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The Day for Life is celebrated on the Third Sunday of June, which this year is the 18th/19th June. The focus this year is the care of the elderly, chosen because of the tragic impact of COVID on elderly people, and the fact they are most threatened by the possible legislation of Assisted Suicide. 

Bishop's Message for Day for Life

The focus of the Day for Life this year is older persons. The COVID pandemic highlighted the desperate plight of many older people, especially those in care homes and those struggling with long-term chronic conditions such as dementia. They carried the highest burden which included prolonged isolation, the distress for families being unable to visit, delayed medical interventions and tragic, isolated, deaths followed by shortened, minimal, funeral rites. Many family members and friends continue to bear the wound of deep grief which hurts and is still in need of healing.

We invite people to think again about the value and worth of older persons in families, in society, and to make practical choices to build bridges between the generations.

Bishop John Sherrington, Bishop for Life Issues

Valuing older persons

There are many challenges which we face; the way in which we provide care for older persons, its cost and the means of payment, the shortage of staff in care homes, the time and energy needed to help older people feel valued and wanted. Many feel they have become a burden or can feel treated as a burden, a ‘bed-blocker’, or a nuisance because they move more slowly, struggle with more physical challenges and live a different rhythm of life. They often feel vulnerable and worry when they hear talk about and even concrete proposals for the legislation of assisted suicide and euthanasia. We share their concerns and in better valuing older persons need to find new ways of building bridges by our actions.

Pope’s Catechesis

Pope Francis has recently offered a very different and more positive perspective. In his Catechesis on Old Age, he writes:

'The alliance between generations, which restores all ages of life to the human, is our lost gift and we have to get it back. It must be found, in this throwaway culture and in the culture of productivity.'

He invites us to listen to the dreams of older women and men and to learn from their wisdom (Joel 2:28). Older persons have a different rhythm to life from which we can learn. He continues:

'The arrogance of the time on the clock must be converted into the beauty of the rhythms of life.'

Provide accessible palliative care

We invite people to think again about the value and worth of older persons in families, in society, and to make practical choices to build bridges between the generations. We call for people and parishes to devote quality time, energy and creativity in caring for the older persons in our communities.

We invite engagement in political debate on providing adequately resourced care of the older person so that no-one feels like a burden in our society.

We challenge our politicians and healthcare system to provide accessible palliative care for all the dying.

We encourage people to learn from a closer accompaniment of the elderly that there is a real richness in the journey through old age, which offers a deeper meaning and a new rhythm to the whole of life; something which can be celebrated and lived with hope in eternal life.

St. Joachim and St Anne, pray for us.

Other Resources

Prayers of the Faithful

Written by Dr Pia Matthews, St Mary’s University, Twickenham

For the Church: that her leaders and all her faithful people may actively witness to the dignity of every human being, from the youngest to the oldest, knowing that in God’s eyes no one is redundant or a burden.

For policy makers and leaders in society: that they may come to a fuller appreciation of the significance of family and community and so promote the building of bridges between the generations.

For elderly people: that they may continue to rediscover their God-given vocation in the world, confident that their contribution to society and to the younger generations forms part of building up the Kingdom of God.

For those who care for and accompany elderly people: that they may come to see the riches that the journey through old age brings.

For those who are bereaved, who mourn, or are lonely: that they may feel your presence ever near them.

For those who are coming to the end of their life: that they may face the everyday losses of fragility and growing old in the real and certain hope of an everlasting future when every tear will be wiped away.

Papal Blessing

A message and blessing from Pope Francis on the occasion of the Day for Life 2022.

Catechesis on Old Age

In 2022, over number of weeks, Pope Francis used his weekly Wednesday audience to offer in-depth catechesis on age. The series can be found here.

Podcast on Human Dignity

Episode three of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales podcast, ‘At The Foot of the Cross’, has a focus on human dignity. The last ten minutes of this podcast explores this year’s Day for Life theme.