KAMPALA – The Catholic Church in Uganda today joins the rest of the World to celebrate the inaugural Day for the Grandparents and Elderly, as established by Pope Francis.
Kampala Archdiocese Administrator Bishop Paul Ssemogerere will lead mass at Lubaga Cathedral, starting at 10 am.
By establishing the World Day for the Grandparents and the Elderly, Pope Francis is seeking to make the link between the elderly and the young more explicit, “with both recognizing their need for the other and the value such relationships offer”.
Ssemogerere also Bishop of Kassana-Luweero diocese has appealed to all people to take extraordinary care of the elderly in their families and in their communities.
Addressing the press about the Day for the Elderly that was announced by Pope Francis, Bishop Ssemogerere noted that while the elderly may appear weak and unhealthy, they are a huge source of wisdom needed by societies. The bishop urged the public to pray for the elderly as they fufill their earthly responsibilities.
What does the Pope hope to accomplish through a Day for the Elderly and Grandparents?
1. By establishing the inaugural World Day for the Grandparents and the Elderly, the Pope is seeking to make the link between the elderly and the young more explicit, with both recognizing their need for the other and the value such relationships offer.
2. Those who will attend Mass and devote adequate time to actually or virtually visiting the elderly in need or in difficulty” or join in prayers for the elderly July 25 may receive a plenary indulgence.
3. The Pope wants the day to serve as a reminder that they are still needed. After over a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, which particularly affected the elderly and resulted in the physical separation of families for long periods of time, the pope believes both the elderly and the young can build a better future as the world reemerges from this period.
