Ruadhán Jones
Ahead of the Church’s first Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, the patron of the Catholic Grandparents Association stressed the importance of close relationships between grandparents and grandchildren.
“The value of someone who can help the young person to broaden their horizon and approach challenges from another angle is hugely important for the young,” Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary said in a statement, July 20.
He added that a “close relationship” between grandparents and grandchildren benefits both, as “grandparents will benefit from seeing the way in which grandchildren can approach things in a different light”.
Archbishop Neary also said that “deep” relationships between teenagers and grandparents are important.
“There is something very attractive when you hear teenagers and sports people speak of their relationship with their grandparents,” Archbishop Neary said. “There is something beautiful about it and it conveys the importance of what this World Grandparents’ Day which we are approaching is impressing upon all of us.”
Pope Francis announced January 31 of this year that the first world Day for Grandparents and the Elderly will take place July 25.
The Pope announced the theme for the day, ‘I am with you always’, in a message released June 22.