Faith and Family: Grandparents’ Day Mass

Written by Ryan Martin-Spencer, Director of Mission Integration, Liturgical Coordinator

On Friday, November 18, 2022, the OLP community welcomed 450 grandparents and grandparent figures to campus for our annual Grandparents’ Day Mass. Grandparents were invited to arrive early to relax, enjoy refreshments, and share in conversation with each other while taking in the beautiful views of Mission Valley from North Terrace before Mass in the Holy Family Event Center. The full Event Center was brimming with energy and love as students excitedly flowed in to find and sit with their grandparents.

Msgr. Richard Duncanson, OLP Board of Trustee member, celebrated the special mass and reflected upon how he has gotten to know multiple generations of many families, including quite a few present at Grandparents’ Day, throughout his years as a pastor accompanying families through weddings, baptisms, funerals, and other important events. The theme of the mass was, “Stand By Me,” and Msgr. Duncanson spoke beautifully about the love between grandparents and grandchildren, and how grandparents embody selfless Christ-like love, always standing by and supporting their grandchildren. Students offered prayer intentions of thanks for their grandparents and grandparent figures, while also remembering, in prayer, grandparents and grandparent figures who have passed away, leaving a legacy of loving care.

After Communion, Msgr. Duncanson led the community in a special blessing of grandparents and then OLP senior Paulette Vazquez and her grandmother, Erendira Vega, shared a remarkably touching and heartfelt reflection about the strength of their relationship and their unique bond. Paulette shared, “My grandmother, in short, is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. My life would not be the same without her as she is the glue that holds my family together. She is my biggest inspiration, my number one fan, my biggest supporter.” After her grandmother, Erendira, spoke about her love and support for Paulette, they shared an emotional embrace, deeply moving all gathered in the Event Center.

The legacy of love, family, and faith from Grandparents’ Day nourishes and enriches our OLP community each year. Truly, grandparents and grandparent figures embody unifying love in the genuine way that they bring families together and emanate their inspiring unconditional love outward to the wider community. At OLP, we give thanks for the love, support, generosity, and presence of all grandparents and grandparent figures in our students’ lives.