The Apostolic Life of Grandparents and the Elderly
Sunday, July 25, 2021, is the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Pope Francis established this day on January 31, 2021. The theme for this year is “I Am with You Always.” (Matthew 28:20)
In his message based on the theme, Pope Francis invites grandparents and the elderly to recognize the special and unique roles they play at this stage of life. An elderly person himself, he writes with compassion, understanding and passion for those who have reached their senior years:
The Scriptures will also help us to understand what the Lord is asking of our lives today. For at every hour of the day (cf. Mt 20:1-16) and in every season of life, he continues to send laborers into his vineyard. I was called to become the Bishop of Rome when I had reached, so to speak, retirement age and thought I would not be doing anything new. The Lord is always – always – close to us. He is close to us with new possibilities, new ideas, new consolations, but always close to us. You know that the Lord is eternal; he never, ever goes into retirement.
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells the Apostles, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (28:19-20). These words are also addressed to us today. They help us better understand that our vocation is to preserve our roots, to pass on the faith to the young, and to care for the little ones. Think about it: what is our vocation today, at our age? To preserve our roots, to pass on the faith to the young and to care for the little ones. Never forget this.
It makes no difference how old you are, whether you still work or not, whether you are alone or have a family, whether you became a grandmother or grandfather at a young age or later, whether you are still independent or need assistance. Because there is no retirement age from the work of proclaiming the Gospel and handing down traditions to your grandchildren. You just need to set out and undertake something new.
I Am with You Always. by Pope Francis
Seniors Are on Online
Why am I writing about the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on this blog where I am advocating the use of websites and social media for mission? Grandparents and the elderly are our part of our audience. They are faith-filled people we can celebrate on our websites and social media throughout the year. They are online.
Just a few facts about the seniors among us in terms of online engagement: The Pew Research Center published the results of a survey that took place in April 2021 and they reveal that for American adults 65+: 75% use the Internet and 64% have broadband at home. (Source and details for all age groups here: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/internet-broadband/).
Of American adults: 81% “have ever used YouTube” and 69% “have ever used Facebook”. (Source and details for these and other age groups here: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/social-media/.)
Share the Stories and the Accomplishments of Seniors
Inspired by Pope Francis’s message for The World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, I offer two examples of how we can honor our seniors and acknowledge their milestone anniversaries and accomplishments on our websites and social media platforms:
- Posting photos on Facebook of couples (with their permission) who celebrate milestone wedding anniversaries at Mass. These always get shared and liked and receive many congratulatory comments not only from their peers, but also from their children and grandchildren. This has great witness value!
- Post videos and/or print interviews with senior parishioners who are active in various parish ministries. These interviews both promote those ministries and acknowledge the leadership and accomplishments of those interviewed. These are also very popular.
Seniors are also living archives of our parish community history as well as of their families. They have been and, in many cases, still are the pioneers and volunteers in parish outreach to the poor, and in evangelization and social justice. They also pray.
In his message, Pope Francis reminds grandparents and the elderly how important their prayers are to the Church and to society:
As my predecessor, Pope Benedict, himself a saintly elderly person who continues to pray and work for the Church, once said: “the prayer of the elderly can protect the world, helping it perhaps more effectively than the frenetic activity of many others.” [4] He spoke those words in 2012, towards the end of his pontificate. There is something beautiful here. Your prayer is a very precious resource: a deep breath that the Church and the world urgently need (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 262). Especially in these difficult times for our human family, as we continue to sail in the same boat across the stormy sea of the pandemic, your intercession for the world and for the Church has great value: it inspires in everyone the serene trust that we will soon come to shore.
I Am with You Always by Pope Francis
Take Action
Please take a few minutes to read “I Am with You Always” by Pope Francis
More importantly consider how you can encourage and support grandparents and the elderly who are at the peak of their lives, very active in leadership and ministry; as well as those who are less active; infirm, home-bound or in nursing homes.
As pope Francis writes to grandparents and the elderly: May each of us learn to repeat to all, and especially to the young, the words of consolation we have heard spoken to us today: “I am with you always”! Keep moving forward!
Your comments are welcome!
