Their mission was simple — to share their time and the love of Christ with the elderly residents of the Little Sisters of the Poor Jeanne Jugan Residence in Washington.
As 14 students from Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School in Potomac Shores entered the living area to meet residents, Reese Almelor accepted an invitation to break the ice with the gift of music.
Almelor, a senior, sat down at the piano and delivered an inspiring version of Rachmaninoff’s “Prelude in C-Minor” to the delight of all. “I felt really glad that I was able to share that gift,” said Almelor. “The fact that I’ve been able to practice it and share it with them to make a difference in their day, no matter how little, was good.”
In response to the Diocesan Week of Service, students embraced the opportunity to engage in thoughtful conversations with residents, laughing, praying the rosary, attending Mass and sharing lunch together Nov. 10.
“It was meaningful for me because having old grandparents myself, I felt sympathy for the residents here,” said sophomore Benjamin Ludena. “It was heartbreaking, knowing that some don’t have long to live, but I really did enjoy interacting with them.”
“There’s so much joy in giving in the Arlington diocese, and there’s so much joy in giving at John Paul the Great,” said senior Laurel Heath, who emphasized the pro-life nature of their visit. “This is pro-life. It’s about providing for and protecting all life from conception until death.”
“The value of this being pro-life is very important,” said Elizabeth McCormick, Little Sisters of the Poor volunteer coordinator. “Pope Francis, in his last year, emphasized the value of everyone’s life. It’s about you and me and our neighbor in our community.”
Students said that they weren’t just going through the motions on their visit. “It’s really a blessing to come to a senior care home like this,” said Jacob Mekonnen, a junior. “We love doing this because many of the residents don’t have family and people to spend time with them.”
Speaking through an interpreter in her native Ethiopian Amharic language, resident Admas Hailerman said she was overwhelmed by the students’ demonstration of love. “I feel happy because they remember and see me,” she said. “I have no visitors anymore. For them to visit me like that — I’m so happy.”
Founded by St. Jeanne Jugan in 1839 in France, the Little Sisters of the Poor spend their entire lives with the residents. “We uphold the dignity of every person,” said Sister Dorothy Christine Seymour. “We accompany them throughout their days, especially at the moment when they’re declining, and God is calling them to himself. And so they die surrounded by love and care and respect, and that’s the way it’s been since 1839.”
Ludena, one of the students, said he’s going to treasure the memory of his time with the residents. “I’m going to see the value in every single person, no matter age, gender or race,” he said. “Because every person is a child of God. That’s how I view it.”
