HONOURING OUR GRANDPARENTS AND THE ELDERLY

This year, the Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly (WDGE) will be observed on 26 July 2026 (Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne), calling us to honour seniors and acknowledge their vital role in our families, parishes, and society. In his first message for this annual celebration, Pope Leo XIV emphasises that every elderly person is precious in God's sight and should never feel forgotten or abandoned. The Holy Father invites us to become a Church that listens, accompanies, and cares for our elderly with love, respect, and compassion.

The theme, “I will never forget you” (Isaiah 49:15), comes from God's comforting words to His people in times of abandonment and despair. Through the prophet Isaiah, God assures us that His love surpasses even a mother’s love for her child. While a mother may forget, God never will. He has engraved His people on the palms of His hands – a powerful image of enduring love and unfailing faithfulness. This promise provides hope to those who feel lonely, neglected, or invisible, especially the elderly. It reminds us that every human life possesses lasting dignity because each person is deeply loved and forever remembered by God.

Pope Leo XIV recognises that many elderly people today experience loneliness, neglect, and isolation. Some live alone, while others are forgotten even in care homes, where they may be treated as numbers rather than persons with unique stories and gifts. In a society that often values productivity, speed, and efficiency, older people can mistakenly be seen as a burden instead of a blessing. The Holy Father therefore encourages families, especially the younger generation, to revive the beautiful tradition of visiting grandparents and elderly neighbours, bringing them companionship, affection, and hope through the simple gift of presence.

The Pope emphasises to older adults that old age is a meaningful and fruitful stage of life. Despite physical frailty, they remain beloved children of God. Through prayer, wisdom, and their lifelong faith, they continue to enrich the Church. In a world filled with conflict, fear, and division, the elderly have a special vocation to be witnesses of hope, reconciliation, and enduring faith for the younger generations.

(Abstract of the Message of Pope Leo XIV for the Sixth World Day for the Grandparents and the Elderly 2026)

As a Church, we must turn God’s promise into concrete acts of love. Let us reach out intentionally to our elderly through regular home visits, Holy Communion to the homebound, praying and reflecting on Scripture with them, arranging opportunities for Confession and the Anointing of the Sick, listening attentively to their stories, and welcoming them to participate actively in parish life whenever possible. Such simple yet meaningful gestures assure them that they remain valued members of God's family.

When we honour and care for our grandparents and the elderly, we become living witnesses of God’s promise: “I will never forget you.” May our Parish always be a community where every person, regardless of age or ability, is welcomed, cherished, and remembered with love.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU

On Sunday, 26 July 2026, the universal Church observes the 6^th World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which falls on the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. This meaningful celebration, established to overcome loneliness among the elderly and to recognise their priceless role in families and in the life of the Church, carries the comforting theme: “I will never forget you” (Isaiah 49: 15).

As a Parish family, we also remember with gratitude the many grandparents and elderly who have sown the seeds of faith in our lives. They taught us our first prayers, brought us to church, encouraged us during difficult times, and witnessed to God’s faithfulness through their own lives. Today, the Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Kuantan, continues to grow because of the sacrifices, prayers and quiet dedication of those who led the way. Their legacy lives on in every family and every ministry.

Sadly, the fast pace of modern life often leaves our elderly feeling isolated. Busy schedules, changing lifestyles and technology sometimes create distance between generations. Pope Leo XIV reminds us that older persons should never be forgotten or pushed aside. They are not a burden but instead, a blessing. Their wisdom, experience and steadfast faith are valuable gifts that enrich both our families and our Parish.

Our Parish Family Life Ministry, led by Sheila Fernandez, Anna Thong, and Mary Tan, warmly invites all Parishioners, especially our grandparents and the elderly, to join the celebration on Sunday, 26 July 2026, from 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm in the St Giles Room. The event will feature fellowship, a family-friendly movie, and activities to strengthen the connections among grandparents, the elderly, children, and grandchildren. Additionally, during the weekend Masses, we will hold special prayers and distribute prayer cards as tokens of our love and gratitude. 

As the FIFA World Cup approaches its exciting conclusion, the final will be played between Spain and Argentina. Many football fans – myself included – have enjoyed weeks of thrilling matches. I followed the tournament almost every night, and I know that when the final whistle blows, many of us will surely miss this wonderful celebration of the beautiful game.

While we remember great goals, incredible saves, and champions, it is important to also honour the true heroes in our lives – our grandparents and the elderly. Like a football team, families are built on sacrifice, discipline, love, prayer, wisdom, and guidance. Their greatest victory is in the generations they nurture and inspire in faith; just as this year’s World Day theme states, “I will never forget you.”

On this upcoming World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, take a moment to visit, call, or spend time with our grandparents and the elderly. A listening ear, a warm hug, or just sharing a meal together can serve as a meaningful reminder that they are loved, valued, and always remembered.

