On July 24, the Catholic Church will celebrate the second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.
And the theme for this year has just been announced:
“In old age they will still bear fruit.”
Taken from a passage in the Psalms.
The Vatican says it “intends to emphasize how grandparents and the elderly are a value and a gift both for society and for ecclesial communities.”
Last year, Pope Francis instituted this day celebrating the role of elderly persons in society and the Church for every fourth Sunday of July near the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, Jesus' grandparents.
POPE FRANCIS
'Grandparents are often forgotten, and we forget the richness of preserving our roots and of passing them on.'
The Pope did not celebrate Mass for the occasion last year, since he was still recovering from intestinal surgery. Yet this time around he will be eager to participate in the celebrations for a day that is close to his heart.
JM
