St Peter the Apostle – Airport Parish in the city of Livingstone, Zambia, celebrated the second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly with Masses and a shared meal with grandparents of the parish.
Vatican News.
Livingstone Diocese’ St Peter the Apostle – Airport Parish celebrated with the Universal Church the second World Day for Grandparents and the elderly last Sunday.
“Having received a reminder from the Diocesan Pastoral Coordinator on 7 July 2022 about the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, our Parish Coordinating Team started circulating word around the Small Christian Communities about the need to prepare for the day. Announcements were also made at various Sunday Liturgies, and soon preparations were well underway,” said the Parish priest, Fr Imasiku Mwanamulena Ngalama.
Sharing a meal and the wisdom of grandparents
“On the day, in the introductions and homilies, grandparents and the elderly were specifically mentioned, and a plea was made to pray for and with them. In the Prayers of the Faithful, grandparents and the elderly were interceded for. Furthermore, during the Mass of 09.00 hours, grandparents and the elderly took centre stage. They read the first and the second readings and led the Intercessions. After the Masses, a special meal was shared with grandparents and the elderly of the parish. The funds for the meal came from contributions that parishioners made for the occasion in their Small Christian Communities,” explained Fr Imasiku.
In old age, they will still bear fruit
The theme chosen by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, for the second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2022 was, “In old age, they will still bear fruit” (Psalm 92:15). With the theme, the Church intends to emphasise how grandparents and the elderly are a value and a gift both for society and for ecclesial communities.
The theme is also an invitation to reconsider and value grandparents and the elderly who are too often kept on the margins of families, civil and ecclesial communities. Their experience of life and faith can contribute, in fact, to building societies that are aware of their roots and capable of dreaming of a future based on greater solidarity.
