John Paul II

"Dear elderly friends who feel insecure because of ill health or other circumstances, I assure you of my closeness and affection. When God permits us to suffer because of illness, loneliness or other reasons associated with old age, he always gives us the grace and strength to unite ourselves with greater love to the sacrifice of his Son and to share ever more fully in his plan of salvation. Let us be convinced of this: he is our Father, a Father rich in love and mercy!"

“Seventy is the sum of our years,or eighty if we are strong,and most of them are fruitless toil,for they pass quickly and we drift away” (Ps 90:10)

You are the BEST, Tony.

Anthony A. "Tony" Day (May you rest in Peace)
Age 82.
I have known Tony for almost 10 years.
You are the BEST Tony.
Tony, you are a great person.
You might be gone to be with the LORD but I

will continue to treasure your words. "Be gentle and be humble."

You have inspired me with your words to complete my doctorate dissertation.

I would like to say You are the BEST, a friend, a mentor and spiritual companion to me when I was still at Saint Anne Parish. God will take care of your beloved wife, children and grandchildren.

Eternal Rest Grant Unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him, May he rests in peace. Amen.

Pibabasan (Peace), Rev. Peter Abas

"Before I formed you in the womb,

I knew you through and through

I chose you to be mine before you left

you mother's side

I called to you my child to be my sign."

GERIATRIC

GERIATRIC

What god is proud
of this garden
of dead flowers, this underwater
grotto of humanity
in invisible
currents, faces drooping
on dry stalks, voices clawing
in a last desperate effort
to retain hold? Despite
withered petals, I recogize the species: Charcot, Meniere,
Alzheimer. There are no gardeners
Here, caretakers only
Of reason overgrown
By Confusion

-Thomas, 1995, p. 9

International Day of Older Persons

Today is the International Day of Older Persons. May be we continue to give compassionate and loving care to them.

International Day of Older Persons, 1 October 2008: Theme for 2008: "Rights of Older Persons". The International Day of Older Persons 2008 will be celebrated at UN headquarters on 2 October 2008. It is organized by the New York NGO Committee on Ageing in cooperation with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Department of Public Information. The theme for 2008 Rights of Older Persons was chosen to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"I do not know, how I am."

I asked the 103 year old woman, "how are you today?" With a smile, she slowly responded, "I do not know, how I am." She paused for a moment and continued, "I just follow my day, I do not know how I am, and how are you?" I replied, "I am doing well." She looked at me with that wonderful smile again, "that is very good." She stared at me as she ws wheeled along the corridor the building.

By asking someone from the heart "how a person (he/she) is?" surely will bring certain joy in a person life. Let us continue to be generous with our words to encourage, affirm and support others.

...she will be missed!

As I walked in for work today, I was told that the woman who used to say hello to me passed away yesterday. She used to greet me, "how are you today and how is the weather?"
She will be missed by the community but God knows what is best for her. I know she will be surely be missed by others.

The daily situation in my place of working is unpredictable, the moods swing differently each day and events occur differently at a given time.

"I do not want to be here"

As I listened to this 82 year old woman, I saw her tears dropped. She said, "I do not want to be in this place, I want to go home to my house." She added, "I feel lonely here I do not know anyone, I like my house." She further explained, "my children do not understand me, they do not feel inside me, I am hurt."

It is very painful to hear this woman's inner feeling. How I wish I can be a further help to her. I am thankful to be able to listen her pain today. God bless her!