KANDHAMAL, India — Catholics at St. Paul's Mission Station in Sugadabadi, part of Our Lady of Charity Parish in Raikia, gathered on July 26 to celebrate the Feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne while honoring grandparents and the elderly for their enduring witness of faith.
The celebration took place in Kandhamal district in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, home to a vibrant tribal Catholic community. It also coincided with the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, observed annually by the Catholic Church to recognize the contributions of older generations to family, faith, and society.
Around 100 faithful, including two priests, children, young people, grandparents, and parishioners, participated in the celebration, which centered on a thanksgiving Mass followed by prayers for the elderly.
Special prayers were offered for grandparents, recognizing them as living witnesses of faith, wisdom, and unconditional love. The congregation thanked them for passing on Christian values and nurturing the faith of younger generations.
Presiding over the Mass, Father Saraj Kumar Nayak, who is in charge of St. Paul's Mission Station, reflected on the significance of the feast.
"Sts. Joachim and Anne remind us that the faith of every generation is built on the love, sacrifices, and prayers of grandparents," he said.
"In a world that often overlooks the elderly, the Church honors them as living treasures whose wisdom and witness continue to shape families, communities, and the future of humanity. To celebrate Grandparents' Day is to celebrate the enduring legacy of faith, hope, and unconditional love."
Jugal Pradhan, president of St. Paul's Mission Station, also paid tribute to the role of grandparents in family and community life.
"Grandparents are the guardians of faith, the keepers of family values, and the bridge between generations," he said.
"On this special occasion, we celebrate their invaluable contribution and reaffirm our mission to uphold the dignity and honor of every elderly person. Their legacy of love and faith is a priceless gift to the Church and to humanity."
The celebration concluded with an appeal to families and society to value and care for older people, recognizing them as a blessing rather than a burden.
The event also echoed the Church's continuing call to strengthen relationships between generations. Since establishing the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly in 2021, Pope Francis has encouraged Catholics to recognize older people as essential members of both the Church and society, whose faith and life experience continue to enrich future generations.
For the faithful of Sugadabadi, the feast served as both a celebration of Sts. Joachim and Anne and a reminder that grandparents remain indispensable witnesses of faith, preserving Christian values and passing them on to the generations that follow.
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