6th World Congress of Families

Catherine Wiley's Presentation   

FAMILIAS EN CRISTO
Many of us here today are Grandparents. All of us are Grandchildren.
As a Grandchild I remember my Grandfather's great love for me and my sense of safety in his care. It was from him I heard my first Gospel stories; my first image of prayer was at his knee reciting the family Rosary. We encountered people of faith everywhere. As children we took our faith for granted.

Nowadays as Grandparents ourselves we can no longer take the faith of our Grandchildren for granted. In these days of broken families and ever-changing values, our faith is not so easily passed on. For myself, I see my greatest mission in life as teaching my beloved grandchildren my faith, to convey to them God's great unconditional love for them and his utter concern for their welfare.

We looked for ways of helping Grandparents in their vital role as Faith-transmitters. Inspired by St. Joachim and St Anne. Parents of Mary and Grandparents of Jesus, we organized Annual
Grandparents Pilgrimages to the National Shrines of Our Lady in England and in Ireland. We involved Grandchildren to write prayers for their Grandparents and beautiful prayers poured in.

We implored our Holy Father to write a special prayer for Grandparents. We told him of our fears and our anxieties for the faith of our Grandchildren and of our own great need to be supported. He responded by composing this beautiful prayer for which we thank him from the bottom of our hearts.

It reminds us, of who we are, where we come from and where we are going.
It enables and empowers us to accept and fulfill our great vocation as Grandparents. Handing on our own great inheritance, the Faith of Christ our Lord.
We would like to share this Prayer with Grandparents everywhere, starting here tonight in Mexico.

Please take the prayer home with you, to your Countries, your Churches, share it with other
Grandparents. Start a Grandparents Pilgrimage in your country. Pray this great Prayer often
Given to us by our Holy Father, It will surely bring great blessings for you, your family and most of all for your Grandchildren.

Together let us pray our Holy Fathers Prayer for Grandparents.