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St. Peter's Apostolate Serves Area Elderly
  
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By ERIN MAGUIRE, The Bulletin
Seniors at Naaman’s Creek Country Manor in Garnet Valley smiled enthusiastically yesterday as they were wheeled into a common room on the second floor to pray the rosary and participate in a Catholic Mass.
Fr. John Bradley, a retired priest who lives at Sacred Heart of Jesus rectory in South Philadelphia, greeted his congregation with the same enthusiasm. He is part of St. Peter’s Apostolate, a ministry that provides pastoral services to the elderly and their families.
Retired priests “enliven their priesthoods” and “bring joy to seniors” through the apostolate, said Fr. Thomas P. Gillin, who began the program after he realized many elderly people did not see priests regularly.
This ministry of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia began in 2005 to meet the growing need and desire for priestly presences in secular nursing homes, assisted and congregational living facilities.
St. Peter’s Apostolate provides Mass, prayer, sacraments, spiritual formation and “happy visits” to elderly who previously received these spiritual benefits on an irregular basis if at all.
“The emphasis is on priesthood,” Fr. Thomas P. Gillin explained. “The key to this ministry is the sacraments, which provide sanctifying grace.”
A former teacher, Fr. Gillin saw the need for St. Peter’s Apostolate later in his priesthood when he realized the shortage of priests and seniors’ need to receive the sacraments regularly. He first enlisted the help of an elderly priest friend to say Masses at a local nursing home and saw his priesthood “come alive.”
Seeing these results and the positive response of the residents, Fr. Gillin proposed St. Peter’s Apostolate — named for the patron saint of longevity — to Cardinal Justin Rigali who approved the plan.
Now, six retired priests and many volunteers serve elderly at 30 residencies in Chester and Delaware counties. Fr. Gillin hopes to grow the ministry in Coatesville, Exton and Malvern.
“The need is there,” he said.
Fr. Bradley said his experience with the apostolate fulfilled a need he had to “do something spiritually productive in retirement.”
“It’s very rewarding for me,” he said. “The people are very receptive. They hunger for the Word and the Eucharist. It’s rewarding to satisfy that hunger.”
Naaman’s Creek Country Manor Resident Beatrice Delhinger said the presence of the apostolate gives her “peace of mind.”
“Even though I’m not in a Catholic institution, they’re so nice about having Mass here,” she said. “It keeps the spiritual life going.”
Therese Levitt, also a resident at Naaman’s Creek Country Manor, said she received good counseling from the apostolate when she needed someone else’s opinion.
“You got to learn to forgive, and I put it into practice — forgiving makes everything a lot easier,” she said. Ms. Levitt also appreciates regularly receiving the sacraments, which she said give her “spiritual peace.”
Hugo Marchesani does not miss Naaman’s Creek Country Manor’s Monday Mass and rosary, even though he does not live there. His wife, who died two years ago, used to live at the facility where Mr. Marchesani was first introduced to St. Peter’s Apostolate.
“I go to church every Sunday, and I come here every Monday,” the 96-year-old said. “Fr. Gillin took good care of my wife and his Mass is very nice, very understandable, and he makes good Catholic jokes.”
Sharon McDermond, administrator at Naaman’s Creek Country Manor, said St. Peter’s Apostolate is one of the facility’s “largest and most consistently attended activities.”
“Seeing the residents’ dedication to their faith is an inspiration to all of us,” she said. “We have other religious groups come in, but this is the one service we can always count on. It’s a great reassurance to individuals who are Catholic here.”
Diane Lewis, a volunteer with a nursing background, felt called to join the apostolate through her involvement with the Legions of Mary, a Catholic lay organization devoted to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“I’m honored to be able to serve these people who are so close to God,” she said. “This is the suffering Body of Christ.”
Sr. Magdalena, MC, has served with the apostolate for the past two and a half years. She shares Ms. Lewis’ vision.
“We love to minister to the elderly because we want to serve the poorest of the poor,” she said. “This is the way to quench the thirst of Jesus in the sick and suffering. Every time we serve the poor and suffering, we see Jesus.”
