News and Events: Getting Older

This week Sister Mary Faustina and I are going to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Lexington to talk about Medicare, Medicaid and Senior health care.  Sister Mary Faustina is the administrator of our Nursing Home, Taylor Manor.  We are honored that we were asked to come and share what we have learned while working with our elders.

We all are growing older every day.  To deny that you are not growing old is to deny reality.  For some people, it is not pleasant to think about getting old.  Too often we associate it with illness, lack of ability to function and death.   We live in a culture that upholds perpetual youth as the goal.  But running after something that has passed, or trying to regain something that really never was is never healthy.

Just look around you and see that there are many people who society calls 'old' who are doing great things.  They are enjoying life.  They are helping their families, mentoring youth, volunteering hours at food pantries, taking care of the sick, sharing their knowledge with others.

God has given us only today.  We can't re-live yesterday and we can't anticipate tomorrow.  God has given us today and we should do our best today.  We should take care of our physical, emotional and spiritual health and leave the rest to God.

My pray is not that you  grow old gracefully, but that your days are filled of grace no matter your age.

News and Events: Sister Rita Theresa

Sister Rita Theresa was not one of the founding members of our community, but she was a much loved addition to our family.  She transferred from another community and became a Sister of St. Joseph the Worker in mind and heart.

Sister Rita Theresa helping in the kitchen of Taylor Manor.

She was born in Pennsylvania in 1925, the only daughter of Dorsey Boyts and Mary Sweeny.  Sister's mother died when she was young and her father was unable to care for her and her two brothers.  So the children grew up in an orphanage.  Her father kept in touch with the children during their time there.  But Sister Rita Theresa said later in life that she used to dream of leaving the orphanage whenever she heard the sound of a train.

After leaving the orphanage, she went to school at Bellfield Trade School. When she completed her studies she worked at various jobs including a laundry service and a restaurant. She entered the Daughters of St. Rita and came to Kentucky with the community.  When she completed her religious training, she worked at Marydale Retreat Center and later at Taylor Manor Nursing Home.  She went back to school and obtained a nursing degree.

Sister Rita Theresa with Edena Krekeler and Besty Skindmore.

The Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker took over operating Taylor Manor in 1976 when the Daughters of St. Rita could no longer staff the nursing home.  Sister Rita Theresa opted to stay at Taylor Manor and join the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker.  She transferred her vows in 1978.  She helped out where ever she could, working as a nurse, helping in the kitchen and working as the sacristan of the chapel.

She had a talent for making ceramics.  A benefactor gave her a kiln and she spend her free time making beautiful ceramic gifts for our benefactors.  She was also known for making home made fruit cake. Often she was called to go to our Motherhouse in Walton to help out with cooking for retreat and special celebrations.

She developed cancer in 1995.  She retired and became a resident of the nursing home she loved and called home.  She passed away in 1996 at the age of 71.

News and Events: Helping out

Taylor Manor and the all the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker want to say 'Thank You" to Mr. and Mrs. John Barkett.  They are Sister Elizabeth Ann's parents.  For many years Mr. and Mrs. Barkett have volunteered at Taylor Manor.  From helping out with the little things that help to make the residents more comfortable to negotiating buying equipment to baking delicious goodies, they have joyfully given of themselves.  They are retiring and moving to Florida.  May God continue to bless them both.  They will be missed.

Sister Mary Faustina and Mother Christina with John Barkett in a meeting at Taylor Manor.

At St. Joseph Academy, there are many volunteers that help out in many ways too.  If I would attempt to mention names, I know that I would forget someone. Pig Fest, Fish Fry, Tee Off for the Kids wouldn't be possible without the help of many friends.  Not to mention all the help they give day to day during a normal school day.

Sister Elizabeth Ann and some of the students making blankets to give away.

Christmas is almost here and while you are busy making sure all the gifts ahave been brought and the decorations are perfect, consider giving the best gift of all - a little bit of yourself.

News and Events: Employee Appreciation

Last week Taylor Manor celebrated Employee Appreciation Day.  Sister Mary Faustina and Sister Celeste Marie are blessed to have so many good, talented and hard working people helping them in the care of the elderly.  Many thanks go out to all the employees but especially those who have worked so hard for so many years at Taylor Manor.

