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 be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, 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.
On Tuesday 18th March 2025, we held the first in the Doorways of Hope series of online reflections led by Paula Shanks and Mgr. Donal Lucey & Paula Shanks, as part of the Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee year.
The reflection explores 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.
It’s All Right is written by Sister Kate Holmstrom, a Holy Child Sister, resident at a care home in Harrogate.
Sister Kate has contributed a number of items to Growing Old Grace-fully.
It’s All Right
Thanks, Lord, my heartfelt thanks, and great relief To hear you say: “But it’s All Right, you know!” All right –you’re growing old. Forgetful, muddled, dim (Embarrassing, frustrating though it is), All right to need, and take, more time, more space, perhaps, To admit: “I don’t cope well. I can’t keep up”. You went there first, our good and sorrowful Lord. You touched the depth, in dark Gethsemane, Were crowned with pain and meek humility, Carried the cross, the sharp sin of the world So no-one, now, need think herself bereft. You give to us, you give to me, your freedom: Permission to be helpless, tired and weak. You would not have us envious of others When they are brave or bright or persevering. You rock us in your reassuring arms, Accepting us the way you made us: small, And loving us that way. For you to grow in us, We must be empty, leaving space for you. And then you’ll say: “That’s right! What you thought wrong, Amiss and lacking, is my chance. All right!”
On Tuesday 22nd October, we held the 5th Growing Old Grace-fully online session of 2024, Spiritually Accompanying People with Dementia led by Rev. Dr. Joseph Cortis, co-author of Journeying Together: accompanying people living with dementia. Deacon Joe has a background in adult and mental health nursing which includes a long period as an educational manager, academic and senior lecturer at the University of Leeds. He is a Trustee of Growing Old Grace-fully and a Deacon of the Diocese of Leeds.
The session explored ways to provide spiritual support to individuals living with dementia as well as our own spiritual journey with them as a loved one. It includes prayers and reflections, as well as ideas as to accompany and support someone living with dementia from a spiritual perspective.
It was a very powerful session and we thank Deacon Joe for leading it.
Growing Old Grace-fully‘s 5th online event of 2024 is Spiritually Accompanying People Living With Dementia on Tuesday 22nd October, 7:00-8:00pm. This is part of the series of online events How to be more Later Life Friendly in our parishes.
The Zoom event, looking at the theological significance of dementia, is led by Rev. Dr. Joseph Cortis, co-author of Journeying Together: accompanying people living with dementia. Deacon Joe has a background in adult and mental health nursing which includes a long period as an educational manager, academic and senior lecturer at the University of Leeds. He is a Trustee of Growing Old Grace-fully.
Whether you are a spouse, family member, friend or caregiver, this event is designed to explore ways to provide spiritual support to individuals living with dementia as well as our own spiritual journey with them as a loved one.
The session will include prayers and reflections, as well as ideas as to accompany and support someone living with dementia from a spiritual perspective.
To attend, reserve a free ticket on Eventbrite here.
A Zoom link will be circulated to all ticket holders in advance of the event.
For those who would like to read it, the book, by Rev. Dr. Joe Cortis & Dr. Pia Matthews can be ordered here.
On Thursday 26th September, we held the 4th Growing Old Grace-fully online session of 2024,Hope in Later Lifeled by Paula Shanks and Father Donal Lucey.
It was a very powerful reflection and we thank Paula and Fr Donal for leading it.
Pope Francis established a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly which took place for the first time on Sunday 25 July 2021.
In 2024, the celebration is this this Sunday, 28 July – the Sunday closest to the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, Grandparents of Jesus.
The theme chosen by Pope Francis for this year’s celebration is:
“Do not cast me off in my old age” (cf. Psalm 71:9).
As the Pope says, we should cherish the elderly and recognise that there’s no retirement age from the work of proclaiming the Gospel and handing down traditions to grandchildren.
Also 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.
Prayer for Grandparents’ Day
(Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales)
We pray for grandparents; keep them and make them courageous, wise and caring.
We pray for the elderly who feel isolated at this time, so that they know they are never alone, as you continue to be with them.
We pray for all who are ill, that they may experience your healing power and grace.We pray for those who have died, that they are taken into your loving care and into their eternal resting home.
Let us say the prayer that Jesus taught us and what we heard in our Gospel: Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Gracefully is written by Sister Kate Holmstrom, a Holy Child Sister, resident at a care home in Harrogate, who has just turned 85 years old.
Sister Kate has contributed a number of pieces to Growing Old Grace-fully.
Sister Kate introduces Gracefully as follows:
“Many sights, gestures or even sounds may be perceived as graceful. They resonate, perhaps, with an inner grace inhabiting a person – an open, positive attitude attuned to what is good, true, righteous, beautiful. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they are ready to welcome countless riches and enjoy life!”
Gracefully
Growing old gracefully. With grace. Ageing: a grace. Graceful rhymes with grateful, And gracefully sounds like: graciously. Little girls dancing, gymnasts leaping and bounding, Flying, seemingly without effort, defying gravity. Why do graceful movements, or the clear song of a blackbird Strike an almost physical chord of beauty within us? A smile is a grace, irradiating a tired face And gracing the recipient.
How is it that an ageing body can seem clumsy, ungainly Even painful, to the one who inhabits it? Yet the soul within can be stirring, growing, soaring forward Borne up by the Spirit, the very breath of her Creator. Hail Mary, full of grace, pray for us as we are now, In this moment, (this Moment) That the hour of our death may be grace-filled, That final, gracious grace.
This is the reflection, written by Pippa Bonner, from the Growing Old Grace-fully online session Reconciling With Our Paston Wednesday 12th June 2024, which led by Pippa Bonner and Cath Mahoney.
Pippa Bonner is a parishioner at St Aelred’s, Harrogate, a widow, mother and grandmother, with a background in social work, then running a hospice bereavement service and currently working in pastoral care with older people. Pippa is also a Trustee of Growing Old Grace-fully.
Growing Old Grace-fully is hosting six online sessions in 2024.
The second is Reconciling With Our Past is on Wednesday 12th June, 2:30-3:30pm led by Pippa Bonner and Cath Mahoney.
Cath Mahoney is parishioner of Mother of Unfailing Help, mother and grandmother, with a background in community development, a former Growing Old Grace-fully worker and now a trustee.
Pippa Bonner is a parishioner at St Aelred’s Harrogate, a widow, mother and grandmother, with a background in social work, then running a hospice bereavement service and currently working in pastoral care with older people. Pippa is also a Trustee of Growing Old Grace-fully.
Cath and Pippa will lead the session, which will involve breakout groups.
The session will start at 2:30pm and finish at 3:30pm, a Zoom link will be circulated to all attendees in advance and the waiting room will be open from 2:25pm.
To reserve your place, please book a free ticket on Eventbrite here.
If you would like to discuss how Growing Old Grace-fully might help support older people in your parish then please visit our contact page here and get in touch.
