The celebration of the Fourth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly in the Donkorkrom Vicariate was climaxed with a Mass at the St. Mary Mother of God Catholic Church, Adeemra presided over by Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, Bishop of the Vicariate.
Preaching during the Mass to climax this one-week long event, the Bishop commended the faithful for engaging in several activities including talks and visitations to bring the Church closer to the elderly and grandparents.
He entreated the faithful to appreciate the grandparents and elderly for who they are and what they stand for.
”They are part of the church. They are part of our human family, part of the nation. We are blessed that we have them with us. We want to let them know that their lives have not been wasteful. We have benefitted so much from the sacrifices of their toils, from their commitment and dedication”, he added.
Care for grandparents and the elderly, according to the Bishop is going to be an ongoing venture. He said, ”Even though we are concluding the programme today”, he said, ”it is also the beginning of another step we want to take as a church in our relationship with our grandparents and the elderly. And from now on, we promise them that they are never alone. We are together with them in their pain, in their sorrow, in their agony, and their joys also. They can always count on us. And we will be closer and closer to them,” the Bishop pledged.
In the homily centered on the First Reading of the day, the Bishop charged Christians to develop a spirit of giving, of sharing; that generous spirit that will make them see everything they have as a gift from God; to use in support of those in need.
The Bishop stressed that no matter how small what they have is, they should be able to share, saying that in the hands of the Lord, whatever seems so little, so scanty can be enough; for God will bless it and make it abundant.
In the course of the Mass for the elderly, the bishop personally handed a gift pack to each of the grandparents and elderly present.
Mr. Emmanuel Kwakye Sampong, on behalf of the grandparents and elderly, expressed appreciation to the Bishop for spearheading the programme and for his generous gesture towards them.
He was equally thankful to the Holy Father for instituting such a day for them, and he expressed that through it, they have learnt a lot, and they were able to share their experiences with the young people.
From Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (DEPSOCOM, Donkorkrom)