Bonnie Washburn, dietary manager of Taylor Manor

It is important to say thank you to people around you.  Many people work in the background.  They quietly go about their work never asking for attention.  When you show appreciation to someone, you are telling them that their effort has been recognized. You show them that they matter and they have value even if their actions are only seen by a few people.  Everyone is made in the image and likeness of God.  By saying a simple thank you, you acknowledge their dignity as a human being.

Sister Mary Faustina, Administrator of Taylor Manor.

Another reason to show appreciate is that it helps us to focus less on ourselves and more on the people around us.  It is hard to be wrapped up in ourselves and our problems when we are looking to see if there is someone we can show our thanks to.  Looking for people who are working in the background to make our lives easier helps us to realize that nothing good is ever done without the help of other people.

While we are showing our appreciation to those who work with us or help us throughout the day, don't forget to thank God for all His gifts.  Everyday He gives us many gifts both great and small.  We can become complacent in our spiritual life and forget that God doesn't owe us anything.  St. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstance; for this is the will of God for you in all circumstances."  So don't forget to thank God during your time of prayer.  The more you thank God, the more you will find reasons in your life to be grateful for.

News and Events: Sister Margaret David

Sister Margaret David was one of the sisters who joined Mother Ellen in forming the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker.  She was also one of the pair of sisters who were in the community.  She was a sister to Sister Mary Rosalie who was also a member of our community.

Sister Margaret David as a young woman before entering the convent. 

Sister Margaret David entered religious life in 1929. She earned her high school diploma in the convent.  After graduating from high school, she began to work on her college degree.  When she completed her novitiate, she was assigned to teach for five years.  By her own admission, she was not a good teacher.  Since teaching was not something she had a talent for, she was assigned to  work in the Medical Records department at various Catholic hospitals.  This was a work that she loved and was very good at doing.  Sister Margaret David said  her years working in Medical Records were 'completely happy'.  She used to tell the story of leaving notes for the doctors who needed to sign their charts.  She would sign the notes with her initials, Sr. M.D.  The doctors began calling her 'Sister doctor'.

In her later years, she spent time at Taylor Manor answering the phone and greeting visitors.  When her health began to fail, she retired at Taylor Manor.  She was a woman of prayer.  In her retirement years when she could have relaxed and slept in just a little, she would rise early and be the first one in chapel.  She would get up at an early hour so she could spend time alone with Jesus and pray for all her special intentions.

Sister Margaret David after her retirement from Medical Records. 

Even though she was retired, she kept busy visiting the residents, keeping up with the news and making quilts.  Sister had a gift for colors and her quilts were works of art.  She was a great fan of University of Kentucky basketball and Cincinnati Reds baseball.  She wrote of her retirement years,
" I am spending a very happy senior citizen's life, making one quilt after another. I would not change my life for any other.  May God be praised."

Sister Margaret David passed away at Taylor Manor on Sept 3, 2001 at the age of 91.

News and Events: Awards

Congratulations to John Barkett and Bonnie Washburn. They were recognized today by LeadingAge, KY for their dedication to caring for the Elderly.

 Bonnie began working at Taylor Manor while still in high school.  She began as a nurse aid but quickly discovered that her God given talent was for dietary.  She worked her way up through her hard work and dedication and was promoted her to Dietary Manager.  Bonnie is the first one to come to work, often arriving at 3:00 a.m. Fresh from the oven cookies, milk shakes to order, breakfast at midnight, or ice cream for supper, all the hallmarks of resident centered culture change has been a part of the caring concern of Bonnie Washburn for many, many years.  Before culture change became popular, Bonnie knew that to care for a person meant more than merely providing meals.  It means making  memories.

Bonnie hard ar work in the kitchen.

 Service and caring for others is the hallmark of the life of John Barkett.  As a young man, he joined the army and served his country.  His career in the Army took him around the world and into many dangerous situations.  He served his country with distinction retiring with the rank of Colonel. 

After retiring he still felt called to serve and to care for others, so he began to volunteer at Taylor Manor in Versailles Ky. beginning in 1999.  Since that time he has spent hours and hours helping the Taylor Manor family.  There is no job too small or too big for John.   From getting a sweater for someone who is cold to negotiating the purchase of a new generator, John shows his concern for others on a daily basis.  John spends hours working in the business office often putting in more than the normal 40 hours a week that a paid employee would work.

