WHY GRANDPARENTS REALLY MATTER, MIGRANTS AND ALL.

MARFAM WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER 1 JULY 2026

See the document below for a full set of July THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY with an overview and special blessings and prayers, .

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY JULY 2026

Many of us oldies will probably have been grandparents for up to 30 years or more. I was a grandmother in my 50s, It could well be much earlier or also later. Teenage pregnancy obviously creates a mom but the mom’s mom can be in her late 20s or 30s. Not all grandparents are old, even though we often tend to think of them as old. That is possibly what Pope Francis had in mind when he very kindly instituted a day for Grandparents and the Elderly in 2021 with the theme, “I am with you always.” Every year since then there has been a special message for that special day around the 26 July, feast of the grandparents of Jesus. Now formally the Church recognizes 4^th Sunday of July as day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Pope Leo’s message for 2026 is “I will never forget you” and it recognizing some of the hardships older persons or grandparents may suffer. One particular hardship is separation. In the case of migrant families, grandparents are often left behind for a variety of reasons. Sometimes grandchildren remain with them unless there is conflict and danger. Another common reason for separation is that our children and grandchildren when they are grown up often leave their home country for greener pastures too. Many South African families have children who have left the country sometimes leaving their oldies quite alone.

I particularly want to focus on grandparents for a moment. as MARFAM has in fact been doing for the last 30 years, it being one of the monthly themes in our annual Family Year Planner.

There are all kinds of grandparents, in all kinds of situations. Grandmothers tend to be most involved with grandchildren as they may be retired but even if they themselves are also working.

Consider some of these scenarios. You’ve probably heard these kind of statements, possibly said in different kinds of voices by different grannies. Let’s look at it in this way.

OH TO BE A GRANNY There is the brag-book granny, proud, happy. My little darlings are so cute and so clever. Only 16 months and can………..

OH TO BE A GRANNY! There is the used/exploited granny, “I wish I wasn’t. I’m tired of looking after these brats. They take my pension money, they expect me to provide for them.

OH TO BE A GRANNY There is another show-off granny. “My darlings have done great things. Their father/mother was like that too..

OH TO BE A GRANNY There is the older mother/mom-in-law, waiting, dying for a little one. Children married or not, “Just give me a grandchild to love.”

OH TO BE A GRANNY There is the concerned granny. “Oh what a blessing, in spite of parental neglect. They at least have me to look after them.

OH TO BE A GRANNY There is the supportive granny, “I get satisfaction from being able to help.

OH TO BE A GRANNY. There is the disappointed caring granny. They don’t seem to need me.

OH TO BE A GRANNY. Teenage mother. I’m jolly pleased I can leave this child with my mom, so I can get on with my own life, go back to school, get a job.

OH TO BE A GRANNY!. There is the hopeful granny. ”I’m hopeful that these young clever ones will be able to put things right in our world.

OH TO BE A GRANNY!. There is also the spiritual, and religious granny, who feels blessed to be praying for the spiritual welfare of her grandchildren, from infancy, through their growing up years and into adulthood. There is joy and there is concern and sadness at times, but following Mary and Jesus on their journeys of faith provides hope and a sense of direction and belonging. how empty life would be without our young ones.

So, let us highlight a few thoughts on why grandparents matter. July is for some of us Grandparents month. We know about Women’s month – August. But what about grandparents? October in SA is month for elderly, but grandmothers? There is a special dimension to being a grandmother/parent rather than just elderly, a family dimension, sense of belonging and commitment, as in responsibility for ….. in spite of….,

A grandparent, mother or father is a unique and special kind of person, not just any old elderly. The relationship matters although in some situations they may look after other children too in addition to those belonging to their own children. Not all grandparents are elderly, they can be as young as 30s, in the case of a teenage pregnancy, where the young mom may be going back to school and granny becomes the mother figure. Many grandmothers are widowed, having to adapt to that loss. In any retirement village that is quite clearly the case. Then there are many grandmothers who are single parents or have been unmarried, Not only grandmothers but grandfathers too play many different roles in families.of many different kinds.

So there is no doubt that grandparents certainly matter, as they play an important role in their families. They matter to their children as well as to their grandchildren with whom they often create very special bonds. They matter in society too as taxi drivers, financial supporters, prayer warriors and in their own special way God’s hands and feet, whether these are beautifully groomed or gnarled and worn from the cares of life. We know little about St Joachim and St Anne the grandparents of Jesus, but can imagine how, maybe in their family in Nazareth he would spend time with them after school, maybe go to the farm with Joachim……. Who knows. TR 1 July 2026.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY JULY 1

July 1. SEE. Johnson spoke up in his parish community. “Migration in general, but migrants as people in particular, has been a very hot potato worldwide but with very specific elements in different countries. South Africa has its own very current reality. Catholics included, are divided in their position, some are accepting and others totally reject foreigners. Many of us are unsure, as this present situation, which is specifically intended to target undocumented foreigners, while going far beyond that aspect, and has been tolerated for years, has now got out of hand. Persons and families from neighbouring African countries, even those with legal papers, are intimidated by radical, militant groups and most are living with deep fear of violence. The law clearly states that the matter is for government to deal with. Undocumented migrants do not have rights to be in this country and should go home, but to what? The Church, following God’s law of justice and love, considering that these foreigners do have a reason to have come here, and considering that they have families and are often separated from one another, ought to be treated with compassion and mercy. We should be assisting where possible in whatever paths they have to follow. There is no simple answer to this problem we are all faced with. Dialogue, listening to one another’s stories must be a way forward towards a livable outcome in everyone’s best interests and for the common good. For now, let us focus on peace and safety for all.”

JUDGE. Reflect, share and act. Scripture. Hate evil and do good and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. I hate, I despise your feasts and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amos 5:21-24 Pope Francis: Authentic development includes efforts to bring about an integral improvement in the quality of human life and this entails considering the setting in which people live their lives. LS147. Pope Leo: A litmus test for social justice today is the treatment of migrants, refugees and those forced to move due to poverty, violence, climate change and environmental disasters. The way a society treats them reveals whether its sense of justice is driven by fear or by the spirit of fraternity. Pope Francis urged us to see migrants not simply as a problem to be managed, but as a living image of the People of God on the move. They are people with dignity, resources and dreams, who have the right to be treated with respect and to ask to become active members of the societies that welcome them. MH81. The Social Doctrine of the Church calls for a shared responsibility. It asks that processes be guided with foresight: by institutions capable of regulating without stifling, and protecting without taking over; by businesses that recognize work and dignity as measures of success; by intermediary organizations and educational communities that rebuild trust and relationships; and by citizens who cultivate responsibility, moderation, discernment and a sense of truth. MH 181.