MARFAM WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER 15 JULY 2026
Since he initiated the Day for Grandparents and the Elderly in 2021 Pope Francis sent a message to the Church every year about caring for our elderly, whether they are widowed, unmarried, grandparents or not. He reminded us that the elderly can still bear fruit, should not be abandoned, but be recognized, remembered and loved especially by their grandchildren. Pope Leo has continued the tradition and his message for the 6th Day on 26 July is one of loving concern but also of sadness. Older persons may find themselves becoming invisible, are seen or see themselves as a burden, not having value, feel abandoned, alone, lonely or useless. His message quoting the prophet Isaiah promises “God will never forget any of us, he has engraved our faces on the palms of his hands, his love is greater than a mother’s love for her child. Each of us can hear “I will never forget you” spoken directly to them.
MARFAM has a variety of resources for reflection and celebration on or around the 26th July. Download https://marfam.org.za/grandparents-day-2026/\
But as elders what is our value, and what can give meaning to our lives? The gift of children and especially grandchildren, although they can be a burden, does give much meaning. Unfortunately many of the younger generation have moved awayand live their own lives, but for many, especially in retirement villages or homes, friendships and activities take over from families and become important. Religion often becomes a very special resource, for the spiritual but also the fellowship aspect, and the Church can do much to provide loving support to long-time parishioners or those rediscovering God in their lives.
Family involvement can vary drastically. In less affluent, but traditional cultures there is still a greater family involvement, either the older person lives with family or family lives with them. Finances play a major role of course. Is the elder’s pension used to subsidize the family, or do members now support their older parents? Only a relatively small percentage of elderly citizens can afford to retire in the style to which they were accustomed. This can be difficult and awkward, as it is hardly taken for granted that family members can or are willing to support their elders. The present reality in our country today is that the majority of families are struggling financially. When they themselves can no longer care for an older person in frail health or suffering from dementia, they do find an institution or home that is affordable. That is all too often where the old go and wait to die, possibly with or without an occasional family visit. That does sound like a tragic picture, which is affected positively or negatively by the quality of the care they receive.
Pope Leo encourages families, especially grandchildren too, to take the time to contact or call, but nothing can bring greater joy than a live visit where, maybe in spite of their fragility, some memories or old stories can be shared with a few laughs and jokes. Remembering together how it used to be.
THE MEANING AND VALUE OF OLD AGE. People live longer and enjoy better health than in the past. They are able to cultivate interests made possible by higher levels of education. No longer is old age synonymous with dependence on others or a diminished quality of life. Attitudes towards ageing range from a negative image of old age as an unavoidable and burdensome decline to a more positive acceptance of one’s declining faculties. Pope John Paul II affirmed that “Life is a gift of God to humankind created out of love in the image and likeness of God. This understanding of the sacred dignity of the human person leads to the appreciation of every stage of life. Older persons have special charisms:
Disinterestedness. Older person can show the value of giving for the sake of giving and not for an expected return, in a society that has grown too used to valuing efficiency and material success.
More than 25 years ago, 1999 was the UN International Year of the Older Person. Some things have changed but apart from the giant strides in technology much also remains the same. At that time the Church and society provided lots of resources and insights, that have been repeated by other later popes. Some interesting examples and observations useful for today’s families to note:
Memory. The younger generation are losing a sense of history and consequently the sense of their own identity. A society that minimizes the sense of history fails in its responsibility to educate young people. A society that ignores the past more easily runs the risk of repeating its errors.
Experience. Science and technology seem to have supplanted the value of the experiences accumulated by older people which is a gift they have to share.
Interdependence. Older people in their search for companionship challenge a society in which the weaker are often abandoned. They draw attention to the social nature of humankind and the need to repair the fabric of interpersonal and social relationships.
A more complete vision of life. The affective, moral and religious values embodied by older people are an indispensable resource for fostering the harmony of society, of the family and of the individual. These values include a sense of responsibilityr, faith in God, friendship, disinterest in power, prudence, patience, wisdom and deep inner conviction of the need to respect the creation and foster peace.
The Church and Older People. Religious practice plays a key place in older people. Proportionately they participate in greater numbers in liturgical celebrations, many return to Church after years of absence and prayer plays an impart part in their lives. This represents a valuable contribution to the spiritual resources of devotion and sacrifice from which the Church draws and which need to be fostered within Christian communities and families.
At times their religious practice is distinguished by a kind of fatalism where suffering and disabilities are regarded as divine punishment by a God who is no longer benevolent. The community has the responsibility to help to develop the faith and sense of meaning of life by restoring a horizon of hope. This can be done through formation programmes, a deeper understanding of Script and the content of our faith. Meditation on the death and resurrection of Christ is meaningful for one’s own life. The community should instill a deep awareness of the task they have of transmitting the gospel to the world, to witness and testify to God’s fidelity.
Pope Leo concluded his 2026 message with the words, “Dear elderly brothers and sisters, I think you for supporting me every day with your prayers, especially when you recite the Holy Rosary. I return this gratitude from the bottom of my heart and leave you with this prayer: may the Lord always renew us in faith, hope and love – He who never forgets us! Leo PP XIV
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 15 JULY 2026
July 15. SEE. Fr George joined the group and listened. “What you shared yesterday about confession is really very deep. I’m afraid I can’t see it quite like that. Maybe my faith is simple like that of the little children Jesus spoke about.” “That’s OK for you, but I worry about social sin as they call it, not just my own personal wrongdoing.” “Each of us has to answer to God from their own insights and conscience and often it is really quite clear but at other times confusing too.” Fr George added, “Thank you ladies for sharing and listening to one another and also giving me another chance to learn………… outisde the confessional!.
JUDGE. Reflect and share. Scripture: “I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and earth that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to infants. Matt 11:25-27. Pope Francis: We must examine our lives and acknowledge the ways in which we have harmed God’s creation through our actions and our failure to act. We need to experience a conversion or change of heart. LS 218. Pope Leo: Today, the concept of integral human development is a benchmark for the evaluation of integral ecology, which has become an indispensable dimension of the Church’s Social Doctrine. The quality of development is measured by the ability to integrate justice toward people and the care of our common home, and to promote dignified living conditions, access to necessary goods, just social relations, care of creation and consideration for future generations. It follows that true progress is not what increases the wellbeing of some by degrading ecosystems. MH 84,
ACT AND PRAY. Learn to understand the deeper way of examining one’s conscience. Pray for guidance and pray the Prayer of St Francis for grandparents and the elderly. We pray for God’s blessing on the grandparents and elderly of our families and community, bless them with peace and contentment and an acceptance that their lives were well spent in your service. We ask St Joachim and St Anne, the grandparents of Jesus, to pray with us.
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