By Anthony Rodriguez, Communications Editorial Staff
(Stockton, California – September 8, 2026) — Faith is rarely passed from one generation to the next through words alone. More often, it is passed on through a life well lived—a prayer whispered at the kitchen table, a familiar Bible story, a Sunday Mass attended together, a family tradition, or the quiet presence of someone who has always been there.
That intergenerational gift was celebrated at St. Luke Church in Stockton, where parishioners recently gathered for a special Grandparents Mass, honoring the grandparents whose love, wisdom, faith, and guidance continue to shape families and inspire young people.
Fr. Thomas Thodukulam, SDB, celebrated the Mass, helping make the occasion a joyful and meaningful celebration of family and faith. The Mass offered more than an opportunity to honor grandparents; it also reminded everyone of the important role they play in forming the faith of the next generation.
Grandparents hold a special place in family life. Through their stories, traditions, prayers, and example of faith, they help pass on a legacy of love and faith to the next generation. Simple moments—teaching a prayer, sharing a Bible story, or making Sunday Mass a family tradition—can leave a lasting impression on a young person’s faith. The Grandparents’ Mass at St. Luke celebrated this beautiful and enduring witness.
This parish celebration is a simple example of the educational and pastoral spirit of St. John Bosco — reminding his Salesians to create a supportive family environment for the young. Don Bosco believed that young people needed adults who would know them, love them, guide them, and accompany them. Grandparents live this mission in a particularly beautiful way. They accompany young people through the ordinary moments of life.
The Grandparents’ Mass also invites the entire parish community to consider how faith is handed on. When grandparents share their faith with grandchildren, they help create a bridge between the Church’s past and its future. And when young people experience that faith through the witness of someone they love, faith becomes personal. The celebration at St. Luke reminds us that every generation has something to give—and something to receive.
Grandparents offer wisdom and witness. Young people offer energy, questions, hope, and a glimpse of the future. Families bring those gifts together, creating communities where faith can continue to grow. St. John Bosco reminds us with his life that young people need loving adults who will walk and journey with them through the different developmental stages of their growth. Grandparents remind us that this accompaniment can begin long before a young person enters a classroom, youth center, or parish program—and can continue throughout a lifetime in one beautiful memory or moment at a time.
“It is not enough to love the young; they must know that they are loved.” – St. John Bosco
