Serving Seniors in Pandemic Times GLENDA MEEKINS of the Florida Catholic Staff
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FACEBOOK @FLORIDACATHOLIC | Nov. 6-12, 2020 FLORIDACatholic ORLANDO DIOCESE Serving seniors in pandemic times GLENDA MEEKINS of the Florida Catholic staff LAKELAND | Among the tenets of Catholic Social Teach- ings is to care for the poor and vulnerable. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the elderly more vulnerable than ever. Catholic Charities of Central Florida Senior Services staff are working to comfort the lonely and promote healthy living. “We have been busy getting creative to make sure our se- niors don’t fall prey to the negative results of isolation during this pandemic when we are asking them to stay safe at home,” said Barbara Cage, Lakeland Activity Center for Seniors’ pro- gram manager. The center closed March 13, 2020, and the oth- er 12 mobile senior center sites closed soon after. To maintain contact with seniors, Catholic Charities works with six core S.O.U.L. (Senior Organizations Uniting Locally) partners to meet the needs of the community. At first, Cage acknowledged it was about addressing urgent needs. Staff would deliver much needed supplies from the Catholic Charities Agape Mission Market directly to seniors. A $10,000 grant helped assist adults age 60 and above who were still working, to help pay rent or mortgage and utilities. “(The funds) kept them in their homes and stabilized them while they scrambled to replace lost income,” Cage said. “We could have used 10 times that amount, but we were glad we were able to help some.” Senior services also helped connect several seniors experi- encing severe stress and/or depression to mental health ser- vices provided by Catholic Charities Behavioral Health pro- fessionals over the phone. Top, Sarah Lisa Buice, the ministry liaison who oversees CCCF’s 12 Young receives mobile senior center sites, also hosts a weekly Zoom hour. To- information about lab gether, she and Cage keep in touch with clients in a variety of tests from ways — mail, phone calls, email, and social media. Palm Medical “Fifty percent of our population are widows. And we’re sup- employee posed to look after our elders. It’s enjoyable work and they are Melisa Marshall, such valuable people,” Buice said. “I think it’s important for a Catholic the Church to give all it can for their elders – to love on them Charities S.O.U.L. and celebrate the lives that they’ve lived so well.” partner during With initial needs met, Cage and Buice worked with com- a senior food munity partners to coordinate extra monthly events. From drop at Polk mobile health fairs and food drops to activity-centered mail- City Community ings to occupy minds and bodies, seniors are being cared for Center. Left, on multiple fronts. Catholic Charities Judy Curlee enjoys Buice’s weekly Zoom hour filled with and Humana chair exercises, games and conversation. Curlee lost her hus- staff load band four years ago. After back surgery last year, she found groceries for a she wasn’t getting out much. Then her friend invited her to senior during the mobile senior center in Dundee. Eventually they added a the mobile food weekly visit to Holy Spirit Parish’s senior gathering. “I enjoyed drop at Polk being with other people and not home so much,” she said. City Community Curlee said quarantine has been difficult and she finds her- Center. (GLENDA MEEKINS | FC) self getting down at times. “It’s not just the loneliness,” she ex- plained. “It’s the human contact. Usually when my kids would come in, if they didn’t hug me on the way in, they would hug me on the way out. Now that doesn’t happen, so you have no human contact and that’s hard.” She said the Zoom hour helps back with the attached raffle ticket and forgot all about it. A social media and even participates in some of the activities because, “It’s always enjoyable to communicate with other few weeks later he received a $50 gift card that lifted his spirits. Buice posted. “What Catholic Charities does for seniors is ab- people and Lisa is such a joy to be around.” On Oct. 30, nearly 50 seniors pulled up to the mobile food solutely wonderful,” she said with a wide grin. John Cavese is 86 years old. He too was attending activi- drop at the Polk City Community Center. For most, it was their Gary Tester, president of Catholic Charities, noted that ties at his parish, Holy Spirit in Lake Wales and the Dundee first time out other than to the grocery store or to be seen by a serving seniors is truly a corporal work of mercy – visiting the center. A self-professed extrovert, he said the engagement was doctor. Sarah