Grandparents and the Elderly
World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
Sunday, 27 July 2025
The fifth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly will be celebrated this year on Sunday, July 27th 2025. Pope Francis instituted this World Day in 2021 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).
Pope Leo XIV, in a written message on the occasion, reminds us that the Bible abounds with examples of men and women “whom the Lord called late in life to play a part in his saving plan.”
World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly is an excellent opportunity for families and faith communities to seek ways to cherish and care for our elders, uplifting them as signs of hope for future generations.
The Standing Committee for Family and Life is pleased to share this video for World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2025, celebrating and embracing the blessing of life at all ages.
The CCCB has prepared various resources for dioceses/eparchies, parishes, schools and related groups to promote World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2025. Pastoral resources shared by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life are also included below.
- Suggestions for the Universal Prayer
- Blessing for Grandparents and the Elderly prayer
- Prayer to St. Anne and St. Joachim
- Bulletin announcement
- Social media graphics
- CCCB Video Download
- Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life Pastoral Toolkit
Ideas for families and parishes to honour Grandparents and the Elderly
For families:
- Schedule regular phone or video calls or in-person visits with grandparents or other elders, asking them to recount favourite memories or significant moments in their lives
- Light a candle for their intentions
- Send or give them a “spiritual bouquet” which can include:
- Prayers prayed for them or for their intentions (A Rosary, Novena, Mass Offering, Good deeds)
For parishes:
- Promote WDGE in a special bulletin annoucement
- At all Masses for Sunday, July 27, invoke the intercession of Saints Joachim and Anne, grandparents of Jesus (Feast: July 26), or offer these special prayer intentions for the Day.
- At all Masses for Sunday, July 27, priests may offer a Blessing for Grandparents and the Elderly
- Host a coffee Sunday after Mass celebrating grandparents and the elderly. Play the WDGE video on a screen along with photos of grandparents or elderly parishioners with family or at significant moments in their lives (e.g., graduations, weddings)
- Post photos of homebound elderly parishioners, with reminders to visit and pray for them
- Start a Ministry for Grandparents in your parish and launch it on World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly!
- Set up ‘adopt a grandparent’ programs and/or special parish events throughout the year for the elderly in the community and/or parish (e.g., organize Christmas gift purchases for local long-term care home residents who have no one to shop for them, choir Christmas carolling visits, or visits with parish children)
- Decorate the church with forget-me-not flowers, as these are widely recognized as the official flower for grandparents, or offer seed packets for grandchildren to grow at home in honour of- or in memory of their grandparents.
- Host a novena or holy hour for grandparents and the elderly on the eve of Sunday July 27 2025.
