First Grandma-Grandpa-Grandchild Day: Pilgrimage and playing in Eichstätt!

First Grandma-Grandpa-Grandchild Day: Pilgrimage and playing in Eichstätt!

On July 7th, the diocese's first Grandma-Grandpa-Grandchildren Day took place in the cloister of the cathedral in Eichstätt. The event was originally supposed to take place outdoors, but the weather wasn't good and it was moved indoors at short notice. This special afternoon was not only a meeting of generations, but also an opportunity for children and their grandparents to make child-friendly connections to the life and pilgrimage of St. Willibald.

The event attracted numerous families who enjoyed an exciting day together with their grandchildren. The children were able to pick up a pilgrimage booklet and a sticker from Markus Wittmann, the Willibalds Week project manager. A specially designed sensory trail enabled them to experiment with different materials and feel the ground in a new way. Families like those of Elke Templer and Gabi Falk have gone on numerous multi-generational trips.

A variety of activities for young and old

What was particularly exciting was the participation of two school classes from a Munich high school, who integrated the individual stations as part of their city rally. These stations covered important topics such as the environment, waste prevention and recycling. The students at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt had prepared great projects in advance in which the children could make small wind turbines from collected milk and juice boxes. Another highlight was a station that commemorated the pilgrimage of Willibald and his brother Wunibald, while also covering important topics such as coping with grief and teamwork.

If you're feeling a little hungry, a snack station was set up in the Dompfarrheim, where sausage and cheese rolls were available for consumption. A creative activity enabled the children to mint pilgrimage coins and design flags of hope. The day was concluded with a solemn service led by Auxiliary Bishop Adolf Bittschi and others, during which the painted stones were ceremoniously placed on the steps of the cathedral altar.

Grandma-grandpa-grandchildren days in other regions

Similar events also take place in other dioceses, such as the Archdiocese of Berlin, where the first “Grandma-Grandpa-Grandchild Day” took place on October 7, 2024 in the Catholic Academy. 449 grandparents and 50 children took part. The event included a family service, followed by shared activities and a storyteller telling a participatory story. Such meetings are a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the bond between generations and promote cooperation.

Grandma-Grandpa Day is celebrated not only in church settings, but also in kindergartens. Here grandparents have the opportunity to take part in their grandchildren's everyday lives, sing songs and tell stories. Such events bring joy and strengthen family bonds. World Grandma-Grandpa Day, celebrated on October 8th, is also an opportunity to enjoy many of these poignant moments. Careful planning and organization are essential so that every participant can enjoy these special days to the fullest.

Overall, the high number of participants and the lively interest in such events shows that it is time to further strengthen and celebrate the bonds between generations. And who knows, perhaps the Eichstätter event will be a complete success again next year and involve even more families in the diverse program.

For more information about these events, read more on their websites Diocese of Eichstätt, Bonifatiuswerk and Educator training.