Young was giddy with excitement to see familiar sick in new and innovative ways. wonderful. “I enjoyed those meetings tremendously, because faces. It was her first time attending an event because she is on “St. Anthony of Padua is the patron saint of the elderly we’re all in the same boat,” he recalled, adding he looked for- oxygen and concerned about getting sick. Adding to the fun, and, in a prayer to him for the elderly, we pray that if they ward to “being with the people and the friendships.” the pre-registered seniors were invited to dress up for Hallow- are tested with illness, suffering, loneliness or the death of Once COVID hit, he lost all that. Participating in the mail- een. loved ones that they be blessed with God’s peace and com- in activities was a way to regain some ground. He completed “If older adults are socializing, they’re not focusing on their fort, strength and courage,” Tester said. “Barbara and Lisa the puzzle package that showed up at his door. It included pain. They’re giving themselves something positive to focus are two shining examples of exactly how God hears and an- crosswords, Sudoku, trivia and fill in the blanks. He sent it on,” said Cage. Young agrees. She now follows her friends on swers that prayer.” n 2 YOUR ORLANDO COMMUNITY Facebook @FloridaCatholic Nov. 6-12, 2020 13998-1106 Diocesan cemetery blessed GLENDA MEEKINS Cemetery Manager Tim Tully Pedro Spiritual Development Cen- of the Florida Catholic staff has managed cemeteries that are ter is an added benefit providing hundreds of years old. He said a faith-filled backdrop for reflec- WINTER PARK | Befitting of an the newness of this burial ground tion and prayer and a landmark for All Saints Day celebration, when makes it a “21st century cemetery in many in their journey of faith. the Church remembers those who the traditions of what we offer and “This is the heart and soul of the are in heaven, Bishop John Noonan the technology available.” Particu- diocese,” noted Bishop Noonan. He blessed the first diocesan cemetery, larly during this time of pandemic, recalled visiting many cemeteries Queen of Angels in Winter Park the ability to work closely with lo- throughout the world and called to Nov. 1. An estimated 50 clergy and cal funeral homes to have the Mass mind how “they become a part of faithful involved in its construction and burial livestreamed “anywhere the history” of a city. His hope is the took part. The cemetery opened in the world” makes it unique. Tully same for Queen of Angels. in July 2020, on almost 50 acres of said there have already been several Quoting from Wisdom 3:1-9 he Premier Catholic Funeral Home peaceful grounds next to San Pedro occasions where this has assisted said, “The souls of the just are in the Spiritual Development Center. families to participate from a dis- hand of God, and no torment shall The Order of Blessing of a cem- tance. touch them. They seemed, in the ON-SITE CREMATORY etery makes the ground sacred and “Every committal here has the view of the foolish, to be dead; and • SIMPLE and TRADITIONAL CREMATION suitable for Catholic burial. presence of a deacon or priest. We their passing away was thought an “Queen of Angels Catholic Cem- look to them to do the final commit- affliction and their going forth from • TRADITIONAL BURIAL etery will become an iconic minis- tal, Gospel readings and blessings. us, utter destruction. But they are in try within the Diocese of Orlando,” Through this we have seen families peace.” He added, “This is what we • ADVANCE PLANNING said Scott Fergerson, secretary for return to churches,” Tully said. celebrate today, the peace that God 3 LOCATIONS Ecclesiastical Properties for the Charissa Parraga is a memorial gives us through our faith and our Diocese of Orlando. “The prop- advisor for the cemetery. She gives love for each other and especially West Orange Chapel erty’s beauty and dedication to the people tours and assists them in for those who have committed Blessed Mother will provide the their planning. “People think it’s themselves to the loving mercy of Catholic community a special place beautiful once they get here. It’s so God. It is not with sadness that we 407-295-2273 to celebrate God’s grace and the gift much more than they can see on- celebrate this day, but with joy that 1400 Matthew Paris Blvd. • Ocoee, FL 34761 of eternal life.” line.” She said the proximity to San they may rest in peace.” n Maitland Chapel At top, the first diocesan 407-695-CARE (2273) cemetery, 9001 N. Orlando Ave. • Maitland, FL 32751 Queen of Angels Cemetery in Winter Park, is Sanford Chapel blessed Nov. 1, 2020, by Bishop 407-322-5131 John Noonan.