Raya: Caring for the elderly is an act of love and a testimony of faith

Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bchara Peter Raya presided over a festive Mass on the occasion of Grandparents and Elderly Day, assisted by Bishop Elias Nasser, Chairman of the Catholic Episcopal Committee for Family and Life, Bishop Joseph Naffah of Byblos and Zgharta, Father Samir Gawa, President of Caritas Lebanon, Father Hani Tawk, General Secretary Father Fadi Tabat, Patriarchal Secretary Father Camillo Mkhail, and a large group of priests and fathers.

The Mass was served by the Santa Maria Choir, in the presence of a large gathering of elderly parishioners and their children.

After reading the Holy Gospel, the esteemed Patriarch delivered a homily in which he said: "Today's Gospel speaks to us about the meaning of waiting. Waiting... but waiting for what? It is waiting for God’s daily will in this life. Jesus Christ comes to us every day in our lives, coming to us in the details of our daily existence, in faith and remembrance, in everything we live and experience. And all of us, from youth to grandparents, from the little ones to our children and our own families, journey together through life, passing through its stages day by day."

He added: "Our journey through life is a daily one, and each day, the Lord asks something of us, and desires that we live His presence and discover His will in our lives. The joy we experience stems from faith, from our awareness that the Lord is present with us at every moment. He calls us to be witnesses of love, and to translate our faith into acts of love: love for the sick person, love for the stranger, love for the needy, and love for every person the Lord places in our path. We are called to thank God for love, to grow in obedience to Christ’s commandment, and to always remember that our lives must be a testimony of love."

He continued: "For this reason, this day exists—the global day for the elderly. But in truth, among us there is no person whom we can say has reached the end or stopped progressing; we are all walking on this earth, and each person has their own age, journey, and history. The Holy Scripture says: 'A thousand years in Your eyes are like yesterday when it passes.' Thus, it is not merely about the number of years a person lives. No matter how old we become, we remain small before God, and remain His children who need Him every day. No matter how advanced in age a person becomes, their life remains a gift from God, and they remain called to live their faith, to bear witness to love, and to share their experience, words, and presence. The Lord comes into our daily lives. This is the truth we wish to live: that the Lord is with us every day, not only in great or exceptional moments. Therefore, we are all called to live our faith and to live each moment simply and joyfully. The Lord wants us to be witnesses of love, to speak kind words, and to stand beside one another—whether we are children or elderly, whether we are able to do much or limited in our abilities."

He further stated: "Even a person who has aged and can no longer do all that they once did remains capable of loving, praying, thanking the Lord, and offering kind words, experience, presence, and tenderness to those around them. Therefore, we thank the Lord for the gifts He bestows upon us, and we thank Him for the life He has given us. Age, no matter how long or short, is a gift from God. No matter how old a person becomes, they remain called to ask God for the grace to live in peace, joy, and faith, and to invest each day of their life in good and love. God is the one who gives life, and He accompanies humanity through every stage of life. Therefore, aging should not be a source of fear or anxiety, but an opportunity to thank God for all He has given us, for every day lived, and for every grace experienced in life. On this global day for the elderly, we extend our gratitude to everyone working for the elderly, to all who serve them, care for them, and provide them with the care, love, and dignity they need. Caring for the elderly is not merely a social service—it is an act of love and a testimony of faith, because every human being remains precious and honored at every stage of life."

Patriarch Raya concluded: "Finally, I return to say: The Lord comes into our daily lives. He comes to us every day, and we are called to live our faith, to live each moment simply, to bear witness to love, to speak kind words to every person, and to be brothers in love toward one another."

Bishop Nasser delivered a speech at the beginning of the Mass, greeting Patriarch Raya: "Your Beatitude, our beloved Patriarch Cardinal Bchara Peter Raya, Supreme Pontiff, Head of the Council of Bishops and Archbishops of the Catholic Church in Lebanon.

It is my pleasure on this first celebration organized by the Catholic Episcopal Committee for Family and Life, which I chair, and its subcommittee for Grandparents and Elderly Care, chaired by Reverend Hani Tawk, to express my deepest thanks to Your Beatitude for responding to the call from the Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life in Rome to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in Lebanon on the occasion of the Sixth Global Day of Grandparents and Elderly Care under the theme: 'I will never forget you,' which was celebrated by His Holiness Pope Francis XIV in Rome. Your Beatitude’s leadership in this Divine Liturgy is the clearest sign of your paternal love for grandparents and the elderly, and of your strong desire that our senior members of the Church be surrounded with proper care, attention, love, and respect."

He added: "For this purpose, I have established the subcommittee chaired by Reverend Hani Tawk, along with a team of assistants. First, I thank them for accepting this service; second, I thank them for organizing today’s celebration; and third, I thank them for their readiness to promote grandparent and elderly care across Lebanon throughout the year."

Bishop Nasser expressed his gratitude to "all diocesan officials and church institutions that helped invite grandparents and the elderly and transport them to Deir el-Qamar, as well as bishops, priests, monks, and nuns who are sharing this celebration with us today."

He also thanked the priests and laypeople of the Deir el-Qamar parish who provided various services to ensure the success of this event, the choir, altar servers, and media outlets covering the day.

He said: "I thank Mary’s Kitchen and its caretakers and staff for providing lunch for all participants in this celebration. I thank the medical and nursing team of Caritas Lebanon Association for providing free check-ups and medicines to patients and the elderly. I thank the entertainers and companions of the elderly for creating a joyful atmosphere after the Mass, and especially I thank artist Mr. Joseph Atta, the Maronite Scouts, and the Yalla group. I thank the Maronite Patriarchal Foundation for Comprehensive Development for providing eye examination teams and gifts for participants, and the Maronite Cultural Center for supplying the stage and chairs."

Finally, he said: "I thank our beloved grandparents and elderly, the focus of this celebration, who endured the journey to bring joy to our gathering. I thank them along with their family members, First Communion children, and all other helpers and companions."

Welcome to your home in the Deir el-Qamar parish, around our Lady Mary the Virgin, Lady of Qanoubine, and around our Lord and Father, Your Beatitude Patriarch Mar Bchara Peter Raya."

After the Divine Liturgy, the grandparents and elderly, along with participating children, continued the day’s program in Deir el-Qamar, in an atmosphere blending the spiritual, human, social, and health dimensions, transforming the Sixth Global Day of Grandparents and Elderly Care into a living intergenerational encounter.

A table of love was set for the participants, where generations gathered around a single table, extending the unity begun at the altar, in an atmosphere of familiarity, brotherhood, and joy. The program also included a medical day dedicated to serving the elderly, featuring medical examinations, consultations, and free medicine distribution—a practical manifestation of the Church’s care for people in their spiritual, physical, and daily needs.

The day also featured various recreational and social activities bringing together grandparents and elderly with First Communion children, reflecting a meaningful connection between a generation carrying the wisdom of years and the memory of faith, and a generation preparing to carry that legacy into the future.

The day ended in an atmosphere of joy and brotherhood, as Deir el-Qamar became a space of encounter between memory and hope: grandparents and elderly bearing the family’s history and life experience, and children bearing the promise of tomorrow, while the Church brings them together under the slogan ‘I will never forget you,’ affirming that humanity remains present in God’s heart and the Church at every stage of life—and that the most beautiful inheritance passed from generation to generation is not memories alone, but faith, love, and hope."