By Mary Morrell / Special Contributor
PISCATAWAY – When Carl Moccia, and his wife, Therese, announced the number of grandchildren they have in their family, the 150 seniors gathered around them erupted into applause and gasps of surprise.
With nine children, the couple has 32 grandchildren – and two on the way.
This shared enthusiasm was evident among the seniors and grandparents who gathered July 25 in the Saint John Neumann Pastoral Center for the second annual “Celebrate Life, A Morning for Grandparents and Seniors,” sponsored by the Diocese of Metuchen’s Office of Human Life and Dignity.
Deacon Jerry Jablonowski, who recently retired as executive director of VITALity Catholic Healthcare Services of the Diocese of Camden, presented at the event, which took place on the eve of the feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim, the grandparents of Jesus and parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The gathering was a celebration of and support for seniors, who, noted Deacon Jablonowski, for the first time now outnumber those younger than 18, meaning “we can’t be ignored or cast aside.”
Sadly, that experience of being made to feel invisible is one of the aspects of a profound loneliness and social isolation that many seniors experience and is among the reasons Deacon Jablonowski makes it a point to share his presentation, “A Spiritual Vitality: The Key to Healthy Aging.” He refers to spiritual vitality as “the secret sauce for a healthy life.”
With a 47-year career in healthcare, Deacon Jablonowski, who serves in Saint Clare of Assisi Parish in Swedesboro and Gibbstown, is well aware of the importance of integrating spirituality and health. He said he has seen firsthand the “influence of faith and medical practice.”
The key to spiritual vitality, he stressed, is “an inner sense of the real self in relationship with God.” One of the key problems for seniors, he suggested, is the “chasm between life and faith … the compartmentalizing of faith and drawing on it only in times of need,” rather than maintaining a “spousal relationship with God, all the days of our lives, in good times and bad times.”
Speaking particularly to grandparents, who were strongly represented within the group, Deacon Jablonowski highlighted a challenge of great concern to many grandparents – young people “abandoning the practices of their Catholic faith.”
He reminded those present of Pope Francis’ observation that grandparents pass on the most important values to their grandchildren and encouraged guests to trust that “what you are doing is making a difference.”
Diocese of Metuchen Bishop James F. Checchio, who joined the group early in the day, reiterated that among the room full of seniors and grandparents there was “so much wisdom and grace acquired over the years,” that can serve to guide those young people who “seem to be drifting.”
Bishop Checchio shared that, over the years, he has heard from many seminarians who said it was “the example and faith of their grandparents that brought them to draw closer to Christ and find their vocation.”
Arlene and Thomas Botti, parishioners in Saint Andrew Parish, Avenel, reflected on the event, which included breakfast, Adoration and Mass. “Coming to a program such as this reminds you that the older generation still matters and has much to offer the younger generation. We can share our experience and wisdom if only by example.”
Mary Morrell is the editor of The Catholic Spirit, the newspaper for the Diocese of Metuchen.
At A Glance
On July 28, the Catholic Church celebrated the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Following are words from Pope Francis after he prayed the Angelus with visitors in St. Peter’s Square:
“Let us say ‘no’ to the loneliness of the elderly! Our future depends a great deal on how grandparents and grandchildren learn to live together.”
“The abandonment of the elderly is indeed a sad reality to which we must not grow accustomed. For many of them, especially in these summer days, loneliness risks becoming a difficult burden to bear.”
“Let us strengthen the alliance between grandparents and grandchildren, between young people and the elderly.”
Source: Catholic News Service
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