Sunday, July 28, 2024, will be the 4th World Day of Grandparents and Elderly at St Gioacchino (St Joachim) in Prati. The theme chosen by the Holy Father, “Do not abandon me in old age” (cf. Ps 71:9), refers to the bitter reality of the lives of many elderly people who often live in solitude and are victims of the throwaway culture. The celebration of the Day enhances the charisms of grandparents and elderly people and their contribution to the life of the Church. The parish of San Gioacchino in Prati, where the Redemptorists work, will be the place of the celebration of the World Day of Grandparents and Elderly in the Diocese of Rome.
“God never abandons his children. Not even when age advances and strength declines, when hair turns white and the social role diminishes, when life becomes less productive and risks seeming useless. He does not look at appearances and does not disdain choosing those who too many appear irrelevant. He does not discard any stone, indeed, the “oldest” are the secure base on which the “new” stones can lean to build the spiritual edifice together.” The message of Pope Francis for the fourth World Day of Grandparents and Elderly, which will be celebrated on Sunday 28 July, gives the meaning of this anniversary established by the Holy Father, who has always been attentive to the elderly. “In the Bible – continues the Pontiff in the message released last 25 April – we find the certainty of God’s closeness in every season of life and, at the same time, the fear of abandonment, particularly in old age and in times of pain. This is not a contradiction. Looking around, we have no difficulty in verifying how these expressions reflect a more than evident reality. Too often, loneliness is the bitter companion of our lives, the elderly, and grandparents.
The theme of loneliness will be at the center of this 2024 edition, from Psalm 71: “Do not abandon me in old age.” The Day is celebrated on the Sunday closest to the feast of Saints Joachim and Anna, grandparents of Jesus. In the diocese of Rome, the parish of San Gioacchino in Prati will host the 11 o’clock Mass, which will also be broadcast live on Rai Uno, to help those who are getting on in years and perhaps have difficulty leaving home. The initiative is promoted by the diocesan office for the pastoral care of the elderly and the sick and by the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, with the collaboration of the Office for Health Pastoral Care, the “Età Grande” Foundation, the “Viva gli Anziani” program of the Community of Sant’Egidio, and the “Gemelli Medical Center” Company.
“The World Day – observes Bishop Dario Gervasi, diocesan delegate for the Area of Care of Age and Life – has the purpose of spreading a deeper attention towards the elderly and a reflection on the figure and importance of grandparents in our society. It would be nice to involve families in the celebration, with children and grandchildren, as a sign of testimony of a deep intimacy and family unity.” Not only that. Remembering this anniversary means “recognizing and celebrating the fundamental role that grandparents and the elderly in general play in our daily lives, in the family and communities, being the custodians of memory, experience and traditions and strengthening, with their support, the bonds between generations,” underlines Don Carlo Abbate, in charge of the diocesan Office for the pastoral care of the elderly and the sick.
The Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life notes that “the celebration of the Day, valorizing the charisms of grandparents and the elderly and their contribution to the life of the Church, aims to encourage the commitment of every ecclesial community to build bonds between generations and to combat loneliness, aware that, as Scripture states, “it is not good for man to be alone (Gen 2:18).”
July 10, 2024
(source: https://www.diocesidiroma.it)
