NORTH CAPE MAY – Paul and Mary Kay Dunne are steadfast in their belief that being a grandparent is a calling from God.
“We view being a grandparent a vocation,” said Mary Kay Dunne of Saint John Neumann Parish. “It’s really up to us to pass on the traditions and knowledge of our faith, especially considering how many grandparents today are taking care of or raising their grandchildren.”
With five grandchildren – one who is 12, as well as two 6-year-olds and two 3-year-olds – the Dunnes have a lot to keep them busy.
“It happens to be one of the most joyful jobs I’ve ever had,” Paul Dunne said, laughing. “We’re catching them at a time when they’re just learning how to do the Sign of the Cross, how to say grace, how to pray for each other. It’s fun to watch them grow and become more aware of the faith.”
Passionate for their ministry, the Dunnes addressed parishioners after Mass on Sept. 9, the weekend that the United States celebrates National Grandparents’ Day. In their talk, they urged the faithful to join the parish’s Catholic Grandparents Association chapter, which began last spring. The Catholic Grandparents Association is a global organization dedicated to prayer and passing on the faith.
Father James King, pastor, said that when he was assigned as parish administrator last year, he heard from numerous lay faithful who were concerned about the young Church. “‘We need to bring the young people back to Mass,’ they said. Many of those who were saying it were grandparents who wanted to help.”
In stepped the Dunnes, who recalled their parents passing on memories and faith traditions to their own twin sons. Growing up, both of their boys were active in youth ministry. They remain practicing Catholics.
With young parents pulled in so many directions today, many find it challenging to be active faith leaders in their children’s lives, Father King said. Though they may send their children to Catholic schools, religious education and bring them to Mass, “children – and young adults – need to have multiple role models. They need their grandparents.”
Though one tends to get sentimental when contemplating the idea of family, Scripture relates difficult lessons when it comes to giving one’s child to God. In the Old Testament, Hannah prays for a son, and she eventually bears Samuel. However, when he is old enough, she gives him back to God, taking him to live with the priests in the temple. Similarly, when Abraham is asked to sacrifice his son Isaac, he agrees to do so.
“The world says we should do what we want,” Father King said. “So much of today’s culture asks, ‘What fulfills YOU? What’s good for YOU? What do YOU like?’ In our faith, we believe that we will only find true happiness and only truly be fulfilled in our relationship with God. Part of that hard witness of Scripture is saying that it’s not just about what we want. It’s not just about what we like to do. It’s about reinforcing in ourselves, in our children, in our grandchildren and others that there is something greater for us, and that is to do the will of God.”
Grandparents, he said, help in that reinforcement. And though they are not being asked to make the same sacrifices as found in the Bible, they are still surrendering something.
“The sacrifice today may not be dropping off one’s child or grandchild at the monastery or temple, or giving them up and never seeing them again,” Father King said. “The witness and the sacrifice might be grandparents giving up part of their retirement to be with their grandchildren, to bring them to Mass, to show them the faith.”
New grandparent Terri Shore is ready to be that witness. Her grandson is only weeks old, but she joined the parish’s Catholic Grandparents Association while her daughter was pregnant. Lessons learned in the meetings helped her catechize her daughter.
“Even when she was pregnant, I was asking, ‘Are you going to get the baby baptized?’” Shore said, adding that with her daughter and son-in-law coming from different faith backgrounds, neither had pondered the question. After the baby was born, Shore’s daughter inquired about how to get her son baptized.
“People always say to never stop learning. There is always something to learn in the grandparent’s ministry,” she said. “I want my grandson to have a long faithful life knowing and loving Jesus.”
For information on the Catholic Grandparents Association at Saint John Neumann, go to parishofstjohnneumann.org or call the parish at 609-884-1656.
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