Castlebar grandmother Catherine Wiley, who is the founder of the Catholic Grandparents Association, met Pope Francis at the Vatican last Sunday. Speaking after the meeting, Ms Wiley said, “I felt very blessed, honoured and emotional. I hope this will create awareness of the calling of grandparents and their vital role in society.”
The Catholic Grandparents Association, is a lay association that is growing internationally, and is highlighting the importance of grandparents in families and in societies around the world. Ms Wiley said: “I thanked Pope Francis for his support and encouragement for grandparents. He spoke movingly about his great love for his own grandmother, Rosa, the day before I met him. She taught him to love his faith. That is our association’s mission: to help grandparents to pass on their faith to their grandchildren.”
The Catholic Grandparents Association was in Rome taking part in a two-day Year of Faith event for Movements and Lay Associations in the Catholic Church.
This year, the National Grandparents Pilgrimage in Knock will take place on September 8.
