A senior couple in St. Denis Parish, Manasquan, holds hands for recitation of The Lord’s Prayer during the July 24 Mass Bishop O’Connell celebrated for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.
Fruit’
Since Easter of this past year, Pope Francis has devoted his audience talks to the theme of being elderly. At the age of 85, he speaks from the experience and blessing of a long life and, no doubt, wants to share a bit of wisdom about what growing older means to him.
In my own life, I was blessed to know three of my four grandparents. They were beautiful and loving people. Today, here in our parish, I am delighted to see so faith. thiseldergrandparentsmanyandmembersofcommunityofYourpresence today, as the whole of your lives, bears witness to the great faith that has brought you to the present moment. So many years! So many memories! So many joys and sorrows! So, much of a life that has been – through it all – God’s gift to you! And, as our Holy Father has quoted from the psalms, “In their old age, they still bear fruit.”
As we celebrate the length of years and all the love that has filled them, we also give thanks for them and with them. It is Still Bear
‘In Their Old Age, They
A homily given by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., for World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, July 23 and 24 The Holy Father gives a public audience every Wednesday in Rome. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world attend to hear his message and receive his blessing. Perhaps some of you have had the occasion and opportunity to attend.
Last year, Pope Francis gave a great gift to the Church when he established the first “Annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly” to be celebrated each year on the fourth Sunday of July, close to the feast of Saints Joachim and Ann, the parents of the Blessed Mother Mary and the grandparents of the Lord Jesus. In creating this annual celebration, the Pope reflected that “grandparents are often forgotten, and we forget this wealth of preserving roots and passing on what the elderly have received.” He addressed the importance of grandparents and grandchildren getting to know one another: grandparents see their grandchildren dream while young people draw strength from their grandparents to go forward and prophesy (Inside the Vatican, January 31, 2021).”
Mike Ehrmann photo
Continued on 8 From the Bishop August 2022 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 7
A Message from BISHOP DAVID M. O’CONNELL, C.M.
In closing, Bishop O’Connell offers this reflection: “The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is, indeed, more than just an obligation for Catholics. It is a truth of our faith that is rich and full of meaning, so much so that we are drawn to celebrate it regardless of its obligation in the Church’s law. Every feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary during the Church’s calendar year leads us closer to Christ her Son because of her maternal union with him.”
THIS MONTH IN BISHOP’S CORNER ON TRENTONMONITOR.COM:
Recognizing
With that in mind, I recall the words of Pope Benedict: “The prayer of the elderly can protect the world, helping it perhaps more effectively than the frenetic activity of many others.” There is something beautiful in that thought.
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The prayer of the elderly is a precious resource, as Pope Francis has reminded us, “a deep breath that the Church and the world need (Message, May 31, 2021).” We need their prayer as we pray for them. the gifts of the elderly 7
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., stands with clergy and parishioners of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, after blessing the parish grotto on the Feast of the Assumption, Aug. 15, 2019. Rose O’Connor photo
From the Bishop in that spirit, that Pope Francis invites all the faithful to reach out in love to our grandparents but also to those who may not be grandparents but who have grown old in our midst, including those priests who have served us as our “spiritual parents and grandparents.” An invitation, a visit, a card or gift, a phone call or message, some reminder that they are not alone would be among the best ways to celebrate this “World Day.”
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AUGUST – THE MONTH OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
The Holy Father asks us all to let the elderly know that they are not forgotten, that we are grateful for them, that we care for them, that we pray for them, that they continue to be an important part, active part of our lives. “In their old age, they still bear fruit.”
During the month of August, which is traditionally dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Church celebrates the feast of the Assumption of Mary, which “has a strong foundation throughout the Church’s history,” writes Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., in the latest installment of the Bishop’s Corner. To mark this special month, the Bishop issued a catechesis on the Assumption. To read the full text, go to TrentonMonitor.com > Bishop’s Corner.
A summary follows:
Abraham pleads for the people and is amazing for his persistence, and God shows the extent of his mercy. Luke’s Gospel today echoes a similar theme, inviting us to ask, to seek, to knock on God’s door after sharing the model of the Lord’s Prayer with his disciples. Prayer is an expression of faith and trust and confidence in God, an expression of our dependence upon him. Prayer must be a constant in our lives – young and old alike – and not just asking for things, although our needs are surely part of the conversation. Prayer is maintaining our relationship with God, no matter what our age or circumstances in life. It’s not difficult at all. It’s as easy as a thought, a word, a conversation with our God who loves us so much.Today, we pray in a special way for our grandparents, our elder sisters and brothers, our retired priests and all those who have contributed to our lives BY their lives. We thank God for the treasure that they are. And we ask them to pray for us, to “bear fruit” in that way.
