Apostolate for Grandparents

  • Thread starter Thread starter Courtneyjo
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

Courtneyjo

Guest
Hello, I am new to the forum. I have asked some friends and also at my parish and no on has ever heard of an apostolate for grandparents. I am looking for a group to provide advice on how to help grandchildren grow into holy Catholics. I am praying to St. Anne and St. Joachim for help, too.
 
at former parish we have a Sts Anne & Joachim group, mainly winter texans who are missing their own grandchildren, but some locals as well. they meet together monthly for morning Mass and breakfast, help with anything the CCD director asks for–making costumes, cookies for parties, woodworking etc. When there is a retreat or other function for CCD the help out with food, treats, serving etc. They also volunteer for programs through the schools for tutoring, ESL for new immigrants, etc. Some are also active in home-building in Mexico and the colonias here. Some are “foster grandparents” for kids in CCD when there are family programs planned.
 
That IS the apostlate, being a grandparent.

I am a little more hands-on, as a grandparent, as I was blessed to be one quite young, and my daughter needed our assistance after her husband left her.

I’ve never seen any formal groups. I just do what I did with my own kids with more vigor on some things, and less on the participation. It helps we are the elder child’s godparents, so we can have some say about Mass and the like.

I think as more and more grandparents take a role in raising their grandchildren, either full time or part time, there will need to be such an apostlate. So maybe Go’ds calling you to develop something!👍 :cool:
 
We also are very involved grandparents. But what exactly does an apostolate mean?
Thanks,
KellyEr~
 
40.png
KellyEr:
We also are very involved grandparents. But what exactly does an apostolate mean?
Thanks,
KellyEr~
Click to expand...
I am not going to yank out the dictionary or catechism on this one.

An Apostolate is an expression, alone or in a group, of the fact we are called to be apostles; that is, Jesus told all of us to get out there and live a holy life by example in a particular format, so that people would want to be Christians. He didn’t leave it just to priests and vowed religious, but to EVERYBODY.

There are big apostolates, such as the Blue Army, Folkarare, Holy Childhood, Legion of Mary, Catholic Family Movement, your local food pantry, a Catholic school sponsored for kids in a homeless shelter or less than desirable neighborhood- apostolates. Catholic Answers, another apostolate.

But there are little apostolates, like the ones they sometimes have on EWTN, ones none of us have ever heard or seen. They might only be one person’s efforts to bring about Jesus’ message.

Now, an apostolate for grandparents who want to or have to help out with the grandkids, or to bring the grandkids closer to Jesus, and Heaven, esp. in some of the situations today- That would be a really neat apostolate, and I would go in with somebody on that one.
 
This is such a good discussion and I appreciate all the (name removed by moderator)ut. To me, an apostolate is another word for “ministry”. My husband and I left all that we knew in the Midwest to move to the Pacific NW to be near our three grandkids. We are their only grandparents and we are relatively young (although health could be better but that’s another thread, LOL). Blessedly, their parents are very diligent in bringing our grands up right, and very appreciative of our move and our role to play.

So I guess I am looking for some sort of support group–for ideas, encouragement, prayers, etc. When I called our new parish to ask about this no one had ever heard of such a thing, and we were advised to volunteer to help with CCD classes. We do intend to volunteer at our grands’ school when the time comes, as long as we don’t have to be fingerprinted (but that’s another thread too.)
 
40.png
Courtneyjo:
This is such a good discussion and I appreciate all the (name removed by moderator)ut. To me, an apostolate is another word for “ministry”. My husband and I left all that we knew in the Midwest to move to the Pacific NW to be near our three grandkids. We are their only grandparents and we are relatively young (although health could be better but that’s another thread, LOL). Blessedly, their parents are very diligent in bringing our grands up right, and very appreciative of our move and our role to play.

So I guess I am looking for some sort of support group–for ideas, encouragement, prayers, etc. When I called our new parish to ask about this no one had ever heard of such a thing, and we were advised to volunteer to help with CCD classes. We do intend to volunteer at our grands’ school when the time comes, as long as we don’t have to be fingerprinted (but that’s another thread too.)
Click to expand...
I am also in the NW. Where are you located? I am in Oregon, west of Portland. Great catholic school.
KellyEr~
 
Hi, I live in a “bedroom community” north of Seqttle. Our grands live in Everett WA, and have a parish that they really like there. We tried to move within walking distance of them, but prices are crazy and it was too expensive.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top