Culture of Life:  Remember Our Elderly
from Mark Duplin

I am a member of the Culture of Life (Pro-Life) Ministry at St. Paul Parish.

One aspect of our ministry is respecting the dignity and quality of life for our elderly, who may be alone and need a bit of friendly conversation or attention.
 
My wife, my son, and I visit with the residents at Ledgecrest Health Care Center, right here in Kensington, every Sunday after the 9am Mass. We sometimes bring Holy Communion to the residents, but most Sundays, we just stop in for a quick one-hour visit.

We don’t know all their names, but we know their faces and many of them know us. We spend our time walking around the center, greeting the folks with a quick ‘Hi, How’s your week been?’ or ‘What a beautiful spring day it is today’ - really anything that will catch their attention and possibly engage them in some conversation or small-talk.

We are many times the only visitors that they ever have, and for many, it seems to bring a little happiness and brightness into their day. 
 
We would like to invite you to join us in this experience on a Sunday of your choice, between 10:00am and 11:00 am. We will be happy to have you go around with us and greet the residents and just watch their eyes light up when they see kids come through the hallways.

It’s a simple way to show Christian respect for our elderly citizens and give them the dignity that they deserve. It serves as a valuable teaching tool for our kids by providing them an opportunity to demonstrate their respect for the lives of our elderly. 

As Christians, this is the type of thing Jesus calls us to do. Love your neighbor as yourself.


If you’re interested in joining the Duplins on these visits, joining the Pro-Life Ministry, or if you'd like more information, please contact Mark at 860-666-0162 or [email protected].