The feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim, the parents of our Blessed Virgin Mary, is celebrated as the Day of the Grandparents and the Elderly. In our parish, this celebration is second only to the Nativity of their beloved daughter.
After the rains have dampened everything around, the warmth and love this celebration oozes out is something we all eagerly look forward to. That is why preparations begin nearly a month in advance. The Grace Catechetical Apostolate, along with the Parish Pastoral Council, carefully plan out the day and the outcome is nothing short of amazing!
To invite them for this special day, the children creatively made a heartfelt reel, which was shared with the parish community and brought many smiles even before the celebration began.
This year, we had our church packed to capacity with around 250 grandparents, their many grandchildren, and of course, those of us hanging in between. The Mass was a joyful celebration, enriched with skits, songs, and wholehearted participation from everyone.
The Grandparents and the Elderly were warmly welcomed at the church entrance by children, who offered them a flower, fondly handcrafted by the catechists and the Parish Council members. They were then escorted to their seats by our young volunteers and PPC members.
With their radiant smiles, the tiny tots sang a welcome song just before the commencement of the Mass, setting the perfect tone for the celebration.
The entrance procession was led by grandparents carrying meaningful signs and symbols — a candle, sapling, spectacles, walking stick, and more, each depicting the role, challenges and fulfillment of our elderly loved ones. The Penitential Rite was creatively presented in the form of a short skit presented by the children.
During the Mass, special prayers were offered for the grandparents and the elderly, and during post Communion, a thanksgiving action song composed especially for them was sung, honouring them with love and gratitude.
The children presented their grandparents with cards and spiritual bouquets, while our priests handed out special gifts to them. As the grandparents exited the church, they were served refreshments and spent joyful moments catching up with one another. It was a heartwarming and truly fulfilling experience for all.
Catechist Ziska D’Costa
Grace Catechetical Apostolate,
Our Lady of Grace Church, Margao
