Category: Older People

Happy Christmas from Growing Old Grace-fully

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Contemporary Ethiopian nativity icon. Source here.

We wish a Happy Christmas to all from Growing Old Grace-fully.

This Christmas, we give thanks for the hope born in Bethlehem – the baby Jesus and a light that shines at every stage of life, even if we cannot always see it, when our eyes are turned towards the darkness that too often falls across our troubled world.

Christ’s birth in the stable shows that hope comes from the humblest and most unexpected places. We must always be open to that hope and be prepared to see it and pray that we too will hear the angels and see the star.

As we celebrate the joy of Christ’s coming among us, we honour the wisdom, faith, and love of older people, whose long lives witness to God’s faithfulness through the years.

Jubilee Year coming to an end

This is also the end of the Jubilee Year of ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.

The last major official events of the 2025 Jubilee will be the closing of Rome’s four Holy Doors, accompanied by the solemn closing rites and the celebration of Mass.

The first to close will be the Holy Door of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major on December 25th at 6:00 pm.

This will be followed by the Basilica of St. John Lateran on December 27th at 11:00 am.

On December 28th, at 10:00 am, the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls will be closed.

The last Holy Door to close will be that of St. Peter’s Basilica on January 6th at 9:30 am, with a Closure Rite and Mass presided over by Pope Leo XIV. The Holy Year officially concludes with the celebrations of the Feast of the Epiphany.

We pray more than ever for hope in these final days of this special Jubilee year.

May the peace of the Christ Child fill your hearts and homes, and may hope, kindness, and grace accompany us all into the year ahead.

Some prayers for Christmas

We thought we knew where to find you;
we hardly needed a start to guide the way,
just perseverance and common sense;
why do you hide yourself away from the powerful
and join the refugees and outcasts,
calling us to follow you there.

Wise God, give us your wisdom

We thought we had laid you safe in a manger;
we wrapped you in the thickest sentiment we could find,
and stressed how long ago you came to us;
why do you break upon us in our daily life
with messages of peace and goodwill
demanding that we do something about it?

Just and righteous God, give us justice and righteousness

So where else would we expect to find you
but in the ordinary places with the faithful people
turning the world to your purpose through them.
Bring us to that manger, to that true rejoicing,
Which will bring wisdom, justice and righteousness alive in us

Stephen Orchard
Based on Luke 2. v1-20
From Janet Morley Bread for Tomorrow

Cradled-Christ Eucharist

God reached out
and
with the lightest
of touch
set the world aflame
with his adoration.

He so loved
each
And every one,
that he gave
his most Beloved Son

In order that we,
that is
you
and me
and all humankind
might be born anew.

Not only on Earth,
but
in Heaven, too,
and cascading
through all Creation,
Is the cradled- Christ Eucharist.

Amen.

Susan Hardwick from Shine on Star of Bethlehem (complied by Geoffrey Duncan)

Prayer for Christmas in later life

Loving God,
as we welcome the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ,
we come before you in these worrying and uncertain times.
In the quiet of the manger, grant us hope;
in the light of Christ, grant us peace;
and in your abiding love, strengthen our trust in you.

We thank you especially for the gift of older people and later life.
For their wisdom, faith, patience, and steadfast love,
for the memories they carry and the hope they continue to offer,
we give you praise.
May they know their dignity, their value, and their cherished place
in your Church and in our families.

As the Christ Child comes among us,
unite young and old in compassion and care,
and help us to walk together with courage and kindness.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Freelance opportunity – carers project

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Growing Old Grace-fully is looking for an energetic self-starter to work on a freelance basis assisting  the development of a new project supporting spiritual and emotional needs of unpaid Carers in the Catholic Diocese of Leeds.

The appointee will build upon the work of the Growing Old Gracefully project which has been celebrating older people for over 15 years.

The project involves providing online support to reduce isolation and work in parishes.

The successful appointee will be an excellent organiser with outstanding communication skills, a good understanding of the needs of older people and sympathy with the ethos of the Catholic Church as well as commitment to ecumenical partnerships.

