Growing Old Grace-fully is hosting a half day event offering a chance to reflect on our own journey into later life, as Pilgrims of Hope. This reflects the theme of the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year, the theme of which is Pilgrims of Hope. Our aim in gathering together in… Continue reading
The World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly will be celebrated for the fifth time in 2025. The date this year is Sunday 27th July. This special day takes place on the Sunday closest to the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, Grandparents of Jesus. This year their Feast is Saturday… Continue reading
The third and final of the Doorways of Hope series of online reflections is Holding Hope, on Thursday 17th July, 7:00pm to 8:00pm. Paula Shanks and Monsignor Donal Lucey will invite you to notice spaces where hope is held out for us in everyday life and the ways in which we do… Continue reading
This Sunday, 15th June, is the annual Day for Life of the Catholic Church. Day for Life is the day in the Church’s year dedicated to raising awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition. The Church teaches that life is to… Continue reading
On Wednesday 14th May 2025, we held the second in the Doorways of Hope series of online reflections, Living in Hope, led by Paula Shanks and Mgr. Donal Lucey & Paula Shanks, as part of the Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee year. Living in Hope explores how living in the flow… Continue reading
This weekend is Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents and the Elderly, part of the ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ Jubilee Year 2025 in the Catholic Church. This is the weekend of the Jubilee Year to celebrate and pray for older people (including grandparents) as well as families and children. This Jubilee event is a celebration… Continue reading
A summary and reflection by Rev. Dr. Joe Cortis ‘Dilexit Nos’ (He Loved us) is Pope Francis’ fourth and last Encyclical issued on the 24th. October 2024. It traces the tradition and relevance of thinking ‘on the human and divine love of the heart of Jesus Christ’, inviting us to… Continue reading
The second of the Doorways of Hope series of 3 online reflections is Living in Hope, on Wednesday 14th March, 7:00pm to 8:00pm. Paula Shanks and Monseigneur Donal Lucey will explore how living in the flow of life offers invitations to a deeper sense of hope. This is part of the invitation to… Continue reading
Resurrection light Risen Christ, when darkness overwhelms usmay your dawn beckon. When fear paralyses us may your touch release us. When grief torments us may your peace enfold us. When memories haunt us may your presence heal us. When justice fails us may your anger ignite us. When apathy stagnates us may your challenge renew… Continue reading
This is Pope Francis’ Jubilee Year of Hope. We are encouraged to be Pilgrims of Hope amidst the traumatic global events of war, climate change, political swings and poverty and injustice that currently confront us. Currently we are all concerned about the war in Ukraine, in the Middle East and elsewhere.… Continue reading
