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
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.
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.
On Wednesday 8th October 2025, Growing Old Grace-fully welcomed people to Cathedral Hall, formerly Wheeler Hall, a beautiful, accessible space behind Leeds Cathedral, for a morning of reflection as part of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year 2025: Pilgrims of Hope.
After registration and welcome refreshments, Carol Burns, Growing Old Grace-fully’s Chair of Trustees, introduced the event, led by Paula Shanks and Mgr. Donal Lucey.
Paula introduced the theme of the morning by briefly reviewing the themes of the ‘Doorways of Hope’ series of reflections that have taken place on Zoom throughout this year of Pilgrimage: First of all, seeing Glimpses of Hope, then Living in the Flow of Hope and then Holding Hope throughout life. She explained that the invitation for people was for a deeper sense of themselves as pilgrims of hope in their daily lives at this stage of life.
The morning of reflection then began with a stilling – a time of guided prayer. A candle was lit within a centrepiece, which had been placed in the centre of the circle.
Paula gently guided the group in a time of prayer to settle their bodies and minds and become still and centred. She based this on a quote by Fr Richard Rohr, ‘God’s love is the still point and centre of this turning world.’
The group were asked to notice their hopes and desires for the morning and to spend some time speaking with God about this. The stilling ended with the group listening to, ‘Be still for the presence of the Lord’ and a time of silence.
The first session was led by Mgr Donal who spoke about our history of being pilgrims. He explored the theme of the journey of our lives and acknowledged the importance of each different stage.
He quoted from the poem Somewhere by RS Thomas, “The point of travelling is not to arrive, but to return homeladen with pollen you shall work up into the honey the mind feeds on“.
Paula then explored aspects of the themes ‘Glimpses of Hope’ and ‘Living in the Flow of Hope’. She used images, music, poetry and time for silent reflection to help the group to go deeper and open their awareness more fully the presence of Hope in their lives. To notice the glimpses of Hope offer within each day and the places where there is a sense of ‘flow’ within their lives and within themselves. To see these all as places of invitation to a deeper sense of God’s presence and love that is already with them. A time of prayer then followed using Lectio Davina on Psalm 23 and the group were given some questions for personal reflection.
Mgr Donal then spoke to the group on the final theme, ‘Holding Hope in a Fragile World.’ He explored the fragility of the world and how the wisdom, faith and strength of older people are all gifts that the world needs.
He also stressed the gifts of encouragement and time that we have to offer, particularly to the younger people in our lives.
The morning concluded with a closing liturgy based on the theme of being pilgrims. Isaiah 40: 28-31, bidding prayers and a blessing were read by different members of the GOG team.
Paula has prepared a summary sheet from the event, which can be downloaded here.
At the end of the event, everyone was invited to leave a thought from the day, a comment or a reflection, and stick it on a feedback board.
The comments people left were as follows:
“Wonderful, powerful presentation with deeply meaningful slides. A lot of preparation and prayer must have gone into it before.”
“A thought provoking morning. I feel uplifted. The interaction was beneficial.”
“Very affirming and encouraging. A good balance of input and meditation. God bless and thank you.”
“Thank you a million times!”
“Really good thank you. Nice to meet other “old” “graceful” peers!”
“Very thoughtful and inspiring window into the fruitfulness of old age. Thank you!”
“Our role – to ENCOURAGE. Breakthrough from action.”
“That was a beautiful morning, thank you all who contributed. Will come again. Love, thanks and prayers.”
On Wednesday 24th September, 10:30am – 4:00pm, Christians on Ageing are hosting an online free conference ‘Faces of Hope in Later Life’, focusing on the positive horizons of later life as well as its challenges.
The keynote speaker will be Revd Michael Jackson, formerly Director of St John’s Winchester Charity and author of Still Love Left: Faith and Hope in Later Life.
In addition, the Conference will hear from:
John MacMillan, CEO of the Eric Liddell Community, Edinburgh, whose work with older people in the community embodies Eric Liddell’s values of compassion, inclusion and hope in all circumstances.
Olivia Luijnenburg, pursuing post-doctoral studies on dementia at Kings College London. She is a medical anthropologist with a special interest in residential care for older people, dementia care, spirituality and spiritual care.
The lunchtime interactive workshop will be led by Liv McLennan, co-founder and director of Sounds Better CIC. Liv has a particular interest in working with people with dementia and respiratory conditions. She is currently undertaking doctoral studies in intergenerational music within a care home setting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Doorways of Hope is a series of three hour long online reflections, hosted by Growing Old Grace-fully.
In the three reflections, Paula Shanks and Mgr. Donal Lucey explore the invitation to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, the theme of the 2025 Jubilee Year of the Catholic Church.
In the three reflections, they explore and offer ways of noticing the nature & presence of hope, what it means to live this hope & how we can share hope with others in our ordinary, daily lives. You can access the three sessions here, the videos on our YouTube channel and a one page summary for each one, produced by Paula. Just click on the image or heading.
Paula Shanks & Mgr. Donal Lucey explore the the theme of ‘Springtime’ to explore how we can awaken to the invitation to be renewed in hope. A hope rooted in God who chooses to be with us in how things are, where we are.
Paula Shanks and Mgr. Donal Lucey explore how to notice spaces where hope is held out for us in everyday life and the ways in which we do this for others.
We thank Paula and Fr. Donal for leading this powerful series of reflections.
On Thursday 17th July 2025, we held the third in the Doorways of Hope series of online reflections, Holding Hope, led by Paula Shanks and Mgr. Donal Lucey & Paula Shanks, as part of the Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee year.
Holding Hope explores how to notice spaces where hope is held out for us in everyday life and the ways in which we do this for others.
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.
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 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.
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 this for others.
This is part of the invitation to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ – the theme of the Jubilee Year 2025 – looking at ways of noticing the nature and presence of hope, what it means to live this hope and how we can share hope with others in our ordinary, daily lives.
