Celebration of Grandparents and the Elderly in Uganda

Earlier this year January 31st, the Holy Father Pope Francis announced and inaugurated the annual celebration in honor of grandparents and the elderly. This annual celebration that the Pope announced will take place every last Sunday of July.

Today, in preparation for the celebration in Uganda on 25th July this year, a talk show dubbed “The Elderly: Light to the World” was held to highlight to Ugandan audiences and beyond the importance of the elderly especially in the work of passing on the faith or evangelization.

The talk show was held at Mapeera Bakateyemba home in Nalukolongo a Kampala suburb which accommodates 56 elderly people. Appearing at the talk show, Mr Ndyanabo Gervase the Chairperson of the Catholic Laity in Uganda who noted the importance and high value of the elderly and the urgent need for society to take good care of them. Echoing the words of Pope Francis, Mr Ndyanabo re-emphasized the importance of the elders to the young especially in passing on the faith to the new generation. The elderly are not in anyway retired from the work of passing on the faith or evangelization. On the talk show was also Ms. Joyce Zako from the Uganda Episcopal Conference Youth Office.

Narrating the beauty and blessings of looking after the elderly, Reverend Sister Lawrence the administrator of Mapeera Bakateyemba Home also highlighted several challenges associated with ministry to the elderly at the Home such as cultural differences.

Reverend Sister Lawrence who is the administrator of Mapeera Bakateyemba Home also narrated the beauty and blessings of looking after the elderly, and additionally highlighted challenges involved associated with the ministry to the elderly.

This year’s “Grandparents and Elderly Celebration” in Kampala Archdiocese will be held on the 25th of July 2021 at Lubaga Cathedral starting with mass at 9:00am. The mass will be presided by Rt Reverend Paul Ssemwogerere, the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Kampala.