27/07/2026
2026 WDGE: ST. DOMINIC PARISH MBAK ETOI CELEBRATES THE GRANDPARENTS AND THE ELDERLY
By COSMAS ESSIET
(Correspondent)
It was a celebration galore, with pomp and pageantry, as the parishioners of St. Dominic Parish, Mbak Etoi, in the catholic diocese of Uyo, yesterday, Sunday 26th July 2026, celebrated the 2026 World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly with the Theme “But I will never forget you” (Isaiah 49:15),
The World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, established by Pope Francis in 2021 and celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July, is an occasion to recognize the preciousness of the elderly: their presence in families, their role in communities, and their living memory of faith.
This year, the observance holds special significance, as July 26 coincides with the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus.
The event began with the Holy Mass, celebrated by the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Andinyene Paulinus Udofia, as people from the three out-stations making up the Parish gathered at the Parish headquarters for the koinonia.
Delivering the Pope's message during the second part of the celebration which featured words of exhortations by the elderly, song performances, folktales, wine and dance, etc, Fr. Andinyene noted that the theme chosen by Pope Leo XIV, “But I will never forget you” (Isaiah 49:15), encapsulates God’s tenderness, the closeness of the ecclesial community, and the value of life at every stage, especially when frailty becomes more apparent. "The Pope invites everyone to care for the elderly and makes a special appeal to young people: to show kindness, attentiveness, and tenderness toward their grandparents."
To the grandparents and elderly who often experience loneliness or carry in their hearts the feeling of being forgotten. The Church reminds us that the elderly are a blessing, guardians of a wisdom born of experience and the depths of life. Their voice, often more essential and authentic, can reveal new meanings to the young, capable of illuminating the path ahead.
Rather than abandon your grandparents and parents at old age, calling them unprintable names and accusing them of being witches and wizards, Fr. Andinyene reminded the faithful of the Pope's special appeal to the youth: “Resume the beautiful habit of visiting your grandparents, the elderly members of your family, and even those who receive no visits at all. Bring them closeness and affection.”
The tenderness of the young toward the elderly, and the caress of the elderly toward the young, safeguard the beauty of the intergenerational bond and, through concrete gestures, become a sign of the Lord’s Love, he added.
It was a success.
