Grandparents Stepping Up To Get Children Engaged In The Faith

As a grandparent, you want what’s best for your grandchildren. As a Catholic, that means getting your grandchildren involved in the faith. The Catholic Grandparents Association here in Omaha exists to do just that.

“The purpose of the Catholic Grandparents Association is for those of us who want to make sure that our grandchildren are exposed to a spiritual way of life,” said Vici Hegarty, founder of the Catholic Grandparents Association in Omaha.

At the meetings, the group talks about how to have one-on-one discussions with their grandchildren about spirituality, and they troubleshoot any problems that may arise in the family regarding Catholicism.

“Some of us have a better relationship with our grandchildren and children than others,” Hegarty said. “So that makes it difficult. But you still want them to be exposed to it [Catholicism], but you don’t want to create a divide within your family.”

Along with discussing their families, the group has done other activities at their meetings such as praying a rosary for their grandchildren and exchanging Halloween recipes to make with their grandchildren.

Pope Francis has recently asked every diocese to devote each month to a different family group within the diocese based on a theme for the month. This is part of the World Meeting of Families event that will be held this year in Philadelphia.

March’s theme will be “Grandparents”, so the Archdiocese chose the Catholic Grandparents Association to host a Mass. This Mass will be held on March 17 at St. Gerald parish at 6:30 p.m., and there will be a social hour after Mass with refreshments. In the future the group plans to take a pilgrimage to the Holy Family Shrine.

The organization began in September 2014, and they have continued to meet once a month at St. Gerald parish in Omaha. Parishioners from 11 different churches in Omaha have participated in the meetings.