Grandparents in Tuam have created history by establishing the first-ever Galway branch of the newly-formed Catholic Grandparents Association.
This follows an historic meeting in Westport last month which led to the formation of the first-ever branch of the Association anywhere in Ireland.
The Association, which has grown out of the popular National Grandparents Pilgrimages in Knock Shrine over the last three years, is now beginning the task of building branches around the country.
The Tuam branch of the Catholic Grandparents Association was formed at a meeting in the Parish Centre last night (TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd). The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 2nd, in the Parish Centre, Dublin Road, at 7pm.
A number of ideas were discussed at the Tuam meeting, including a special Mass for local Grandparents and Grandchildren.
“The Catholic Grandparents Association seeks to support grandparents in every way it can, and also assist them in their very important role of passing on the faith to their grandchildren,” said Association founder Catherine Wiley, who lives in Co. Mayo.
“I have been getting a strong feeling of renewed hope from grandparents. They have been fearful about how the faith will be transmitted, but see hope in what is being done now with the Catholic Grandparents Association.
“The meeting in Tuam touched on the whole area of grandparents providing each other with social and spiritual support. Grandparents face issues too, including distance grandparenting, peer pressure on grandchildren, and many other issues.”
Fr Stephen Farragher and Fr Fintan Monaghan both attended the meeting and offered their full support to the organisation.
Further details are available on www.CatholicGrandparentsAssociation.com.
