By Milagros San Martin
OTTAWA — As the Jubilee Year of Hope unfolds, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has released a video and pastoral resources to mark the fifth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly July 27.
The initiative, developed with the CCCB’s Office for Family and Life, invites parishes, families and communities across Canada to recognize the elderly not as symbols of decline, but as vibrant carriers of faith and hope.
Filmed in St. John’s, Newfoundland, the promotional video captures the importance of the intergenerational relationships between children and grandparents, both biological and adopted. It portrays the reality for many children living far from their grandparents and the usefulness of the various means of communications technology to keep those relationships alive.
The campaign is anchored in the message of Pope Leo XIV for this year’s World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. The annual observance was instituted by Pope Francis in 2021. It is celebrated on or near the liturgical feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus, July 26.
In his message, Pope Leo XIV encourages society and the Church to see the elderly as the pinnacle of life, as those whose wisdom forms the foundation for a better future.
“Embracing the elderly helps us to understand that life is more than just the present moment, and should not be wasted in superficial encounters and fleeting relationships,” he wrote. “Instead, life is constantly pointing us toward the future.”
“Christian hope always urges us to be more daring, to think big, to be dissatisfied with things the way they are. In this case, it urges us to work for a change that can restore the esteem and affection to which the elderly are entitled,” he said.
In Catholic tradition, the elderly are often regarded as guardians of memory and faith — witnesses to hope who quietly shape the spiritual fabric of families and communities. The CCCB video and resources underscore this role, drawing attention to the significance of intergenerational relationships built on trust, prayer and mutual care.
To turn reflection into action, the CCCB offers an array of resources aimed at enriching both personal and parish life. Families are encouraged to bridge generations by organizing storytelling sessions with their elderly members, creating spiritual bouquets for the elderly, and lighting a candle for their intentions.
Parishes are encouraged to incorporate blessings for grandparents and to invoke the intercession of Sts. Joachim and Anne at all Masses July 27. They are also invited to initiate “adopt-a-grandparent” programs, host coffee gatherings, or coordinate novenas leading up to the day. The Canadian bishops also recommend parishes start a “Ministry for Grandparents.”
These pastoral ideas resonate with the call of Pope Leo for a “revolution of tenderness and care” in an effort to “restore hope and dignity to those who feel forgotten.”
The day is also a reminder that hope is not reserved for the young or the strong. It lives in those who have walked long roads, who pray in silence and who continue to believe — even when the world feels weary. It not just a symbolic celebration, but a reminder that love shared across generations can heal, restore and help build a more compassionate world.
See the CCCB resources for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.
