(4th Sunday in July) 

On January 31, 2021, Pope Francis decided to institute throughout the Church the celebration of World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. It will be held every year on the fourth Sunday in July near the liturgical memory of Saints Joachim and Anne, grandparents of Jesus. Pope Francis said, "It is important for grandparents to meet their grandchildren and for grandchildren to meet their grandparents."

Third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

The third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which will be celebrated on July 23, 2023, will have the theme, "His mercy is from age to age" (Lk 1: 50). This verse reminds us that God's mercy is manifested in history through the testimonies of those who have experienced it and passed it on to their children and grandchildren.

To help parishes celebrate World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, please see the 2023 Pastoral Kit and Resources by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life as follows:

• Message of Pope Francis
• Catechesis on Old Age by Pope Francis
• Prayer for the Third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
• Pastoral Guidelines, Plenary Indulgence and Liturgy Notes
• Pastoral Kit and Resources

These resources are also available in different languages: Pastoral Kit: World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2023

Resources to promote World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2023 by CCCB

• Video File Download
• Images and Guidelines for Social Media
• Press Release

Second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
On Sunday, July 24, 2022, the Second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly was celebrated throughout the universal Church. The theme chosen by the Holy Father for the occasion is "In old age they will still bear fruit" (Psalm 92:15) and intends to emphasize how grandparents and the elderly are a value and a gift both for society and for ecclesial communities. 

First World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 
Sunday, July 25, 2021.

The theme of the First World Day was: “I am with you always” (cf. Mt 28:20). The theme’s purpose was to convey the closeness of God and the Church to the elderly and also to emphasize the intergenerational closeness between the young and the elderly.

Additional pastoral resources are available as follows:

• Pastoral Resources - First World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly (laityfamilylife.va) 
• Pastoral Resources - World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2022 (laityfamilylife.va)
• A video and text message for the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB)

• A video and text message for the third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB)

• Pope Benedict XVI Prayer for Grandparents (2008) - Catholic Grandparents Association
• Mgr. Quinn’s Prayer for Grandparents - Catholic Grandparents Association
• Prayer Service to Celebrate Grandparents Day 2012  - Diocese of Kerry
• Prayer for Grandparents Day - Diocese of Kerry (includes Activities to Celebrate Grandparents’ Day)
• Blessing of Grandparents - USCCB
• Intercessory Prayers: Families - USCCB (includes prayers for grandparents)
• Prayer-Resources.pdf - USCCB (includes Prayer of the Elderly, Saint Pope John Paul II, 1999, intercessions for the elderly, etc.)
• Prayers for Grandparents - Xavier University, Cincinnati, USA
• Prayers for Aging - Xavier University, Cincinnati, USA

Books:

• The Catholic Grandparents Handbook: Creative Ways to Show Love, Share Faith, and Have Fun, by Lorene Hanley Duquin
• Sharing Our Story: How Grandparents Today Pass on the Catholic Faith – en-novalis, by David Dayler

For further resources please visit our Resources for Parishes.

If you require assistance, please contact Saulina (Sally) Amaral, Diocesan Coordinator, Ministries of Care and Ministry with Maturing Adults, at (416) 934-3400 ext. 518 or samaral@archtoronto.org.