Grandparents’ Faith Café to welcome Father Alan Hilliard on 9 May

The Grandparents’ Faith Café will open again online on Tuesday 9 May 2023 online via Zoom. The CGA is delighted to announce Father Alan Hilliard as guest speaker. He will speak on the theme of Sabbath.  Father Alan Hilliard is a Catholic priest of Dublin Diocese. He taught for seven years in Ringsend VEC and spent time in parishes in Templeogue and…

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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

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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…

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Grandparents’ Faith Cafe opening online on Thursday 16 March

The Grandparents’ Faith Café will open again online on Thursday 16 March 2023 online via Zoom. The CGA is delighted to announce Father Bryan Shortall Ofm Cap as guest speaker. He will speak on the theme of the Stations of the Cross.   Fr Bryan Shortall OFM Cap joined the Capuchin Order in 1987 and was ordained…

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Grandparents’ Faith Café to reflect on the Ministry of Healing

The Grandparents’ Faith Café will open again online on Wednesday 15 February 2023 online via Zoom. The CGA is delighted to announce Sister Dervilla O’Donnell as guest speaker. She will speak on the theme of the Ministry of Healing.  Sister Dervilla O’Donnell is a Medical Missionary of Mary. She is Healthcare Chaplain at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Co…

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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:…

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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…

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First Grandparents’ Faith Café of 2023 to take place on 10 January

The Grandparents’ Faith Café will open again online on Tuesday 10 January 2023. The CGA is delighted to announce Bishop Kevin Doran as guest speaker.  He will speak on the theme of Grandparents as counter cultural influencers in the family. Bishop Kevin began his seminary formation at Holy Cross College, Clonliffe (1970-1974) and completed his preparation for ordination…

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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.…

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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…

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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,…

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In November We Remember

Ní imithe uainn atá siad, ach imithe romhainn. They are not gone from us, but gone before us. Belief in the resurrection of the dead is an essential part of Christian revelation. It implies a particular understanding of the ineluctable mystery of death. Death is the end of our earthly life, but ‘not of our…

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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…

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Bishop David Oakley to join the Grandparents’ Faith Café this month

The Grandparents’ Faith Café will open again online on Tuesday 11 October 2022. The CGA is delighted to announce Bishop David Oakley, Bishop of Northampton as guest speaker.  He will speak on the theme: ‘Grandparents: Strong roots of faith in the family’. David James Oakley was born on 28th November, 1955 in Stourbridge. He is the eldest of five…

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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…

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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…

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Grandparents’ Faith Café to reflect on the Season of Creation in September

The Grandparents’ Faith Café will open again online on Tuesday 13 September 2022. The CGA is delighted to announce Vivek da Silva as guest speaker for September. He will speak on the theme of the Season of Creation. Vivek is an Assistant Professor in Religious Education in Dublin City University.  From 2016 to 2021 he worked with Veritas…

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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…

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Grandparents’ Faith Café to welcome Archbishop Francis Duffy on Tuesday 19 July

The Grandparents’ Faith Café will open again online on Tuesday 19 July. The CGA is delighted to announce Archbishop Francis Duffy, Archbishop of Tuam and Patron of the Catholic Grandparents Association as guest speaker. Archbishop Duffy will reflect on the World Day for Grandparents the Elderly. Archbishop Francis Duffy was born on 21 April 1958 in the parish…

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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…

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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…

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May Faith Café to focus on the role of Grandparents in nurturing vocations

The Grandparents’ Faith Café will open again online on Tuesday 10 May. The CGA is delighted to announce Father Willie Purcell as guest speaker. Father Purcell will speak on the theme of ‘The role of Grandparents in nurturing vocations to Priesthood and Religious Life’. Father Willie Purcell is Parish Priest of Clara in the Diocese of Ossory in…

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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…

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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…

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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.…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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.…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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