The project has funding for a part-time role, working 12 hours per week (or monthly equivalent) at £20 per hour plus travel expense.

We have funding initially for a one-year contract.

The closing date is January 16th 2026

Interviews will be held on Thursday January 28th 2026

To send for an application pack please e mail carol.burns@yahoo.co.uk

Advent Prayers 2025 – in the Jubilee Year of Hope

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As we enter this holy season of Advent, we reflect as people who have travelled many years and gathered much wisdom along the way. This Advent is in the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year, with us invited as Pilgrims of Hope to remain anchored in the hope of Jesus Christ and to do so especially in this season of hopeful waiting.  

Later life brings its own blessings—time for reflection, deeper gratitude, and often a clearer sense of what truly matters—but it can also bring worries. Many of us look at the troubling state of our world, the divisions between people, and the growing cost-of-living pressures and often feel a heaviness that is hard to shake. Questions about the future surface more easily now – our own and the future of our loved ones and our world –  and our prayers may reflect these fears and troubles as we turn anxiously to God for help.

Yet Advent invites us to lift our eyes. It reminds us that God draws near not in times of ease, but precisely in times of uncertainty. Into a troubled world, into an occupied land, into a humble stable, Jesus Christ was born. His coming—then and now—brings light that no darkness can overcome.

As we journey through these precious weeks, towards the end of the Jubilee Year of Hope,  may we find comfort in the promise of Emmanuel, “God with us.” May the hope of Christ’s birth renew our courage, steady our hearts, and assure us that even in later life—and perhaps especially then—God is still at work, guiding us toward peace, joy, and a love that endures.

God of Hope

God of hope,
we cling to you,
for you renew the face of the earth.

Through the gift of your Son,
our Lord Jesus,
we follow you on the path of dawn.

Enlightened by your love and wisdom,
help us to lead each other
and all creatures
back to your open arms.
Amen.

Rachel McCarthy/CAFOD

Advent Prayer by Henri Nouwen

Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness,
send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people,
walking in darkness,
yet seeking the light.
To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!”

Amen

The Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.

Amen

Trip to the Hidden Gem in Manchester

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There is a day trip to visit the Hidden Gem Shrine of Our Lady of Manchester on Saturday 13th December, organised by Mary Mother of God Parish in Bradford, but with the invitation extended to Growing Old Grace-fully supporters and subscribers (subject to availability).

The trip is being organised by Frances Norton, the Pastoral Worker for Older People, the post proposed by Growing Old Grace-fully and funded from a grant from the Ladies of the Grail.

A minibus will do two pick-ups, first at St John the Evangelist, Buttershaw at 9:15am and then St Winefride’s, Wibsey at 9:30am. The minibus will get to Manchester around 11am in time to join saying the Rosary at 11:30am and then Mass in the Hidden Gem at 12pm (noon).

There will be some free time for people to use as they please, including the option to visit Manchester’s Christmas market. Then there will be evening prayer at the Hidden Gem at 3:30pm, following which the minibus will return to Bradford.

Anyone interested in attending should email Frances at pwop.marymotherofgod@dioceseofleeds.org.uk or call the parish on 01274 677992. See the poster and parish website/bulletin for more details.

Afternoon Tea and Memory Box Crafts – Wednesday 1st October, St Winefrede’s, Wibsey

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On Wednesday 1st October – International Day of Older Persons – there is a special afternoon tea and memory box crafts event in St. Winifrede’s Hall, Wibsey (part of Mary of Mother of God Parish).

The event is taking place between 3-5pm and all are welcome.

It is being organised by the parish’s Pastoral Worker for Older People, Frances Norton. To attend, just email Frances at: pwop.marymotherofgod@dioceseofleeds.org.uk or the office office.marymotherofgod@dioceseofleeds.org.uk or call the parish office 01274 677992.

Pilgrims of Hope: Journeying as Older People – event

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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 person is to continue to explore the reflections and conversations so beautifully expressed by Paula Shanks and Mgr Donal Lucey in the “Doorways of Hope” online series. Video recordings of the Doorways of Hope events can be viewed here.