While the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven (August 15) falls on Monday this year, and is therefore not a holy day of obligation, it “remains a pre-eminent Marian feast day that should be honored and remembered,” Bishop O’Connell stressed, noting that in the Diocese of Trenton, Mary, Queen of the Assumption is the diocesan patroness and the name of the diocesan Cathedral. Drawing on the teachings of the Popes and saints, Bishop O’Connell addresses the questions, “Did Mary die?” “What is the meaning of ‘assumption?’” “Is the doctrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary found in the Scriptures?” and “What is the meaning of the Assumption of Mary for us?”
This weekend, our readings put before our minds the importance and effectiveness of prayer as their central theme. In our first reading from the Book of Genesis, we find Abraham begging the Lord’s mercy on behalf of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, cities notorious for their wickedness.
BY RAYANNE BENNETT Associate Publisher
It has been said of the many societal problems that emerged during the pandemic, that COVID may not have caused them as much as it exposed them. When it comes to the terrible toll that this disease took on the elderly, many would agree that the sense of isolation, physical vulnerability and need for good healthcare pre-dated the arrival of this latest pandemic. So many older people have been chronically underserved and left on their own to navigate through very difficult times.That is why the decision by Pope Francis in 2021 to institute World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly did not come a moment too soon. And, while the Pope asks that we give special attention to older people on that special day each year, he has made it a point to frequently speak on the subject and has clearly shown that this is not a once-a-year calling. This is every day, in every place, and in many different ways – the elderly are with us and we need each other. This initiative by the Pope is an invaluable gift to us all. And each of us have the opportunity to respond in kind by taking the Holy Father’s advice. He asks us to recognize that the elderly, despite any physical or cognitive limitations, always have something to offer us, to teach us, to help us. And there is much that we can give to make
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Making our older loved ones a priority in our lives their lives happier, healthier, safer and filled with purpose. But in order to do that, we must be very intentional. The world has changed a great deal over the last few generations, and contemporary culture has become inhospitable to regularly spending time with our elderly family members, fellow parishioners and friends.
When I grew up in a small town in northern New Jersey, my grandmother lived around the corner, my great aunts and their families lived next door to me and my great-grandmother lived up the road. We were always together. When I finished my chores at home, I was sent to help out at my grandmother’s. We spent fun time together – going to the movies and bowling. There were endless games of Scrabble and Canasta with the family. We had Sunday dinners after churchWhiletogether.thatway of life may still exist in some first-genera tion families, it is not so common for the vast majority of us. Families with younger children are on the go 24/7 and often struggle to work in an occasional visit to older relatives. Few families live in such close proximity to one another as when I was young, so there are logistical challenges to overcome. Technology has the potential to keep us all connected, but a handful of quick text exchanges is no substitute for actual ly spending time together, sharing stories and laughter, This is every day ... wewithelderlytheareusandneedeach other. Shutterstock image
MOVING PAST FEAR While serving in bereavement ministry, I saw an element of anxiety that often accompanied grief, especially in older people who have lost a spouse, and came to understand the underlying cause of the anxiety as fear.
Dr. Liparini, a licensed psychologist who is also group volunteer co-facilitator at the grief support center, Good Grief (located in Morristown and Princeton), explained, “Older adults may find it particularly difficult to forge meaning out of the loss of their own child or grandchild. Feelings of anger and resentment can emerge and feel uncomfortable to acknowledge and sit with.”
Tearful questions like, “Who is going to take me to the doctor?” translate in broader depth to “Who is going to listen to what the doctor says and help me make decisions? I can’t do this alone.”
