Her voice cracking with emotion, Marianne Tursi rose from her seat at Msgr. Kernan Hall, located at the Church of the Incarnation, and shared one of the most difficult moments of her life.
“My husband, Anthony, passed away on Oct. 3, 2001, from multiple myeloma at 58 years old,” she recounted.
In the wake of her loss, Tursi struggled to find solace, questioning her faith and searching for God in her grief. Her turning point came through the words of Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; on your own intelligence do not rely; in all your ways, be mindful of him; and he will make straight your paths.”
“I realized then, and I still know now, that the Lord has always been there, guiding me,” Tursi, a parishioner of Holy Angels Parish in Woodbury, reflected. “He’s taking care of me.”
Tursi and her fellow members of the parish’s Prime Time Players senior ministry shared their personal stories and wisdom Sept. 30 with leaders from VITALity Catholic Healthcare Services Diocese of Camden.
During the month of September, VITALity staff met with the four parish senior ministries across the Diocese: Church of the Incarnation, Mantua; Christ the Redeemer, Atco; Saint Simon Stock, Berlin, and Saint Andrew the Apostle, Gibbsboro.
The visits provided VITALity an opportunity “to show our presence to the seniors, let them know that we’re here and that we care about them,” said Nicole Keefer, executive director.
Each visit began with a warm welcome from Keefer, followed by Deacon Joseph Janocha, VITALity’s director of Hospital Chaplaincy, leading the seniors in prayer. The gatherings then blossomed into lively conversations, as Deacon Janocha invited all to reflect on their first jobs and life experiences.
Some spoke of working in long-gone department stores like Woolworths, Sears or Strawbridge & Clothier. One man recalled earning 25 cents a bottle as a milkman. Another woman shared memories of working in a whiskey distillery at just 16 years old. One gentleman smiled as he remembered his job filling spice jars in South Philadelphia, while another reminisced about collecting eggs on a farm, earning 50 cents an hour.
As the conversation turned to life lessons, the seniors offered invaluable pearls of wisdom:
“Slow down, and appreciate what’s around you.”
“Nothing comes to you; you have to take that first step.”
“Always be kind.”
“Life isn’t always easy, but keep going.”
The group also shared personal insights into their faith journeys, moments that Keefer referred to as “holy moments.”
“God is always looking out for us.”
“God does things for a reason and brings us the right people at the right time.”
“Recognize the gift of your faith.”
These visits were not only an opportunity for VITALity to better understand the needs of these devoted seniors but also a chance to affirm their dignity and worth. Christine Willard, VITALity’s manager of parish-based senior programs, noted the impact of these interactions, particularly for those seniors who may often feel isolated or lonely.
“The seniors’ faces lit up when Deacon Janocha asked about their lives,” Willard observed. “They had so much to share, and they felt acknowledged.”
“We wanted to bring the seniors a blessing, to understand their needs and see what we can provide for them,” she continued, expressing enthusiasm for the connections made during the tour. “I’m excited about what’s to come with future activities between VITALity and the Diocese’s senior ministries.”
Keefer shared her colleague’s optimism.
“I know the time spent with the seniors was incredibly meaningful for all of us,” she said. “We had some truly fruitful conversations.”
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