The event will reflect on our own life’s journey, whatever age we are, and explore finding the God of where we are now in our own life.

It will also include suggestions for practical ways of finding and nurturing hope; for example, through meditations on gospel passages, poems and art and also through ways of practising gratitude.

The event will end with a shared lunch over which we can continue the conversations from the day.

If you would like to attend, please book a place on EventBrite here.

From the Jubilee Prayer

May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven.

May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth.

To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.

Amen

Taken from The Jubilee Prayer, Pope Francis

World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly – Sunday 27th July 2025

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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 26th July, making this a whole weekend double celebration of later life and older people!

Pope Francis established the Catholic Church’s World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly which took place for the first time on Sunday 25 July 2021.

The theme chosen by Pope Francis for this year’s celebration is:

“Blessed are those who have not lost hope” (cf. Sir 14:2)

Pope Leo’s message for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2025, reminds us that hope is a source of joy, no matter what age.

Here you can read the full message from the Holy Father.

Here are prayers and links from the Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales to help you celebrate the day.

If you are a grandparent and are able to attend Mass, you could invite your grandchildren to attend with you.

The Catholic Grandparents Association has been at the forefront in campaigning for a greater recognition of Grandparents for their role and vocation in passing on their faith to the next generation. They have also produced resources that you might wish to use.

Day for Life 2025

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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 be nurtured from conception to natural death. In England and Wales, Day for Life is celebrated on the third Sunday of June each year.

The theme is Hope does not Disappoint: Finding meaning in Suffering. It is inspired by Romans 5:5-6. St Paul invites us to see that Christian hope is not just naïve optimism but, rather, an unshakeable trust in the power and presence of God who is with us always. This hope can endure the darkness of human suffering and even see beyond it.

As an older people’s charity, for Growing Old Grace-fully, Day for Life is an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the value of older people and of the gift (and especially this year, the challenges and sometimes the suffering) of later life.

You can download a Day for Life parish poster here.

There is a Bishops’ message and a downloadable prayer book here.

Day for Life Fund

We are very grateful as a charity to have received funding from the Day for Life fund which has been crucial in enabling is to do our work.

The Day for Life Fund provides financial assistance each year to organisations working to support the Church’s mission to protect human life from conception to natural death. Each year, the money donated by the faithful on the Day for Life is dispersed to these organisations to assist them in undertaking specific projects relating to life issues. These can range from educational workshops to advocacy campaigns, practical support services to commissioning research.

We encourage people to donate to the Day for Life fund to support its work. You can donate to it here.

Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents and the Elderly – prayer for older people

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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 of the family – including older people – and a time to prayer that so our world today can become a family-friendly world.

As part of this Pope Francis, the Pope who announced this Jubilee, spoke of older people as the “firm foundation” of the future and that we must be not afraid of becoming old and we should instead see the value in later life and greater age.

He said: “Because to say “old” does not mean “to be discarded”, as a degraded culture of waste sometimes leads us to think. Saying “old” instead means saying experience, wisdom, knowledge, discernment, thoughtfulness, listening, slowness…Values of which we are in great need!”You can download the service/prayer booklet for the Jubilee here

There is a link to resources and prayers about this Jubilee produced by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops here. 

Here is a suggested prayer for older people this weekend which you might to say.

Prayer for all older people for Jubilee Year 2025

Heavenly Father,
source of all life and wisdom,
we thank You for the gift of later life and older age
and for all older people, 
as the Pilgrims of Hope who have walked longest
on this beautiful planet you have given us.

Bless all older people all over this troubled world,
the long lives lived and the many lives touched
the families, friends, the memories
the faith handed down,
and we pray for the strength with which to bear life’s burdens and challenges.

May the long standing witness of older people remind us of this Jubilee Pilgrimage, 
and inspire other people’s own journeys of hope.
Grant all older people peace,
companionship and enduring hope. 

May all people, communities and societies cherish, respect and value older people and later life and may we all walk together – Pilgrims of Hope of all ages – toward the light of Your Kingdom, united in love, guided by hope.

Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Growing Old Grace-fully

30th May 2025