IV World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
The IV World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly (WDGE) will be celebrated on Sunday, 28 July 2024
The theme chosen by the Holy Father – “Do not cast me off in my old age” (cf. Psalm 71:9) – is meant to call attention to the fact that, sadly, loneliness is the bitter lot in life of many elderly persons, so often the victims of the throw-away culture.
In this year of preparation for the Jubilee, which the Holy Father wishes to be devoted to prayer, the theme of the World Day is taken from Psalm 71, the plea of an elderly person who reflects on the story of his friendship with God.
In this regard, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, declared: “I am deeply grateful to the Holy Father for having chosen as theme of the IV World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly the verse of Psalm 71: ‘Do not cast me off in my old age’. It is the ‘prayer of an elderly person’, which reminds us that, unfortunately, loneliness is a widespread reality, which afflicts many elderly people, often victims of the throwaway culture and considered a burden to society”.
On May 14, was published the Pope Francis’ Message that, as Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, said “emphasises how – due to the crisis of communal belonging and the emergence of an increasingly individualistic mentality – the loneliness of the elderly is often not perceived as a problem. But the Church is called to build something different, to rediscover the taste for fraternity, and to build bonds between generations“.
Concurrent with the publication of the message, the Dicastery has made available a pastoral kit (in 5 languages) which provides prayer, a pastoral guidelines, the full 2022 Pope’s Francis Catechesis on Old Age and the Homily of His Holiness during the 2023 celebration of the WDGE.
“The kit”, explains Mr. Gleison De Paula Souza, Secretary of the Dicastery, “is a tool available to every Church community to help live a Day without loneliness. As usual, we propose to celebrate a Mass with the elderly of the community and to visit those who live in solitude. Our hope is that, as a result of this, the elderly become permanent protagonists in the life and pastoral care of the Church, and that attention be devoted to them every day of the year”.
Images
- Photo by Janosch Lino on Unsplash
Source
- IV World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly – Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life