More than 400 people participated in the SS. Anne & Joachim workshops for grandparents that were offered earlier this year by the Diocese of Cleveland Office of Marriage and Family Ministry.
The workshops attracted international attention, even drawing a video crew from EWTN TV, which aired a segment in its “News in Depth” program on April 29.
“I’ve never received so many calls – ever – for a program as I did with this one,” said Terri Yohman, director of the Marriage and Family Life Office. “This morning, I got a call from Australia asking about it.”
Workshop attendees were invited to gather for a follow-up session and to plan the next steps as the ministry spreads across the eight-county diocese and continues touching people far beyond. The follow-up session, also called a “come-back,” was hosted by Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Euclid.
Father Damien Ference, diocesan vicar for evangelization and director of Parish Life and Special Ministries, began the July 25 follow-up program by guiding attendees through Pope Francis’ message for the second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which was observed the day before.
“Blessed is the house where an older person lives! Blessed is the family that honors the elderly,” the pope wrote. He said old age is not a time easily understood, even by those already experiencing it.
“No one prepares us for old age,” he wrote, noting it “seems to take us by surprise.” The pope pointed out developed societies spend much on this stage of life while not really helping people to understand and appreciate it.
“On one hand, we are tempted to ward off old age by hiding our wrinkles and pretending to be forever young, while on the other, we imagine that the only thing we can do is bide our time, thinking glumly that we cannot ‘still bring forth fruit,’” Pope Francis said.
He noted that the Lord has been present at every stage of our lives and “urges us to persevere in hope. Along with old age and white hairs, God continues to give us the gift of life and to keep us from being overcome by evil. If we trust in him, we will find the strength to praise him still. We will come to see that growing old is more than the natural decline of the body or the inevitable passage of time, but the gift of a long life. Aging is not a condemnation, but a blessing,” the pope wrote.
He encouraged older people to take care of themselves and to remain active both physically and spiritually, continuing to cultivate relationships with others. The pope said grandparents can do this by practical experience and prayer, not only for their own grandchildren, but also for “the many frightened grandchildren whom we have not yet met and who might be fleeing from war or suffering its effects.”
Point out the importance of grandparents and older person, the pope called them to be “artisans of the revolution of tenderness in our world.” He said the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly is “an opportunity to proclaim once more, with joy, that the Church wants to celebrate together with all those whom the Lord has ‘filled with days.’”
Yohman asked those in attendance to have table discussions focusing on four topics:
- What did you do with your family?
- What went well? What would you do differently as a result of the experience?
- What help do you need going forward?
- What touched you deeply about something that someone else did that you’d like to try?
She said grandparent ministries are developing in four area of the diocese, at St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Willowick (Lake County), St. Martin of Tours Parish in Valley City (Medina County), St. Mary of the Falls Parish in Olmsted Falls (Cuyahoga County) and St. Mary Parish in Hudson (Summit County). Some are single-parish programs while others are clusters of nearby parishes. Yohman encouraged the groups to share best practices so the ministry will continue to grow.
“Start slow,” she advised, telling the group to identify their talents and determine the best way to proceed. All platforms – in person and virtual/digital – should be on the table when developing the ministry. “I’m here to support you,” she said.
St. Mary Magdalene Parish representatives said they had great support from their pastor, Father Steve Breck. A team was formed and they plan to meet in the near future.
St. Martin of Tours representatives said they had an open house with coffee and donuts and are planning a potluck picnic with grandparents and grandchildren on the parish grounds.
Attendees were encouraged to find and use resources, including books and sacramental. Yohman reminded them some of these items are available in the gift shop at Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine.
“This (the shrine) is a great place to bring your grandkids,” Father Ference said, pointing out the outdoor shrine which is a replica of Lourdes, where St. Bernadette saw the Blessed Mother, the outdoor stations and rosary path.
Yohman also mentioned The FEST -- noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 8 at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe – as another opportunity for grandparents to involve their grandchildren in a free, family-friendly, faith-filled event. It includes music, food, games, prayer, worship, a closing Mass celebrated by Bishop Edward Malesic and fireworks.
The Marriage and Family Ministry Office is preparing resources to help grandparents and parish groups as they move forward. Yohman invited anyone with questions or ideas to contact her at tyohman@dioceseofcleveland.org.
The afternoon session concluded with Mass celebrated by Father Ference at the outdoor altar.
In his homily, he reflected on the Mother of the sons of Zebedee who boldly approached Jesus and asked him to have her sons sit at his right and left, something that rubbed the other 10 apostles the wrong way. She assured Jesus her sons could accept the challenges that would be asked of them. Jesus reminded his disciples that whoever wishes to be the greatest among them would be the servant.
“May our listening to God’s word connect us to Christ and may we be more like James (whose feast day was July 25), who wasn’t always a saint but became one,” Father Ference said.
He also pointed out a recent high school graduate who is discerning a religious vocation and was volunteering at the shrine. “May more people be like him,” he said, “looking to role models in the Church.” Those role models can be priests, parents, grandparents or others, he added.