John Barkett and Doris in the office.

 

News and Events: Alzheimers

A couple weeks ago, the staff and family members of Taylor Manor participated in a walk to raise money for Alzheimer's research.  Alzheimer is a tough disease for both the family and the person who suffers from it. For the person who has been diagnosed with it, they have to face the fact that they will have to give up many things bit by bit.

 The families also have to come to grips with the fact the life will change.  And any change is difficult.  But suffering is a part of our lives, from the beginning to the end.  Everyone suffers in some way or another at various times in their lives.  Our natural tendency is to avoid suffering.  We try to change things to remove whatever is hurting us.  We take pain medications, we go to doctors and all that is good.  We should take care of our health and follow our doctor's advice.

But suffering can be a great teacher too.  Suffering can teach us to patience both with those who are ill but also with ourselves.  It can teach us charity as we try to take care of our loved one who is sick. It isn't easy to wake up in the middle of the night to take care of your elderly parent.  But then again, how many times did your parent wake up in the middle of the night to change your diaper and feed you when you were a baby?

Suffering can also teach us humility.  It isn't easy to ask for help and most of us like to think that we are totally independent.  But in reality we all rely on God for our very being.  Our next breath can only happen through the will of God.  So asking for others to help us when we are sick when we would rather be able to do it ourselves will help us to grow spiritually because we will grow in humility.

So pray for the sick and suffering.  Pray also for those who are taking care of the sick.  But also pray that when you are sick you accept it as a grace from God and learn from it.

News and Events: Home visit and family.

This week I will be on my home visit.  Each year we spend two weeks visiting our families.  My family is a bit spread out over the country, so I am not able to see everyone each year.  But I do keep in touch and I try to see my family when I am able.

At Taylor Manor, the sisters and the staff take care of the elderly in their care as if they were part of their family. And in a way, the elderly are part of our family.  We are all brothers and sisters in Christ.  St. Paul reminds us in Romans that we are all one body in Christ.

Working at a nursing home is demanding work and not everyone is given the gift by God to care for the sick.  But for those who have that ability, it is a wonderful opportunity to put into action the works of mercy.  At Taylor Manor, we have the chance to give drink to the thirsty, to feed the hungry, to clothe, the comfort, and to counsel.  In other words, to care for our family members.

 For the sisters, the word 'family' takes on news meaning.  It is not only our biological family that we care about but our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We pray for and care for everyone who God puts into our lives.  It is something that society needs to be reminded of sometimes.  We are all family and each person has been redeemed by God.  We may not have the same opinion about current events, we may not see things in the same way, but we are all called to care for our brothers and sisters in Christ and to show them respect.

May you and your family be blessed. And I hope you have the opportunity this week to show the love of God to someone in your 'extended' Christian family.

News and Events: Easter Week

We just got back from celebrating Easter with our  community in Versailles, KY.  It is always a fun and relaxing time to be with our Sisters. Sister Cecilia, Kas and Emily provided the entertainment by putting on a play for us.  We enjoyed the good meals prepared by the Taylor Manor's kitchen staff .  By going to Taylor Manor we are able to be with our retired Sisters and enjoy their company.  Like any family, we like to make time to be together.  It is important to share with each other and to get away from the daily work. So we spent time praying  and playing together.

On Wednesday, Sister Patricia Jean and Sister Mary Faustina are going to Glascow, Ky to talk to the CCD students at St. Helen Parish.  If you are in the area, please stop by and say hello to the sisters.  We are honored to be asked to come back to St. Helen's. The sisters like to share their vocation stories and encourage young people to be open to God's will in their lives.   The following week they will be taking a trip to Kansas to be with the students at Benedictine College in Atchinson, Kansas.  This will be the first time our community has been to the Vocation Fair at Benedictine College.  They are looking forward to meeting new people and seeing the campus.  Again, if you are in the Atchinson area, come to the Vocation Fair and meet the sisters.

Last month Sister Patricia Jean, Sister Cecilia and I went to Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Campbellsville, KY.  We gave a day-long retreat to the RCIA class, Confirmation class and their sponsors.  We were given a warm, Campbellsville welcome! The members of the parish and their pastor made us feel right at home.  Our Lady of Perpetual Help is Sister Cecilia's home parish so we were able to spent some time with her family and meet her friends from the parish. The retreat went well and we were impressed with the questions that were asked.  We look forward to being able to return next year to give another retreat.