VICTORY THAT TRULY LASTS

As the FIFA World Cup reaches its thrilling semi-final stage, millions around the world are eagerly watching their favourite teams, inspired by their discipline, teamwork, perseverance, and determination. Watching this excitement unfold, I cannot help but reflect on our own Parish community.

For nine grace-filled days, we gathered as one family to celebrate our Novena and Thanksgiving in honour of St. Thomas the Apostle. No medals or trophies were won, yet something far more precious was achieved: hearts were renewed, faith was strengthened, our young people received the gifts of the Holy Spirit through Confirmation, and our Parish family grew stronger in communion. That is the kind of victory that truly lasts.

With gratitude, we thank God for the successful Novena and Thanksgiving celebrations for St. Thomas the Apostle and our 120th Parish Anniversary. The nine days were deeply moving, with many Parishioners attending every Novena Mass. The final events - including the Eucharistic Procession, Thanksgiving Mass, and Confirmation – saw outstanding participation from Parishioners, families, and friends. This was a beautiful witness to our Parish’s vitality and unity in faith.

I was especially delighted to witness 30 of our young parishioners receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. May the Holy Spirit continue to strengthen them with His gifts so that they may become courageous disciples and joyful witnesses of Christ in today’s world. Please keep them in your prayers as they begin this new chapter in their faith journey.

I extend my sincere appreciation to our Parish Pastoral Councils, Finance Committee, Catechetical ministry, Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC), liturgical ministries, choir members, altar servers, readers, commentators, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, Women’s Ministry, flower decorators, hospitality teams, traffic wardens, volunteers, benefactors, and every ministry that worked tirelessly before, during, and after the celebrations. Much of your service was carried out quietly behind the scenes, but God sees every sacrifice made with love. Thank you for your generous commitment, teamwork, and dedication, which ensured every celebration was prayerful, meaningful, and well organised.

To every Parishioner who attended, prayed, sang, served, and journeyed with us throughout these nine days - thank you. Your presence turned our celebrations into a beautiful witness of a vibrant Parish family. Together we demonstrated that the Church is not merely a building, but a community of believers walking together in faith.

As we give thanks for the blessings of the past 120 years, let us move forward together with renewed hope, trusting that the Lord who has faithfully guided our Parish will continue to lead us for generations to come. May we continue to build a Parish that prays together, serves with humility, welcomes with love, and witnesses to Christ with courage.

May St. Thomas continue to intercede for each of us, leading us from doubt to faith, from faith to hope, and from hope to lives of joyful missionary discipleship.

St. Thomas the Apostle, pray for us!

COUNTLESS MOMENTS OF GRACE

As we begin the month of July, the Holy Father invites the universal Church to pray for respect for human life. His intention is clear: “Let us pray for the protection and respect for human life at all stages, recognising it as a gift from God.”

In a world where life is often measured by usefulness, productivity, or convenience, we are challenged to see every human person through the eyes of God. From the unborn child to the elderly, from the healthy to the sick, from the successful to the forgotten—every life possesses unchanging dignity because it is created and loved by God. Respect for life is more than a moral principle; it is expressed in our words, our actions, our compassion, and our commitment to uphold the dignity of everyone we encounter.

This month is also a special time of grace for our Parish as we honour our patron, St. Thomas the Apostle. After nine prayerful days of the Novena, we now reach its joyful conclusion with the Feast of St. Thomas this weekend. We are deeply grateful to the priests who celebrated the Novena Masses and nourished us with God’s Words and Sacraments. Their presence and preaching have enriched our spiritual preparation for this great feast. Let us ask St. Thomas to strengthen our faith so that, like him, we may move from doubt to conviction and proclaim with confidence: “Jesus is my Lord and my God.” May our patron continue to intercede for every family in our Parish and lead us ever closer to Christ.

Meanwhile, the excitement of the FIFA World Cup continues to capture the attention of millions across the globe. As the tournament enters the knockout stages, football once again reminds us that rankings and reputations do not always determine the outcome. Several underdog nations have surprised the world with courage, discipline and determination to advance in this ongoing tournament, while some traditional football giants have already been eliminated. Every match begins with equal hope, teamwork, perseverance, and the will to finish well; every team must prove itself on the field.

The same is true of our Christian journey. We are given many opportunities to do good, to forgive, to serve, and to grow in holiness. Yet these opportunities bear fruit only when we respond with faith and action. God grants us countless moments of grace—let us embrace them fully. Rather than settling for a “decent” Christian life, let us strive to live each day with love, faithfulness, and service.

As we celebrate our Parish Feast this weekend, may St. Thomas continue to intercede for us, so that together we may grow as a community that respects every human life and becomes faithful disciples who finish the race with Christ.