TENTH ANNIVERSARY OUTREACH UPDATE

Our February Adopt a Homebound Parishioner Program was a great success! There were some wonderful connections made and, just as we had hoped, a desire to keep those connections going! I would like to thank Jeannie Rowe for overseeing this project and all those who helped her in its organization. And of course a special thanks to all those who volunteered and visited a homebound parishioner, reminding them that they are still a cherished part of our community.

Although we are moving on to our March project, any month is a good month to adopt a homebound parishioner. Days confined to a home or healthcare facility can seem endless and even a short visit helps to pass the time. Those visits are even more meaningful when they connect people to their faith community. Below are some examples of what can be achieved when we give a little of our time.

From Tina MackeyTyler and I visited the resident at Mount St Joseph named Betty. She was so sweet and full of stories at age 90. I asked if she would like us to return next month. She accepted with a smile. I am attaching a picture of Tyler with Betty. Such a great start to the day. Thanks for this opportunity.

From Terri ZupancicIt [visit] was a delight! She is a lovely person who was very appreciative of the visit, the mug — she loves coffee — and the blue prayer shawl — blue is her favorite color.She asked me to thank you, Father, and everyone else for the gifts, thinking of her and for your prayers.Betty misses coming to SRW, but Slovene Home has weekly Mass at 2:30 on Fridays, plus they say the rosary three times a week.The visit was as pleasurable for me as it was for her. She’s a sweetie!

I told her I’d come back next Sunday.

Terri returned the following Sunday:

I visited Betty last Sunday and she was wearing her prayer shawl and using her mug! Betty really enjoys and appreciates the notes and pictures that the grade schoolers send. She is touched by their kindness and love! She told me that she saves them and looks at them periodically.I feel blessed for the opportunity to get to know Betty.

And some additional comments from other visitors. The first is a great story of “new life.”

From JeffI am emailing with feedback on our recent visit with John (not real name).  Myself and my children visited him this past Saturday.  We arrived to the skilled nursing area and our visit did not start out on a great note.   John was standing a few feet away from us.  We introduced ourselves and he responded with "What are you people with the Community Outreach??"  I explained what we were doing there and he responded with "How long you going to be here for...I am going out to smoke".  We waited for a while in the common area for him to finish up playing cards.  Soon enough my kids said "Here HE COMES dad" in a frightened tone.   John sat down and we had brought some games, a rosary, and a Bible.  We asked him if he wanted to play Connect Four which he simply shook his head.  Luckily we brought a deck of cards and began a game of War.  He immediately became much more engaged and outgoing.  He was telling jokes, laughing, and cracking the kids up.  Unfortunately we had scheduled an event for Alex and it was getting to be time to go.  John was enjoying the time way more that I would have expected when we began and it was difficult to get moving.   We had a very enjoyable visit and I really think that it brightened Mr. John's day.   My goal is to continue the visits, perhaps expand it to others at the Nursing Home, and work on insuring that everyone who would like Communion has access.  Thanks for the opportunity.

From JeannieSaw Jean today. She is a retired librarian from CWRU. Loves to read but eye sight failing. She can still read large print so far. Likes chocolate chip cookies as a favorite snack. Loves to chat is very intelligent and well-read. She loved her prayer shawl, the mug, hand lotion and prayer card I brought along. I hope to visit with her again.

OverFrom Carol I visited Jackie at Gateway Family House. I was able to meet her daughter and a long-time friend as they had been visiting and were just getting ready to leave.She’s a very prayerful woman and was delighted to receive the prayer shawl and prayer booklets. I will try to stop by to see her in the future. Thank you and your committee for planning this activity. So many of our elderly andhomebound folks are desperate for visitors and someone to spend time with them and this was a great way to serve them!

From Alice Last week I went to visit Margaret and Don.  Don was not in his room when I arrived so I went to visit Margaret.  We had an hour long visit which was very nice.  After visiting Margaret, I went to Don’s room again and this time he was asleep so I left the cup and lap blanket in his room.I am planning on making another trip to visit both of them before the end of the month.

From Garth I talked at length with Jim (a good Irishman--or so he told me).  In the course of his conversation with me, he mentioned several times that he was very grateful to Father John and "that lady at the Church who had the kids send him card/letters" for always remembering him.  He remembered getting flowers and small gifts from the Church at Easter time.

From Irene Thomas, Denver and I did all three [visits] together.   We gave each a prayer shawl, mug and a current church bulletin.Lelamae likes frogs!  She was very appreciative of the visit and gift.  We walked with her down to the mass location.  The people usually arrive very early there.  She is in a wheel chair and scooted herself as exercise.  

Gloria’s husband (August) was with her when we arrived.  Gloria was laying in the chair and didn't open her eyes.  Her husband was very appreciative of us stopping by.  He even shared a cookie with Denver that someone had made for Gloria.  The shawl that we picked actually matched a cap that someone had just made her.

We tried to see Helen on Saturday, but she had already gone down to their weekly mass.  She is blind and had difficulty seeing.  We met with her in the TV room.  She was very appreciative of the visit and the gift. 

Appreciative, grateful, delighted...these words say it all! Thanks again to all who participated. You are not just representative of our community but the very presence of Christ to those who cannot be with us.