The Catholic Grandparents Association recently announced that they
have opened a new office at Our Lay's Basilica, Knock in County Mayo.
Speaking at the opening of the new office in Knock Association
President Maire Printer said, “This will afford us the opportunity to
welcome pilgrims from all over the world. We are really looking forward
to telling people about the unique vocation of grandparents. We are
therefore encouraging people to call in to see us during their visit to Knock.”
Her words were echoed by Association founder Catherine Wiley who
said, “The only job grandparents never retire from is passing on the
faith. Grandparents have no agenda. They only want what is best for
their grandchildren.”
The Association was officially launched at Knock Shrine in 2009 by
the Archbishop of Armagh Cardinal Seán Brady.
It was set up by
Catherine Wiley, who herself has ten grandchildren, to honour Saints
Joachim and Anne, who were the parents of Mary and the grandparents of
Jesus, and to provide supports to grandparents passing on the faith and
to keep prayer at the heart of family life.
This is done through grandparents pilgrimages.
These will take place at Aylesford on July 16, Walsingham July 23,
Carfin in Scotland on August 21, Knock on September 11tand Palm Beach
USA on October 22
Each pilgrimage is been supported by a children’s prayer appeal where
schoolchildren are invited to write prayers for their grandparents.
These prayers are they read out during the offertory procession of the
Mass.