CATHOLIC GRANDPARENTS ASSOCIATION,INC.
BOCA RATON, FLORIDA

The Mission Statement of the Catholic Grandparents Association is to assist Grandparents in passing on the Faith and to keep prayer at the heart of family life. The Children’s Prayer Appeal is an integral part of each pilgrimage. Children are invited to write prayers for their Grandparents. The prayers are brought to the altar during the offertory of the Pilgrimage Masses. Some of these prayers were published in Prayers for Grandparents, edited by Catherine Wiley, founder of the Catholic Grandparents Association (ISBN 978 184730 2533, Veritas Publications, 2010). The Universal Prayer for Grandparents was specially written for the Catholic Grandparents Association by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008. The prayer is said at all branch meetings and has been shared with faith groups throughout the world. An integral part of the Catholic Grandparents Association is setting up branches at parish level. These act as prayer and support groups for Grandparents. Grandparents have a unique vocation that must be fostered and cherished in the spirit of St. Joachim and St. Anne, the Grandparents of Jesus and parents of Mary. The Catholic Grandparents Association is a voluntary based organisation and a registered charity (CHY19038). In retrospect, it seems logical that the Catholic Grandparents Association should develop from the annual pilgrimages. On the one hand, these pilgrimages showed the readiness of Catholic Grandparents to come together in a spiritual context, specifically as Grandparents; on the other hand, the importance and urgency of passing on the Faith – the watchword of the Association from the start – was becoming ever more evident. So, in September 2009, the Catholic Grandparents Association was officially launched during the Third Grandparents’ Pilgrimage to Knock in 2009 (led by Cardinal Séan Brady, Archbishop of Armagh), with 14,000 people present. Catherine Wiley, Founder of the pilgrimages, now became Founder of the Association with Archbishop Michael Neary as its Patron. The Association is managed by a body of trustees. The Founder of the Association, Catherine Wiley, is an ex-officio member of this body, from which are chosen also the President and Vice-President. The Association has a permanent office. It is staffed by volunteers and handles correspondence, publications, and other administrative details. It also maintains this website. The Catholic Grandparents Association is a registered Charity No: 19038. Our mission Our mission “To help Grandparents pass on the faith and keep prayer in the heart of family life” To provide advice and information to help Grandparents pass on the faith. The whole of our lives is one great pilgrimage as we journey through progressing ever closer to the joyful moment when we will come face to face with our Creator. Making an intentional pilgrimage propels us forward in our spiritual journey. We create a space to draw closer to God. In joining together as pilgrims, we also move closer to one another, reflecting the oneness and unity that God desires of his people. The Catholic Grandparents Association grew out of individual Grandparent Pilgrimages in England and Ireland. For these reasons, participating in an annual Grandparents’ Pilgrimage seems like an integral part of being a part of the CGA. An annual event like this also offers a chance for many branches to celebrate St. Anne and St. Joachim and grandparenting together. Grandparents should not keep such a wonderful day to themselves. It is a joy to share it with the entire family in a day of Faith and fun. “I invite grandparents and parents everywhere to become members of the Catholic Grandparents Association and to support each other in this initiative. I commend this Association to you, having witnessed at first-hand the devotion displayed by all who attended the pilgrimages in Knock. There has never been as important time in our history as now to strengthen family ties. Those ties are essential for the emotional and spiritual well-being of today’s children and will be a source of joy for all, if built upon and nourished.” 2002 The inaugural Walsingham Annual Grandparents Pilgrimage at the Shrine of Our Lady, Walsingham, Norfolk, England, held to honour and thank St. Joachim and St. Anne, Parents of Mary, Grandparents of Jesus and all Grandparents for all they have done for us throughout the ages particularly in the transmission of the Faith. Spiritual Patrons of the CGA. 2006 Attended the Lay Pastoral Assembly in Tuam. Suggested Grandparents Pilgrimage as a means of affirming grandparents and encouraging them to embrace their vocation of passing on the Faith. 2007 Visited Pontifical Council for the Family in Rome to explain the mission and workings of the CGA 2009 The Catholic Grandparents Association is officially launched at the 3rd National Grandparents Pilgrimage in Knock by Cardinal Seán Brady. 2012 May: Catherine Wiley founder, presented the work of the Catholic Grandparents Association at the 7th World Family Congress Meeting in Milan. 2012 May – Meeting with Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston to explain the work and mission of the CGA 2012 May – Meeting with Cardinal Pell of Sydney to explain the work and mission of the CGA. Australian contacts appointed. 2012 June: Catherine Wiley founder Presented the work of the Catholic Grandparents Association at the International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin 2012 June Private Meeting with Cardinal Dolan of New York in Ireland to explain the work and the mission of the CGA 2012 September 10th – 14th Filming of mini-series “The Three Wise Women” in conjunction with the Catholic Grandparents Association for EWTN for worldwide transmission 2012 December Statutes for the Catholic Grandparents Association submitted to Archbishop Michael Neary, Patron of the CGA in Ireland 2013 April 24th Phil Butcher, Director – Commission for Justice and Social Responsibility Marriage and Family Life Diocesan Coordinator in the Diocese of Brentwood is appointed Vice-President of the CGA International