“Grandparents are part parent, part teacher, part best friend.”
– Anonymous
They don’t raise their voices; their gentleness alone is enough to be heard. Their doors are always open: sometimes for advice, sometimes for a warm meal, other times simply for that comforting hug that smells like home. Some, still sprightly, run alongside us; others—if the weight of years begins to slow their steps—follow from afar, with a slower pace, but always a sure one.
A pace that becomes a path, a direction, an example.
Grandparents are the witnesses of family history, living memory of times long past—times that, for newer generations born into an ever-faster and more technological world, may seem ancient: pay phones, fax machines, and the town square as the center of social life. Their time-worn eyes reflect a love that is steadfast, a care that asks for nothing in return, a life wholly given to others.
As a vital bridge between past and present, grandparents help us understand who we are, where we come from, and what truly matters. In today’s frenetic world, their presence is a gift to be cherished—a gentle caress to the soul. That’s why dedicating a day to honor them is more than just a tender gesture: it is an act of justice and deep gratitude.
Such was the spirit at St. Maria Goretti Inter College in Bareilly, North India, where the Grandparents’ Day celebration was held with great enthusiasm and heartfelt devotion. The occasion coincided with the liturgical feast of Saints Joachim and Anne—the parents of the Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus—and was organized by the Canossian Sisters who oversee the institution.
Under the passionate guidance of Principal Sister Zinia De Souza, along with the entire teaching staff, a rich and meaningful cultural program was prepared.
The guest of honor was Rev. Fr. Royal Anthony, Secretary for Education of the Catholic Diocese of Bareilly.
The entire event became a heartfelt tribute to the wisdom, faith, and unconditional love that grandparents so often pass down to their grandchildren. Through guided activities, storytelling, and intergenerational exchanges, students were invited to reflect on the invaluable experience, sacrifices, and tenderness received from their grandparents.
