CGA welcomes theme chosen by Pope Francis for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2023

The Catholic Grandparents Association welcomes the theme chosen by Pope Francis for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2023 which is: ‘His mercy is from age to age’ (Luke 1:50)

Commenting on the theme Catherine Wiley, CGA Founder, said, “The Catholic Grandparents Association warmly welcomes the theme chosen by Pope Francis for the third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly which will be celebrated on Sunday 23 July 2023. 

“While we don’t yet have the full message for this year’s Universal celebration, the theme that the Holy Father has chosen ‘His mercy is from age to age’ is one which has been selected as a link to World Youth Day which is taking place this year. 

“It’s a theme which resonates deeply with grandparents as mercy is at the heart of the family. As Grandparents, we are often the harbours of mercy in the lives of our grandchildren and we are always there as a bridge from one generation to the next. In the CGA we do our best to ensure that this bridge is also one which offers a link to our faith – past, present and future. 

“It will be wonderful to have Pope Francis celebrating a Eucharistic Liturgy for the Day in Saint Peter’s Square but his call for dioceses, parishes and ecclesial communities to celebrate the Day in a local pastoral context is one that is so important for us to listen to. 

“The CGA will once again offer lots of ideas and resources for parishes and dioceses who wish to mark the event. Our ‘Plant A Tree in their Memory’ is something that has been adopted in many parishes over the past two years as a wonderful way to remember the service to family and faith of grandparents who are no longer with us. The planting of a tree is also linking in with the Laudato Si’ theme which is another bridge between the generations.

“We also look forward to being back in Knock Shrine on Sunday 23 July for the annual Grandparents’ Pilgrimage which we moved to coincide each year with the World Day celebrations. We look forward to having Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin and the Bishops’ Council for Marriage and the Family as our Principal Celebrant and Homilist. 

“We are very much looking forward to reading the full message from the Holy Father for this year’s World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. which I have no doubt will offer us further nourishment in our faith journey as grandparents. 

“In the meantime resources will be available here from 1 May.”