Each year the Roman Catholic Church commemorates the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne on July 26th. They were the privileged parents of Mary who grew in grace and God’s favour to give birth to the incarnate Son of God. Undoubtedly, their faith in God laid the foundation for her to accept God’s will in her life. Saints Joachim and Anne are the patron saints of grandparents and serve as great models of faith for families as well.
On this day, we also celebrate and honour our grandparents who continue to touch our hearts in the sunset years of their lives. They have contributed immensely to the strength of our families with their wisdom and compassion. Their deep-rooted faith in God and life’s experiences has certainly helped in moulding us with moral and spiritual values. The society too remains enriched as they pass on important values, ideals and beliefs and of course stories of those who came before us.
While families today are struggling to keep pace with occupational pressures and increasing demands on their time, grandparents step in to provide relief and assistance. It would not be wrong to say that many nuclear families fail to provide the goodness, warmth and unconditional love that a grandparent can offer to the young ones.
Let us thank God for our invaluable grandparents and the tremendous contributions that they have made in our lives. Their place is in our hearts and in our homes and not in old age institutions. It is binding on us to provide them with the care and support they truly deserve. May the foundation of faith laid down for Mother Mary by her parents always inspire us to guide our families in their journey of faith.
Nancy Fernandes
Sec 4 Zone 3