“Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”
— John 13:34

 Celebrate a Mass or Liturgy in honour of Grandparents and the Elderly,
 during the National Week for Life and the Family (May 7-14) or beyond.

Optional Date: World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly: July 23, 2023
(4th Sunday in July annually)

Mass Suggestions

  • Encourage families to celebrate this special Mass/Service together, by inviting grandparents and elderly family members with their children and grandchildren in a multi-generational celebration!

  • Consider offering services in-person and virtually, for those unable to attend in person. Families may invite elders in care homes to participate virtually.

  • Service may take place on a weekday evening or weekend.

  • View CCCB website for updates on the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly – celebrated annually the 4th Sunday in July (July 23, 2023).

  • Consider highlighting St. Anne and St. Joachim in their vocation, as grandparents of Jesus.

Additional Suggestions for a Special Mass

  • Offer a blessing and prayer for all grandparents, spiritual grandparents, and the elderly at Mass.

  • In recognition of the blessing it is to be a grandparent or spiritual grandparent, invite grandparents to come forward to receive a flower or grandchildren to come receive the flower to bring their grandparent at Mass, as a sign of their love.

  • Have a Prayer Tree

    • Invite families to write a prayer for family both alive and deceased and hang on the tree.

  • Forget-me-not flowers are the official flowers for grandparents!

  • Invite a testimony from grandparents/elders at the parish to share:

    • Inspiring stories of their own faith and experiences to encourage and uplift younger generations, including roles as “spiritual grandparents” in a parish community.

    • Vocation of being a grandparent & the important role of passing on the faith that grandparents can uniquely offer their families.

  • Take photographs of grandparents and grandchildren together following Mass.

    • Share on your parish website or bulletin board.

  • Invite families to a time of fellowship and refreshments following the Mass.

    • Invite grandchildren to serve refreshments to their grandparents.

    • Youth may choose to honour grandparents with a letter, song, poem, or dance.   

                    

Resources

    • We pray for all our grandparents and the elderly, that the Lord may bless them for the care, guidance, and love they have shared with their children and grandchildren, we pray to the Lord,

    • Lord, bless our grandparents with joy, good health, and a long life as they continue to be an example of your presence to their children and grandchildren, we pray to the Lord,

    • That grandchildren will cherish their grandparents, great aunts and uncles, and the elderly, by sharing with them the precious gifts of their time and love, we pray to the Lord,

    • For the elderly, who are sick, suffering or in distress, either physically or emotionally, we pray to the Lord,

    • That the Holy Spirit will inspire grandparents in passing on the joy of their faith to their grandchildren, we pray to the Lord,

    • For grandparents who are separated from their grandchildren, we pray to the Lord,

    • We pray for all who have died, most especially our deceased grandparents and spiritual mentors who have given our families life, love, and faith, we pray to the Lord,

    Response: Lord, Hear Our Prayer

  • You may use this editable template or create your own! Click here for template.

  • Lord Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, daughter of Saints Joachim and Anne, look with love on grandparents the world over.

    Protect and support them!

    As they grow older, may they continue to be for their families strong pillars of Gospel faith, guardians of noble ideals, living treasuries of sound religious traditions.

    Lord Jesus, help families and society to value the presence and roles of grandparents.

    Mary, Mother of all the living, keep grandparents constantly in your care, accompany them on their earthly pilgrimage, and by your prayers, grant that all families may one day be reunited in our heavenly homeland, where you await all humanity for the great embrace of life without end. Amen!

    Click here to download

 

Additional Parish Activity/Resource Suggestions

  • Plant a tree in memory of grandparents and elders (including elderly priests & religious)
    who have passed away. This could take place in the parish grounds following the Mass/service or invite families to do this privately in their own yards with a special prayer.

o   Click here for more information.


“Not only is this a wonderful way for families and parishes to honour Grandparents and Elders, it is also a wonderful way to give something to future generations.”
– Catholic Grandparent’s Association



  • Have a Book of Remembrance, to share names of grandparents/elderly family members who have passed. This book may be brought to the altar at the start of Mass.  Click here

  • Host a Novena or Holy Hour to pray for the intentions of all grandparents and elders.

o   This time of prayer could be 30 minutes before or after Mass.

o   Invite grandchildren and grandparents to write prayers for each other.

  • Share on a special prayer wall in your parish.

  • Share prayers with family members on special cards.