How do we take part in the World Day for Grandparents & the Elderly 2022?

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO HERE

Let us minister together to ensure no one lives in isolation and loneliness. This Sunday, July 24, we invite you to take a step forward in co-creating compassionate communities that see relationship and accompaniment with the elderly and grandparents as a normal part of family, neighbourhood, parish, and communal life.

Share your visit with us and get a gift!
This World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2022, we invite parishioners and families to participate in the following activity: Make plans to visit grandparents and/or elderly individuals in your family, neighbourhood, or parish community on Sunday, July 24, the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. Consider taking with you some pastry, coffee, and/or flowers, and/or a handmade card with your child(ren). Ultimately, it’s about the gift of time and presence.

• Share a picture from your visit and receive a gift that you can give back! Submit your photo (with caption) by emailing it to [email protected] or use this Diocesan form, and receive a beautiful gift for your grandparent(s) or the elderly you visit! 
• Curious about the gift? Sacred Artist Debbie Thompson Wilson (Sacred Arts Guild of Alberta member, and professional Illuminator) will be creating a beautiful illuminated print of Sts. Anne & St. Joachim  for this special occasion. Limited number of prints will be given to those sharing photos from their visit on the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. 

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO HERE

---

4 practical things parishes can do

1. Promote the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly in the parish bulletin and/or parish announcements, and encourage parishioners to join any special activity in the parish (if available), or to visit their grandparents or the elderly on that day.
   • Download and display the Diocesan poster about World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly with your parishioners 
   • Let parishioners know about the opportunity to get a beautiful gift of printed icon of Sts. Anna & Joachim, by sharing photos from their visit with the Diocese. See poster for more information on how to submit photo. 
2. Promote the Plenary Indulgence promulgated by the Apostolic Penitentiary
   • ​Encourage individuals and families to invite and assist an elderly person to come to Sunday mass celebrated on the occasion of the Day. 
     • Consider hosting a special chat & coffee/cake, barbecue or pancake after the Mass. We have a poster template to help you advertise the event - contact us at [email protected]
   • Encourage individuals and families to participate with a homebound elderly individual in mass through television, radio, or online.
3. Incorporate the suggested Prayer of the Faithful (see pg. 7) into the Sunday Mass and use the final blessing at the end of mass.
4. With the support of Lay Associations in the Parish, organize a fund-raiser selling flowers that would then be presented to Grandparents and/or elderly in families, parish community, and/or neighbourhood.

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO HERE

Vertical Divider

3 Practical things families and individuals can do

1. Visit your grandparents or elderly in your community on or around July 24
2. Pray a rosary for the Pope's intention in July 2022 (for the elderly); intentions of grandparents, elderly in the family, neighbourhood, parish on or around July 24
3. Do a trip down memory lane with your child(ren), looking at pictures of grandparents, great grandparents, and/or elderly individuals who had a significant impact in your life and family of upbringing, like teachers, aunts and/or uncles, mentors.   

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO HERE