We are just 10 days away from the Third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on Sunday 23 July 2023. 

As I write we are making the final preparations for our Grandparents' Pilgrimages to Knock Shrine in Ireland and to Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in England. 

We are also preparing for the first ever celebration of the World Day in Medjugorje. 

We are also hearing about all the wonderful liturgies, events and initiatives that you are planning for the day. 

My prayers of thanksgiving go to each and every one of you for making such a fuss about grandparents and the elderly at this time. They are so often the forgotten foundation of our families, our parishes and our communities. It is a good thing that you are all doing in honouring their contribution to our lives on the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. 

The Vatican has also released a beautiful Prayer for the World Day and has announced a Plenary Indulgence. 

By now you should have seen the resources that have been prepared by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. We have also prepared some additional resources which you will find on our website. 

As we prepare for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly there are parallel preparations ongoing for World Youth Day in Lisbon in August. Many of our grandchildren will be part of this gathering. They have even included a role for grandparents which you can read more about in this newsletter. We send our prayerful good wishes to all involved in preparing this joy filled and faith filled event for young people. Safe travels to all making the journey to Lisbon, especially to our Holy Father. 

We have taken a short break - a coffee break if you like, from the Grandparents' Faith Café for the months of July and August. But, we will be back with you on the second Tuesday of the month from September. 

God bless the work that has been involved in bringing the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly to life for 2023. Please do tell us how you celebrated. 

Email: info@catholicgrandparentsassociation.org. 

With love and prayers,

Catherine Wiley

Founder, CGA 

We are delighted to announce that the first ever pilgrimage to Medjugorje will take place on Sunday 23 July for the Third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. 

We are grateful to all of the team in Medjugorje Parish for their warm welcome. 

Schedule for the day: 

5.00pm: Catechesis - Given by Archbishop Aldo Cavalli, Special Apostolic Visitator to Medjugorje

6.00pm: Rosary 

7.00pm: Holy Mass - Presided by Father Zvonimir Pavicic, Parish Priest 

All are welcome. 

We are inviting all of you grandparents to be part of World Youth Day (WYD) in August. All ages matter at WYD so even if you are not planning to attend the wonderful events in Lisbon, Portugal, you are called to be part of a prayer network offering your daily prayers for all those who will prepare the events and those who will attend, including our dear Holy Father!

So let's get our prayers offered up for a wonderful and joy filled World Youth Day 2023. 

Let the young people and all the hard working staff and volunteers know you are praying for them by sharing your prayer on social media using the hashtag #GrandparentsWYD. 

We have made available some social media graphics for use to promote the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. These are available on our website.