EDITOR’S NOTE: Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte is highlighting the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching as part of its year-long 75th anniversary celebration. This week, the focus is on “Call to Family, Community, and Participation.” The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community, and marriage and the family are central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened.
Catholic Charities’ Elder Ministry hosts “Spring Fling” events in Charlotte and Hickory each year. At the 36th annual Spring Fling April 30 at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, nearly 200 people from 15 parishes came together for a day filled with fun, food and fellowship. (Photos provided by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte)CHARLOTTE — What does it mean to be part of a community?
Webster’s Dictionary defines community, in part, as “a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society.”
The Church teaches that human lives are not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society directly affects people’s dignity and their capacity to flourish. The Church also teaches that family is a central social institution that must be supported and strengthened, and all people have a right and a duty to participate in society.
Catholic Charities’ Elder Ministry is one key way this Catholic Social Teaching is lived out each day in the Diocese of Charlotte – connecting senior citizens with each other and with the broader community to live life to the fullest.
Elder Ministry’s mission reflects Pope Francis’ description of the elderly as “a treasure” for the vital role they play in a family and in a community – in part by passing down their faith, their traditions, and their wisdom to younger generations.
“It is true that old age is at times unpleasant, because of the illnesses it brings. But the wisdom of our grandparents is the inheritance we ought to receive,” he said during a 2013 homily extolling the elderly that became famously known as “Grandpa’s Table.” “A people that does not care for its grandparents, that does not respect its grandparents, has no future since it has lost its memory.”
Guided by this – as well as by Pope John Paul II’s vision of old age as a time for realizing what the psalmist calls “wisdom of heart” (Ps 90:12) – Elder Ministry enriches the lives of seniors while tapping into their life experience to benefit the entire community.
Sandra Breakfield has led the Elder Ministry program for more than two decades.
“Every stage of life is a cherished gift,” Breakfield said, “and our seniors are thriving and contributing wisdom and grace to our community.”
Breakfield organizes educational and social programs for seniors in various locations around the diocese – as well as online – to nurture their talents, increase their knowledge, and improve their well-being.
Programs run the gamut: fraud prevention awareness, navigating Social Security and Medicare, senior living options and aging “in place,” home safety and fall prevention, health and wellness fairs, and more.
Popular “Spring Fling” events in Charlotte and Hickory bring together seniors for a day filled with fun, friendship, food, music, bingo, crafts, entertainment, educational classes, health and wellness programs, chair exercises, line dancing and Zumba. The event always concludes with Mass.
Elder Ministry also hosts retreats at the Catholic Conference Center, organizes outreach to parishes, and shares resources for caregivers.
During the pandemic, when so many seniors were homebound and isolated, Elder Ministry saw a need to keep seniors connected. Breakfield hosted educational webinars via Zoom and compiled a list of “virtual travel” experiences like visiting the Vatican Museums, taking a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, touring the Louvre in Paris, or going to the zoo – all with the click of a mouse.
Elder Ministry is about more than programs and information, though, Breakfield said. It’s about building community.
“Our elders are storytellers, sharers of their life experiences and their faith,” she said. “Seniors are often the backbone in families and parish life, offering their experience and knowledge of how to live our Catholic faith. They can be an encouragement for others.”
— David Long and Patricia L. Guilfoyle
Get involved with Catholic Charities
Get involved with Catholic CharitiesJoin Catholic Charities in its mission to serve others and spread the love of Christ:
Learn More: Visit www.ccdoc.org/elder-ministry to find resources of interest, upcoming events, and more information about how Catholic Charities’ Elder Ministry program is enhancing the lives of seniors.
Donate: Consider donating funds to Catholic Charities at www.ccdoc.org/donate.
Volunteer: Make a direct impact by volunteering at Catholic Charities’ regional offices in Asheville, Charlotte or Winston-Salem. Learn more about volunteer opportunities at www.ccdoc.org/volunteer.