News and Events; Sister Mary Antonella

I would like to introduce you to a remarkable woman who, along with Mother Ellen and other sisters, founded our community.  Sister Mary Antonella had a great devotion to Saint Joseph.  So it was fitting that she joined Mother Ellen in founding the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker in 1974.  Her life teaches us that age can not be an excuse or a barrier for fulfilling God's will.

Sister was born on January 1, 1893 in Newport, Ky.  She was the youngest of seven children born to Joseph and Mary Staubach.  She entered religious life in 1911 and after completing her training as a Novice, she made vows on December 8, 1912.

          She taught in various schools until 1930 when she was assigned to work in Hospital administration. Sister became the Administrator of Georgetown University Hospital in Washington DC in 1943.  She had a great gift for organization and administration.  She was inducted into the America College of Hospitals Administrators in 1953 and served on the Council of Hospital Planning and Plant Operations of the American Medical Association.  She was unanimously elected the second Vice Presidents of the Board of Regents of the College of Hospital Administrators in August 1963.

She used to entertain the sisters with her stories of her time in Washington, D.C. Whenever Bishop Sheen got exhausted from his heavy schedules, the hospital had a private suite, not on the hospital listing, where he could rest without disturbance, offer his daily Mass and have meals sent to his suite. Robert Kennedy often worked late and would stop at the chapel and kneel in the back with his two large guard dogs laying down on either side of him.  

In spite of her advanced age, 80, she never wavered in her support of Mother. Ellen in the founding of the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker. When the community was founded, she could not participate in the active work of teaching, nursing or administration, but she was faithful in the most important work in religious life, prayer. In 1973, she wrote and published a Novena to Saint Joseph and did much to spread promote of her novena. 

Sister Mary Antonella praying in the Chapel at Taylor Manor

When she realized that her health and mental facilities were failing she wrote,  “This means there is no remedy for lapse of memory and when the attacks come I just try to be calm, stop trying to solve the problem at hand and ask for trust and more trust and more trust in God. I have had a long life span and God has been so very, very good to me so now I have just a little time left in which to trust and to love and to do for Him what I can.” 

This remarkable woman of faith and devotion to Saint Joseph retired to Taylor Manor Nursing Home in 1977 and remained there until her death on March 27, 1985 at 92 years of age.

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A Day in the Life: Surprises Abound

Since I'm on spring break this week, I came down to Taylor Manor on Monday to help Sr. Mary Faustina with some computer projects. It's always nice to have a change of scenery and see what our Sisters in Versailles are up to. That's one of the things that I really enjoy about being in IT; it really allows me to be mobile and I always have something to do no matter where I go.

Yesterday morning, though, I was not working on computers. Sister had a training meeting, so she corralled me and asked if I would help out with the podiatrist. So, I spent an hour and a half assisting our residents with shoe removal and replacement, and tried to keep everyone entertained and happy while they waited for their turn to see the doctor. You never know what you will find yourself doing!

Chapel at Taylor Manor

At one point, I was very much interested in going into the medical field and when I entered the community, I actually thought I might end up becoming a nurse. Then during my stint at Taylor Manor four years ago, when I was a Novice, someone almost threw up on me while I was feeding them. I didn't quite drop to my knees and beg Mother not to put me into nursing, but it was close to that. In the last couple of weeks, though, I've suddenly noticed that a lot of the things that used to bother me don't really present a problem anymore. Working with our residents yesterday proved that, because a couple of years ago I would have been very much out of my element in that situation.

As I was kneeling on the floor and removing shoes or putting them back on, I realized just what a gift it was to me, to be able to do that for someone. Such a simple thing, an easy thing that most of us probably don't even think about as we slip our feet our sneakers and walk out the front door. Yet, here is this man or this woman sitting there thanking you for helping them with such a little thing as putting on their shoes. It was a very profound experience and one that I won't forget anytime soon.

Who knows... If the IT thing ever stops working out, maybe I wouldn't run and hide if Mother decided to send me to nursing school... Maybe. ;)