"Do not cast me off in my old age"

The fourth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly will be celebrated this year on Sunday, 28 July 2024. Pope Francis inaugurated this World Day to be celebrated by the universal Church each July, either on or near the liturgical Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, grandparents of Jesus, to help “treasure the spiritual and human wealth that has been handed down from generation to generation.”

In his Message for the fourth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, Pope Francis shares this year’s theme for the Day: “Do not cast me off in my old age” (Psalm 71:9). He invites the Catholic faithful to reflect on the loneliness of the elderly, encouraging us to “take a new path” and to spend time with them, “acknowledging their unique role in the family, in society and in the Church…”
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Let us welcome this opportunity to ‘build something different’, reaching out to each other, both young and old, to strengthen our bonds of love and fraternity, so that no one may ever feel ‘cast off’, lonely, or discarded.

Resources to promote World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2024:

• Pope Francis’ Message
• Pastoral guidelines for individuals, families, and parish communities 
• Catechesis on Old Age
• Graphic/Social Media

Pastoral Guidelines

The celebration of the Day - as usual - should be structured around two fundamental elements:

• The celebration of a Eucharistic liturgy dedicated to the elderly.
• Visiting lonely elderly people within one’s own community.
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Visit the elderly

• Visit isolated elderly individuals in your community.
• Share the message of closeness and comfort from the Day with them.
• Affirm the central role of even the most lonely elderly in our communities.
• Demonstrate a personal commitment, inspired by the example of Ruth, to never abandon anyone.
• Bring a thoughtful gift, such as a flower, and read the Day's message and prayer together.
• Foster intergenerational friendships that reflect God's enduring mercy.

​Preparing for the Day with the Elderly

• The elderly are the primary focus of the Day’s activities, with the Holy Father’s message directly aimed at them. Make sure to invite all elderly individuals to the Sunday liturgy on July 28.
• The Day serves as an opportunity to encourage elderly and their families to return to regular participation in Holy Mass alongside the parish community.
• Invite elderly members of the parish or community for a reflective session on the Pope’s message, which can be distributed widely.
• Initiating ongoing reflective gatherings dedicated to the elderly within the community post-Day, drawing from the Pope’s teachings on aging, is highly recommended.
• Involve older individuals in offering special prayers for youth and peace, acknowledging their unique ministry of intercession.
• Extend the Day’s message to homebound elderly through visits, ensuring inclusivity beyond physical gatherings

Plenary Indulgence 
​For the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, a plenary indulgence is granted for: 

1. Participation: Attending the celebration in person or virtually.
2. Visits: Spending time visiting the elderly, especially the lonely, sick, and disabled, in person or virtually.
3. Spiritual Conditions: Confession, Holy Communion, praying for the Pope's intentions, and detachment from all sin.

​Additionally, those unable to leave their homes due to illness or other serious reasons can obtain the indulgence by spiritually uniting with the day's celebrations and offering their prayers and sufferings to God.
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For more detailed information, you can refer to the official decree from the Vatican. 

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​​Prayer for the World Day for Grandparents & Elderly

​Lord, faithful God,
You who created us in Your image,
You who never leaves us alone
and who accompanies us through every season of life,
Do not abandon us, take care of us,
And grant us, once again,
The ability to discover ourselves
and recognise that we are Your children.
Renew our hearts with your Word
And do not allow anyone to be cast aside.
May your Spirit of love fill us with Your tenderness

And teach us to say:
“I will not abandon you!”
To those we meet on our journey.
With the help of your beloved Son,
may we not lose the taste for fraternity
And may we not conform to the sadness of loneliness.
Help us to look to the future with renewed hope,
And make the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
A day without loneliness, and a day abundant
with the first-fruits of Your peace.
Amen."