father prays “for the elderly, who represent the roots and memory of a people; may their experience and wisdom help young people to…

Read More

Resources for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2022

Pope Francis established a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly which took place for the first time on Sunday 25 July 2021. In 2022, the celebration will fall on Sunday 24 July, the Sunday closest to the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, Grandparents of Jesus. The theme chosen by Pope Francis for this year’s…

Read More

Pope Francis appeals for Easter truce in Ukraine

As the war wages on in Ukraine and the massacres continue, Pope Francis has appealed for a truce in the war-ravaged nation this Easter. During his remarks following his Angelus address this Palm Sunday, the Pope exclaimed, “Let the weapons be put down! Let the Easter truce begin.” The Holy Father noted that as we…

Read More

Pastoral kit for the World Meeting of Families 2022 now available

The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life has made available a Pastoral Kit for dioceses and parishes to assist with the local celebration of the 10th World Meeting of Families, which will take place from 22 – 26 June. As numbers going to Rome for the event are restricted due to the pandemic, Pope Francis…

Read More

April Faith Café to focus on the wellbeing and empowerment of Grandparents 

The Grandparents’ Faith Café will open again online on Tuesday 12 April. The CGA is delighted to announce Tara Rafter as guest speaker. She will speak on the theme of ‘The wellbeing and empowerment of Grandparents in a post-pandemic world’. Tara Rafter is an award winning Life Coach, Life Coach Trainer, Master Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner, Author and Speaker.…

Read More

Pray and Fast for Peace this Lent – Archbishop Eamon Martin

Archbishop Eamon Martin is encouraging families to pray together and fast for peace this Lent.  Archbishop Martin was speaking as he launched the #LivingLent social media initiative for Lent 2022.  The #LivingLent digital media initiative invites the faithful to use social media to grow closer to God during Lent so as to prepare for the…

Read More

February Faith Café to welcome Dana Rosemary Scallon as guest speaker

The Grandparents’ Faith Café will open again online on Tuesday 8 February.  The CGA is delighted to announce Dana Rosemary Scallon as guest speaker for February. She will speak on the theme of ‘The Joy of Love in Marriage and Family (especially in Grandparenting)’. Dana Rosemary Scallon, known professionally as Dana, is an Irish singer and…

Read More

January Ministry Resource now available

Our January Ministry Resource is now available to download. Each month we offer a simple one page information leaflet with resources and suggestions for discussion topics at your Ministry meetings. We’d love to hear from you if there is something you would like us to include in the Ministry Resource or if you have a…

Read More

December Newsletter now available

I am delighted to be writing to you as we prepare to celebrate Christmas. We prepare for Christmas with the attitudes of Elizabeth and Mary. Like Elizabeth we are open to receive Christ with wonder and joy. Like Mary we are ready to do the will of God as it is made clear to us.…

Read More

Blessing for Bambinelli Sunday 2021

The Blessing of the Bambinelli (Baby Jesus) is a tradition which began in Rome. Each year on the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday), the Holy Father invites children to bring the Baby Jesus (Bambinelli) from their family Nativity scene to Mass for a blessing. We have been encouraging the observation of this tradition in parishes for a…

Read More

Be part of #SharingHope with the Digital Advent Calendar for 2021

The first day of Advent heralds the beginning of the Catholic Church’s new year.  Advent (from ‘ad-venire’ in Latin or “to come to”) is the Church season encompassing the four Sundays and weekdays leading up to the celebration of Christmas.  Advent is a time of spiritual preparation for the Lord’s coming at Christmas.  Advent also…

Read More

Press Release: Statement by Catherine Wiley on the retirement of Archbishop Michael Neary as Archbishop of Tuam

Catherine Wiley, Founder of the Catholic Grandparents Association has issued the following statement following today’s announcement of the retirement of Archbishop Michael Neary as Archbishop of Tuam: “As his retirement is announced today Wednesday 10 November, the Catholic Grandparents Association would like to pay tribute to our beloved Patron Archbishop Michael Neary for his wise…

Read More

CGA October Newsletter is now available

We are delighted to share the October issue of our Newsletter. In her editorial this month Catherine Wiley is reflecting on the last couple of months of the year and on the joy of our recent Ministry Seminar. There’s lots more news and features in this month’s issue which is available to view here. Please…

Read More

Rosary for the Family launched as part of Amoris Laetitia Family Year

A new resource on the Rosary has just been made available. The ‘Rosary for the Family’ was carefully created by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network and the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life as part of the ‘Amoris Laetitia Family Year’. This is one of a number of resources that the Dicastery is making available…

Read More

October Ministry Resource now available

We are delighted to bring you our October Ministry Resource which is designed to be used by CGA Ministry Groups for meetings. It can also be shared with Grandparents in your parish as it has some brief snippets on resources of interest. Please feel free to download and share this resource. CGA October 2021 Ministry…

Read More