Erin Maguire can be reached at emaguire@thebulletin.us
Fr. John Bradley, a retired priest who lives at Sacred Heart of Jesus rectory in South Philadelphia, greeted his congregation with the same enthusiasm. He is part of St. Peter’s Apostolate, a ministry that provides pastoral services to the elderly and their families.
Retired priests “enliven their priesthoods” and “bring joy to seniors” through the apostolate, said Fr. Thomas P. Gillin, who began the program after he realized many elderly people did not see priests regularly.
This ministry of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia began in 2005 to meet the growing need and desire for priestly presences in secular nursing homes, assisted and congregational living facilities.
St. Peter’s Apostolate provides Mass, prayer, sacraments, spiritual formation and “happy visits” to elderly who previously received these spiritual benefits on an irregular basis if at all.
“The emphasis is on priesthood,” Fr. Thomas P. Gillin explained. “The key to this ministry is the sacraments, which provide sanctifying grace.”
A former teacher, Fr. Gillin saw the need for St. Peter’s Apostolate later in his priesthood when he realized the shortage of priests and seniors’ need to receive the sacraments regularly. He first enlisted the help of an elderly priest friend to say Masses at a local nursing home and saw his priesthood “come alive.”
Seeing these results and the positive response of the residents, Fr. Gillin proposed St. Peter’s Apostolate — named for the patron saint of longevity — to Cardinal Justin Rigali who approved the plan.
Now, six retired priests and many volunteers serve elderly at 30 residencies in Chester and Delaware counties. Fr. Gillin hopes to grow the ministry in Coatesville, Exton and Malvern.
“The need is there,” he said.
Fr. Bradley said his experience with the apostolate fulfilled a need he had to “do something spiritually productive in retirement.”
“It’s very rewarding for me,” he said. “The people are very receptive. They hunger for the Word and the Eucharist. It’s rewarding to satisfy that hunger.”
Naaman’s Creek Country Manor Resident Beatrice Delhinger said the presence of the apostolate gives her “peace of mind.”
“Even though I’m not in a Catholic institution, they’re so nice about having Mass here,” she said. “It keeps the spiritual life going.”
Therese Levitt, also a resident at Naaman’s Creek Country Manor, said she received good counseling from the apostolate when she needed someone else’s opinion.
“You got to learn to forgive, and I put it into practice — forgiving makes everything a lot easier,” she said. Ms. Levitt also appreciates regularly receiving the sacraments, which she said give her “spiritual peace.”
Hugo Marchesani does not miss Naaman’s Creek Country Manor’s Monday Mass and rosary, even though he does not live there. His wife, who died two years ago, used to live at the facility where Mr. Marchesani was first introduced to St. Peter’s Apostolate.
“I go to church every Sunday, and I come here every Monday,” the 96-year-old said. “Fr. Gillin took good care of my wife and his Mass is very nice, very understandable, and he makes good Catholic jokes.”
Sharon McDermond, administrator at Naaman’s Creek Country Manor, said St. Peter’s Apostolate is one of the facility’s “largest and most consistently attended activities.”
“Seeing the residents’ dedication to their faith is an inspiration to all of us,” she said. “We have other religious groups come in, but this is the one service we can always count on. It’s a great reassurance to individuals who are Catholic here.”
Diane Lewis, a volunteer with a nursing background, felt called to join the apostolate through her involvement with the Legions of Mary, a Catholic lay organization devoted to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“I’m honored to be able to serve these people who are so close to God,” she said. “This is the suffering Body of Christ.”
Sr. Magdalena, MC, has served with the apostolate for the past two and a half years. She shares Ms. Lewis’ vision.
“We love to minister to the elderly because we want to serve the poorest of the poor,” she said. “This is the way to quench the thirst of Jesus in the sick and suffering. Every time we serve the poor and suffering, we see Jesus.”
Erin Maguire can be reached at emaguire@thebulletin.us
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