Honoring Our Grandparents, July 27th

This Sunday, July 27, we will celebrate World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly — a time to pause, remember, and give thanks for the grandparents who shaped our faith and our lives in quiet (or not so quiet) profound ways. This special day is to be celebrated by the universal Church every July, on or near the liturgical Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, grandparents of Jesus. This year’s theme is “Blessed are those who have not lost hope” (cf. Sir 14:2).

For me, one such person is my grandmother, Linda. She didn’t just tell me about faith; she showed me what it means to live it daily. She is bold and stubborn against nay-sayers (don't tell her I said "stubborn"). She taught me to pray, to speak to Jesus as a friend, and to follow the Gospel without fear — trusting that love, not fear, is at the heart of our faith.

Me, my mother Rebecca, and my grandmother Linda

Our family had little money, and the summers when my mother was working and I was off from school, I would spend at my grandparent's home. My grandmother was always leading a Vacation Bible School or ministering to her church in someway. She gave from whatever she had, creating crafts from toilet paper rolls and popsicle sticks, teaching songs, and letting young people know that Jesus loved them. Real love, lasting love. My grandfather read the Bible daily, and the "family Bible" was placed in a place of honor in their home. Sundays were full days of church and fellowship, and of course... we wrapped up these long summer days by eating ice cream from the local Piggy Wiggly while watching Star Trek before bedtime.

It was my grandmother’s encouragement and example that made prayer feel natural, and her unwavering trust in God that helped me see faith not as a set of rules, but as a relationship made through dialogue and sometimes sacrifice. Even in difficult times, she reminded me that Christ walks beside us, sharing our burdens and joys alike. I'm forever grateful to her for the gift of faith she passed on to me and that I in turn can share with my own children.

Our family is blessed not only by biological grandparents but also honorary grandparents. Beautiful elders in our Catholic church who pray for and with our children, no matter where we live, like Josephine (pictured) who prayed for our daughter and celebrated with her at her first Holy Communion at St. Peter's Church, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

At MaterCare International, we know that faith, courage, and love like theirs can change lives. As we mark this World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, I invite you to join me in honoring the grandparents who inspired us.

🙏 Make a gift in honor of your grandparents today — and help us continue our mission to serve mothers and babies in need. Let this be our living tribute to those who taught us to hope, to love, and to pray.

🌐 https://www.matercare.org/donate

Together, let’s celebrate the faith and love passed down through generations — and share it with those who need it most.

#WorldDayForGrandparents #MaterCare #FaithLegacy #HonourTheirLove