This Sunday, the Church is celebrating the fourth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly with the theme “Do not cast me away when I am old” [Psalm 71:9]. Pope Francis encourages us to make sure the elderly do not feel lonely. He also criticises narrow-minded thinking and urges people to avoid approaching situations solely from a personal perspective. Instead, we should learn to think from a broader “we” perspective, remembering that we are not solitary individuals but part of families that include elderly grandparents.
In his message for World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, the pope clearly states that as people age and their physical strength declines, their lives do not lose value. He repeatedly reminds the faithful that aging is a grace, as the elderly pass on their life and faith experiences to the youth.
Indeed, having contributed their talents to society throughout their lives, the elderly should be respected and live dignified lives in their later years. The pope recalled his time as the bishop of Buenos Aires, where he often visited nursing homes and observed that few people visited the elderly, leading him to understand that loneliness is common among the elderly.
In recent years, many families in Hong Kong have emigrated, leaving their elderly parents behind due to various reasons. The elderly in Hong Kong often find it challenging to adapt to these changes, particularly emotionally. Previously, they played vital roles in helping their working children with child care. Now, with their children and grandchildren gone, they lose their emotional support, leading to anxiety, insecurity, depression, and even feelings of abandonment.
The elderly often rely on digital means, such as communication apps on their smartphones, to stay in touch with their overseas relatives. However, many of them are not completely proficient in using these technologies, which creates a digital gap. This gap hinders communication and worsens their feelings of loneliness.
The Catholic Church is aware of the loneliness and helplessness experienced by the elderly. Various Catholic groups are organising activities to address these issues.
For example, the Diocesan Bioethics Group, the Bioethics group of the Holy Spirit Seminary College of Theology and Philosophy, and Caritas Hong Kong Elderly Services will soon hold a seminar to discuss the ethical issues related to loneliness and the situations of the elderly, youth, ethnic minorities, and the sick and weak.
The Diocesan Pastoral Commission for Marriage and Family, the Diocesan Commission for Integral Human Development, and the Diocesan Commission for Hospital Pastoral Care plan to launch new services next year to provide faith formation, referral services, and emotional counselling for caregivers of the elderly and those with cognitive impairments.
Additionally, many parishes regularly visit the elderly living alone through charitable groups, addressing their physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs.
Indeed, the feeling of loneliness can be alleviated through care and concern. Let us take the time to reach out to our grandparents, parents, and elderly individuals who need help, or to visit brothers and sisters in distress. SE