Fears about the simplest of daily experiences, like driving or forgetting to pay a bill, to a deeper fear of the future can complicate grief with worrying to the point of exhaustion but leave the bereaved unable to sleep. It’s no surprise that I sometimes receive daily emails from those who are grieving the loss of a loved one that simply say, “Please pray for me.”Dr.Liparini stressed that faith communities and social supports, “help us navigate the work of grieving.” In the Diocese of Trenton, that work is facilitated
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CLIFFORD MORRELL Contributing Editor In my family, our oldest loved one is my aunt, 85 years old, going on 60. It seems she doesn’t age, but time has not been kind to her in terms of grief.Shehas buried a daughter, all four siblings, her husband, and a nephew, as well as all the extended family members in her generation and many of her closest friends. When my cousin, her niece, died in the spring my aunt was inconsolable at the wake and funeral. Wrapping me in a hug, she struggled to get out the words, “I’m so tired of burying my family. We shouldn’t have to bury our children, our nieces and nephews. My heart is just so broken, and I’m so tired just missing them.”
As the Church marked the second annual observance of World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly in July, the faithful have been called by Pope Francis to honor the elderly, which includes acknowledging their unique challenges – among them a distinctive experience of loss and grief, often accompanied by an overwhelming loneliness following a cascade of losses.
“Grief is complicated and not always fair,” stressed Dr. Christina Liparini, adjunct faculty, Department of Professional Psychology and Family Therapy, Seton Hall University, South Orange. She pointed out that, often, “our older adults confront what we consider the unnatural experience or order of surviving their own children and grandchildren [or] their younger friends may die first.”
A Loss Like No Other Walking with the elderly through their unique experience of grief “When the elderly lose people, their world grows smaller.” imageShutterstock
A friend, who is among the newly bereaved, expressed it powerfully: “When the elderly lose people, their world grows smaller. The people who know them best, who shared experiences growing up, who understand them, grow fewer and possibly no longer exist.”
Little considers these groups as “the best support our Church offers. Members form relationships based on mutual understanding, respect and shared experiences of grief … helping seniors feel less isolated.”SueRoggio, leader of the Consolation Ministry in St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, shared that the group environment “provides a bonding opportunity … Despite age differences, people in the groups offer compassion and understanding to the elderly who feel alone andOutsideforlorn.”the meetings, said Roggio, participants “often call one another, meet for lunch or to accompany someone else to church and/or a doctor visit.”
Seniors who suffer the loss of a loved one, particularly a spouse or a caretaker, may face a host of challenges accompanying the loss. Parishes often step into the gap by offering programs and ministries to help move seniors through their grief with needed sup port. The list below was created by Carol De Muria, who coordinates the parish grief support group in St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.
They become socially isolated, es pecially those who don’t drive, leaving them with no access to Mass, to visit others or attend parish support groups.
An inability to navigate essential programs. The work involved in han dling Social Security, Medicare, pen sions or dealing with the estate, can be overwhelming without support.
After the program ends the bonding continues, providing, “an extended support system that may not be available in any other way.”
Parish support groups, he said, help “to demystify the concept of loss and grief by focusing on several key thoughts: Loss is a normal part of life
Insensitive responses/suggestions to bereaved. Though usually well-inten tioned, advice to let go of their home, their possessions, or their pets to reduce responsibilities, can leave the recently bereaved in tears at the suggestion of yet more loss.
Adult children dismiss parent’s needs. Children are sometimes unable to deal with a parent’s sadness at the death of their spouse and often advise parents to just “get over it.”
CHALLENGES
Loneliness and lack of purpose. Normal activities of sharing time together, maintaining a home, serving as caretaker, are ended, leaving the grieving to feel useless and lost.
“Many seniors were taught to be ‘stoic’ and ignore the emotions associated with loss and grief.”
GIFT OF PARISH SUPPORT Paula Little, coordinator of three bereavement support groups in St. Pius X Parish, Forked River, explained, “In the ‘safe’ environment of a well facilitated support group, seniors, as well as younger members, feel free to explore their sorrow without fear …They are encouraged and supported as they find the answers that work for them.”
Second guessing health care choices for the deceased, especially those made at the recommendation of medical professionals, often leave the bereaved feeling responsible in some way for the death.
Al Martella, co-facilitator of the Loss and Grief program in St. David the King Parish, Princeton Junction, observed that “a challenge many older individuals face when suffering a loss is dealing with the ups and downs of their emotions. Many seniors were taught to be ‘stoic’ and ignore the emotions associated with loss and grief.”
Financial insecurity, brought about by the loss of a partner’s benefits or income, or increasing health care costs are a serious added concern for older adults.
Continued on 18 August 2022 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 11 by parish grief support groups.
