Westminster Record October 2013
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Farewell Mass for Mother Eugenia Pantalleresco by Jo Siedlecka
Archbishop Vincent at the tea party
Archbishop visits Palmers Green Tea Party by Barnaby Johns
Archbishop Vincent Nichols visited a Contact the Elderly tea party within St Monica’s Parish in Palmers Green on Sunday 15 September. This is one of Caritas Diocese of Westminster’s key projects, addressing the plight of the elderly and isolated. The parish group was launched in March 2013 and meets for tea on the same Sunday of every month. There are currently seven regular older guests, five volunteer drivers, eight volunteer hosts, and one volunteer coordinator – all of whom are parishioners. The older guests are 75 and over, with many into their 80’s and 90’s; they live alone and find it difficult to get out and about without someone to help them. Archbishop Vincent said, “This Sunday tea party is a delight with gracious older guests mixing with three generations of the host family. When a family opens its home in this way everyone is blessed. The elderly return home, often to days of loneliness, but with joy in their hearts.”
volunteer host each month, since most community services for older people are not available at weekends. Treacey, the volunteer host, said: “My family was delighted to welcome this small group of older people and their volunteer drivers into our home for afternoon tea, which we enjoyed as much as they did. Many of the older guests told us how much they look forward to these monthly outings and it was great to see for ourselves how much they were all enjoying themselves.” The older guests and volunteers, although local, did not know one another when the group started. However, the tea party has been a catalyst to the formation of good friendships between people of all ages. 82-year-old guest Valerie said: “I really enjoy the tea parties;
everyone is so kind and I count the Sundays down until the next one. It is no fun getting old, but this kindness makes such a difference.” Archbishop Nichols appeared on the Chris Evans show ‘Pause for Thought’ on BBC Radio 2 on Tuesday 17 September where he spoke about his experience at the tea party. On the programme he said: “The elderly love it, saying that it not only breaks the dreadful burden of isolation but recreates a pattern of friendship in their lives. The volunteers, the host families, the drivers all speak of their joy and satisfaction at the contribution they make. It’s winners all round. This is a practical expression of our Christian faith and it is loving work, recreating a sense of community, centred round the family home.”
There was a special Farewell Mass for Mother Eugenia Pantalleresco at St Thomas More Church, Manor House, North London on Sunday 8 September, the feast of the Birthday of Our Lady, celebrated by Archbishop Vincent Nichols. Mother Eugenia is returning to Malta after 33 years of service in north London. Before the Mass, the Archbishop blessed the new grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in the parish garden. Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir sang during the Mass and there was a reception afterwards. During his homily Archbishop Nichols reflected on the readings, pointing out that Mary was fruitful because she had a listening heart for the word of the Lord, born out of a life of prayer: "If we wish to be fruitful we must practise ...... when the practice of prayer becomes a habit it will be fruitful." Archbishop Nichols mentioned that he'd seen violinist Nigel Kennedy play at the Last Night of the Proms the night before. "He could play like that just because he had practised so much.” He went on to praise and thank Mother Eugenia for her many years’ fruitful ministry in the parish born out of a life of prayer. During the presentation after Mass, parish priest Fr Clive Lee thanked Mother Eugenia and said that her community in Malta were looking forward to her arrival. She will be getting involved in their terrific work with children and young people, he said. Fr Clive added that many parishioners hoped to visit her in Malta.
Fr Clive, Mother Eugenia and Archbishop Vincent Nichols
Mother Eugenia took her first vows as an Ursuline Sister of St Angela Merici in Malta in 1958. After working in several projects for children there, she came to London in 1979 where she founded an international student hostel in Portland Rise and established the Ursuline community in Manor House. She went on to set up the Day Nursery for pre-school children and a branch of the International Association of Mary Help of Christians at Manor House which are both thriving. Mother Eugenia and her community have also been involved in many parish activities and are an indispensable part of St Thomas More parish’s life.
Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir singers
Sunday afternoon is highlighted as a particularly lonely day of the week for older people living alone. Volunteer drivers collect the older guests from their homes and drive them to the home of a different If you are interested in the work of CDOW, please contact the Director, John Coleby: johncoleby@rcdow.org.uk Photographs©Mazur/Catholicnews.org. uk Page 3