CHERRY HILL – Applause erupted from the Christ Our Light Parish Center gym as more than 100 Leisure Club members cheered students from Resurrection Catholic School after their performance of “Matilda.”
“Our generation has a lot to offer the kids, plus the kids bring new life to us. It’s a two-way street,” said Margaret McGill, Leisure Club president, explaining the benefits of fostering relationships among different age groups.
The students recently visited the parish as part of the Leisure Club’s monthly meeting. In existence for more than 40 years, the Leisure Club is the parish’s largest ministry. Open to anyone older than 50 – parishioners and non-parishioners alike – the club meets at noon on the second Tuesday of every month, September through May. In addition to a variety of day trips throughout the year, the club also hosts guests, like the schoolchildren. Other speakers and events have included a beekeeper, cardio-dance instructor, Holocaust survivors and a yearly Lenten program.
McGill said one benefit of the club is that it helps forge friendships. “When you’re at church, you’ll see people you know from the Leisure Club, say ‘Hi’ and sit with them. Subgroups form. For example, I know there is a group that meets for lunch. It’s forming small communities within our large community.”
Pat Slater, parish pastoral associate for Justice and Community Outreach, says the benefits go even further. “Members are good at keeping in touch with one another so if someone ends up in the hospital, or their loved one does, people will bring that to the leadership team and make us aware. I think that’s important.”
For more information, visit christourlight.net/justice-a-outreach/ministries or call the parish at 856.667.2440.
Video from staff photographer Rich Hundley III contributed to this article.
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