BEREAVEMENT FOR OLDER ADULTS
imageUnsplash
Seniors have much to offer next generations, if only they will share, young will listen Grandparents and the elderly benefit from experience that can only be collected through the accumulation of years. Their insight can be an incomparable resource, a beautiful artifact that can be preserved for generations – but only if they pass it on.
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The value of telling a story that took a lifetime to craft was a subject addressed by Dr. Christopher Bellitto in his presentation at the World Meeting of Families in June. Dr. Bellitto, a history professor at Kean University, Union, and member of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral Parish, Freehold, spoke of the growing demographic of the elderly, and the value they have to offer their families and the Church by sharing their wisdom – knowledge gleaned from research for his book, “Ageless Wisdom: Lifetime Lessons from the Bible.” Excerpts from his talk follow.
“Oral interviews: our seniors will not always be with us. We’ve heard their stories, but have we preserved them? Have young people documented their elders’ experiences by taping them so video and audio can last beyond their lifetimes? Start with the funny stories we’ve all heard. Prompt them to tell the stories they’ve never told but time is running out to do so. ‘What was it like when you came to this country….when you first dated…..when you started school…. when you had something rough happen to you? What is your greatest regret?’
“In 2040, there will be more human beings over the age of 65 than under the age of 5 – a statistic that has never before happened in human history,” a number that represents 20 percent of the world’s total population.
“As I tell my college students: if you can’t find the time, make the time.” Dr. ChristopherBellitto
“The first commitment is to make this a priority whether you are a grandparent, parent or younger person. Don’t say, ‘I don’t have the time.’ As I tell my college students: if you can’t find the time, make the time.
“In 1980, [Pope] John Paul II told the International Forum on Active Aging that older men and women play a role in ‘the continuity of the generations’ by their ‘charism of bridging the gap.’
“Maybe tie this to children’s Sacramental preparation and life lessons: “Grandma, what was your First Communion like? Grandpa, did you get confirmed? Tell me about Mommy’s
Sharing their Stories
“[Pope] Benedict XVI, visiting a London nursing home in 2010, said, ‘As advances in medicine and other factors lead to increased longevity, it is important to recognize the presence of growing numbers of older people as a blessing for society. Every generation can learn from the experience and wisdom of the generation that preceded it. Indeed, the provision of care for the elderly should be considered not so much an act of generosity as the repayment of a debt of “[Pope]gratitude.’”Francistalks about caring for our elders and connecting them with our young people all the time. I direct you to Amoris La etitia heplaces,many191-93, numbersamongotherwheretellsusthat our elders are ‘a living part of our communi ty.’ This remindsphraseme of a saying of the Akan tribe in Ghana, which calls seniors citizens ‘living ancestors’ – an instructive phrase and a good attitude: living ancestors.” “[Pope] Francis gives us papal homework. Speaking a few days after his own 80th birthday in 2016, he said to a group of youngsters: ‘Speak to your grandpar ents. Ask them questions. They have the memory of history, the experience of living, and this is a great gift for you that will help you in your life journey.’ Where can this happen? Many places.”
BOOKS AND JOURNALS: Titles available at online booksellers, including Amazon.com: “Tell Me Your Story, Grandma” and “Tell Me Your Story, Grandpa” by New Seasons “Tell Your Life Story: The Write Your Own Autobiography Guided Journal” (Hear Your Story Books) – by Jeffrey Mason “Grandpa Tell Me Your Story: 101 Questions for Your Grandpa to Share His Life and Thoughts” by Linda Fachinni (version for Grandma, Dad and Mom also available)“300Questions to Ask Your Parents Before It’s Too Late” by Shannon Alder
FOR HANDING STORIES
The Legacy Project offers a fill-in-theblanks life story kit for interviewing older adults, including a list of questions for interviews. Additional offerings available to order include a Generations Scrapbook for children to use, as well as a Life Interview Kit to help document a person’s Life Statement. https://storyworth.com
DOWN ever doubt God? Were you afraid you wouldn’t get a job? What did you think when your sister got cancer? How did you get through it? Did you ever march for a political or social cause? What happened? Were you scared? What was the cost? What helped you do hard things? Would you do it again?’” “Cook together. Share the family recipes, write them down even if you’ve never done that before (especially if you’ve never measured it beyond ‘a handful of this, a pinch of that’). Tell the story that goes with the recipe – a feast, a wedding, a birthday, or no special event at all but something you just love to make. It might go like this: ‘When we came to this country, we couldn’t find this ingredient, so we substituted it with that. When we didn’t have enough food, we stretched it this way.’ And then – eat together, as often as possible.”
