The day of 25 July

at the Mouvement Chrétien des Retraités (MCR/ France) and at LAI

To respond to the call of Pope Francis relating to the celebration, on July 25, of the Day of the Elderly and Grandparents, the French Mouvement Chrétien des Retraités (MCR) wished to establish a partnership with LAI and, to this end, invited the president of LAI to participate in the work of the steering committee created for the preparation of this event under the theme of "Time of snacking".

This celebration will be organized around a snack organized by grandparents for young children. Two highlights are planned:

A first moment will be devoted to the official launch of the event on July 6 in Taizé, an ecumenical monastic community that welcomes young people from all over the world who want to devote a time of their lives to praying and reflecting on their future; this launch will take place with a round table bringing together leaders of LAI, the MCR, the Taizé Community and youth movements.

In a second step, a declination of this event will be made in the parishes. It has also been proposed to the LAI groups in the world to take up this initiative.

This is a great opportunity to do something together after this long time of silence due to the pandemic.

The national authorities of the MCR invited the groups to live this day in practice throughout the national territory and in all the parishes. To help make the day a success, a guide for those group responsible was published; communication tools (posters and leaflets presenting theproject) and the usual channels of dissemination of the movement (internet site, magazine) were made available to raise awareness among members and all the people of God. Group leaders are also invited to get closer to other Church movements (Family Ministry, youth movements...) and the ecclesial authorities of the dioceses for the organization of dedicated masses.

The theme chosen for this event is The time of the snack but all the ideas are welcome and can be declined around an aperitif, around a game with the youngest. The animated meetings in connection with the parish should be times of conviviality, dialogue, discovery of one another and shared tenderness.

Page prepared by Monika Ptak