WEBSITES FOR ADULT CHILDREN & GRANDCHILDREN: www.legacyproject.org
WEBSITES FOR SENIORS: Guidedautobiography.com
With the goal to digitally preserve the legacy of American veterans, this organization coordinates with The Library of Congress and other veterans’ agencies, traveling to all 50 states to conduct interviews to compile an oral history. Email contact@veteransstoryproject.com
“Ask the tough questions: ‘Did you There are so many reasons for grandparents and the elderly to pass on their life experiences to the next generation: bringing family members together, connecting with God’s creation as an individual with a unique story, guarding against age-related memory loss, preserving cultural heritage, and giving agency and meaning to the lives of those who still have so much to share. Below are some suggestions for getting started:
StoryWorth is another digital and print method for story collecting, which provides a weekly email prompt for your loved one; answers are compiled at the end of the year, along with photos, in a hardbound book. There is also the option to record audio responses, using the emailed questions.
ABOUT THE BOOK: Dr. Bellitto’s book “Ageless Wisdom: Lifetime Lessons from the Bible” is available at paulistpress.com
RESOURCES
August 2022 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 13 Baptism. Tell me about mine.’”
Using a method that helps people document their journeys with trained instructors in many states (including New Jersey), you are directed through questions and weekly themes designed to assist with memory and recalling long-forgotten stories. Online classes are available for those unable to attend in-person workshops. www.veteransstoryproject.com
Callawayphoto/KarenCNS
P ope Francis has written and spoken extensively on the elderly during his papacy, particularly since the 2021 institution of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elder ly, drawing attention to their qualities of tenderness, wisdom, teaching and connection with the next generations. The messages excerpted here can be found in full at trentonmonitor.com/ grandparents-elderly.
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“It is beautiful when an elderly person can say, ‘I have lived life, this is my family; I have lived life, I have been a sinner but also I have done good.’ And this peace that comes, this is the elderly person’s farewell.”
“Elderly people have so much to give us because there is the wisdom of life. They have so much to teach us … Where there is no dialogue between young and old, there is something missing and a generation grows up without a past, that is, without its roots.”
Weekly General Audience, June 8, 2022
“[Elderly men and women] are, or we can become, teachers tenderness.of And indeed, we can! … In this truewar,accustomedworldtoweneedarevolution of tenderness.”
Video message released by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, June 30, 2022
“In the measure that we can help young people and old people connect, there will be more hope for the future of our society.”
Weekly GeneralJuneAudience,22,2022
Weekly General Audience, June 15, 2022
After a person retires, the support and encouragement of family and friends become a crucial part of day-to-day living. CNS photo/Mike Crupi
“Wrinkles are a sign of experience, a sign of life, a sign of maturity, a sign of having made a journey. Do not touch them to become young, that your face might look young … What matters is the entire personality; it’s the heart that matters, and the heart remains with that youth of a good wine – the more it ages the better it is.”
In series of messages, Pope stays focused on grandparents, elderly
“The elderly are the messengers of the future, the elderly are the messengers of tenderness, the elderly are the messengers of the wisdom of lived experience.”
“Elders rich in wisdom and humor do so much good to the young. They save them from the temptation of a grim worldly knowledge devoid of the wisdom of life. And also, these elders bring young people back to Jesus’ promise, ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.’”
Weekly General Audience, May 11, 2022
“... In addition to our relationship with God, we should also cultivate our relation ships with others: first of all by showing affectionate concern for our families, our children and grandchildren, but also for the poor and those who suffer, by drawing near to them with practical assistance and our prayers. These things will help us not to feel like mere bystanders, sitting on our porches or looking out from our win dows, as life goes on all around us.”
“Remember that you, too, will become elderly. Old age comes for everyone. And treat the elderly today as you would wish to be treated in your old age.”
Pope Francis blesses a man in a wheelchair during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. CNS file photo/Paul Haring
Weekly General Audience, May 25, 2022
“... A long life – so the Bible teaches – is a blessing, and the elderly are not outcasts to be shunned but living signs of the goodness of God who bestows life in abundance...”
“The previous skills of active life lose their constraint and become resources to be given away: teaching, advising, building, caring, listening ... preferably in favor of the most disadvantaged who cannot afford any learning or who are abandoned in their loneliness. [Communities must understand] how to benefit from the talents and charisms of so many elderly people who are already retired, but who are a wealth to be treasured.”
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EXCERPTS: MESSAGE FOR SECOND WORLD DAY FOR GRANDPARENTS AND THE ELDERLY
“When we think of a legacy, at times we think of goods, and not of the goodness that is done in old age, and that has been sown, that good ness that is the best legacy we can leave.”
“... We grandparents and elderly people have a great responsibility: to teach the women and men of our time to regard others with the same understanding and loving gaze with which we regard our own grandchildren. We ourselves have grown in humanity by caring for others, and now we can be teachers of a way of life that is peaceful and attentive to those in greatest need.”
“Expecting a visit can transform those days when we think we have nothing to look forward to … Visiting the elderly who live alone is a work of mercy in our time!”
Relating to older relatives: “Do I remember them, do I go to visit them? Do I try to make sure they lack nothing? Do I respect them? [and talk with them to] obtain wisdom?”
“... Old age is no time to give up and lower the sails, but a season of enduring fruitfulness: a new mission awaits us and bids us look to the future.
Weekly General Audience, June 1, 2022
Gifts of wisdom, experience, faith of elderly honored during global observance 4.1.
“It’s a thrill,” Dougherty said, sharing that it’s her desire to have a strong relationship with her grandchildren and be an example for them in all ways, especially when it comes to passing on the Catholic faith.Dougherty reflected on grandparenting follow ing the July 24 Mass celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., in St. Charles Borromeo Church, Cinnaminson, as part of the diocesan observance of the second annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. The Bishop also celebrated a Mass July 23 in St. Denis Church, Manasquan, and other parishes throughout the Di ocese remembered their elderly parish ioners with special blessings, prayer in tentions and words of festivemeoSt.bothobservancesgratitude.ThediocesaninSt.DenisandCharlesBorroParisheswerewithwelcoming environments and hospitality that included opportunities for parishioners to greet the Bishop after Mass and receptions where they could enjoy refreshments and camaraderie. At the start of Mass in St. Denis Church, there was a slideshow presenta tion showing photographs of treasured moments between grandparents and their grandchildren as the children were preparing to receive Sacraments in the Church. The parish also offered both a “snack to go” for those who were on the run, as well as a more substantial recep tion in St. Denis School cafeteria with sandwiches and cupcakes arranged in the shape of a Rosary. Crafts for grandpar ents and grandkids to do together, as well as games and prizes were also available.
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BYFocusJENNIFER
ELSENSOHN Correspondent and MARY STADNYK Associate Editor D
orothy Dougherty loves being a grand parent. Although she never knew her own grandparents – and often wishes she had – now that she’s a grandmother, she’s determined to make the most of it.
3.
4. Bishop O’Connell greets a small St. Denis parishioner and his family.
Father Dan Kirk, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, viewed the global observance of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly as being “a beautiful witness of what our Church professes in the building of generations of faith and recognizing the importance of families.”
5. A baby watches the Mass while snuggled in her grandfa ther’s arms in St. Charles Borromeo Church.
“I see the role of grand parents and the elderly, with their wisdom and experi ence, as vital for the spiritual development of our youth,” she said. “In light of what the secular world has to offer, we need to respect and support them always.”
The day, said Father Kirk, “is about something that involves the wider Church, not just our parish. Our whole Diocese, our whole world is celebrating today and that’s a beautiful thing.”
To view full story and photo galleries, visit TrentonMonitor.com Go to page 7 to read Bishop O’Connell’s homily from the World Day of Grandparents and Elderly Masses
“Our ministry is devoted to modeling a Christian way of life for our grandchil dren,” she said, noting that the ministry includes per sons who may not be grand parents, “but serve or have served as role models for so many of us.
2.5.
Veronica Garrett, head of the active Grandpar ents’ Guild, told of how the members meet monthly to share best practices of grandparenting.
1. A grandmother and her granddaughter pray during Mass in St. Charles Borromeo Church, Cinnaminson. Mike Ehrmann photos
2. Bishop O’Connell blesses the congregation following Mass in St. Denis Church, Manasquan.
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3. A couple participates in the Mass in St. Denis Church.
