May 31, 1996

I wish to affirm the praise which we give to those who have the experience of years. I wish to express my esteem for them and extend my honor to them. Our society will be much more enriched when we once again place in honor those who have lived many years in the vineyard of the Lord.

I wish to affirm the blessing of life. Our beloved Holy Father developed this theme at great length in the encyclical he entitled "The Gospel of Life."  The National Conference of Catholic Bishops followed by writing a document which we entitled "Faithful for Life.” Every life is unique. Every person is unique. Every life from the moment of conception until natural death must be protected. Tradition in the human family has long honored those to whom God grants the gift of a long life. We see them as the bearers of wisdom and tradition.

We are blessed to have among us so many elderly who exhibit their talents and their goodness. They are an essential part of the Church in Brooklyn and Queens. Their fidelity to the Church is a living witness to the young in our parishes and in their families. The elderly have needs such as housing, health care and financial security. It is our responsibility to help our seniors meet these needs. I want our seniors to know: I love you and am committed to your service.

Scriptural References

The Old Testament is replete with praise for the blessings of age. The Hebrew Scriptures have many references to the witness of those who have lived a long span of years. In the Book of Job we read: "So with old age is wisdom and with length of days understanding. With him are wisdom and might; his are counsel and understanding." How profound is the trust of Job.

About 180 years before the birth of Jesus, Sirach, a highly respected Jewish scholar and teacher, wrote a book that is part of the Old Testament and named for him. Sirach emphasized the theme of caring for family throughout life. In one section he writes about elderly parents and says: My Son, take care of your father when he is old."

He went on to say: "Kindness to a father will not be forgotten, it will serve as a sin offering." These words reflect the tenderness that God shows to those who revere their elderly parents. Unfortunately, it is an attitude that many neglect these days.

There are also New Testament examples. The Gospel of St. Luke tells us of the prophet Simeon who waited for years to realize the promise that he would see the Messiah. That faith sustained him until the day when he met Mary and Joseph as they brought the Infant Jesus to the Temple for Presentation. The prophetess Anna, a widow who was 84 years old, also found the Child Jesus that day and spoke of the hope that this child would bring to all who would listen.

The virtues of faith and hope are frequently the witness given us by older adults in our Church. Having lived a long life of firm belief in God and His Church, having known so many moments in life when all that was needed for them was to trust God, they imitate the patriarchs and prophets of old and offer us the living example of close communion with the Lord.

Christian Witnesses Among the Elderly

Many Christian saints lived to great longevity. Tradition has long held that the Apostle John fulfilled the task given him by Jesus to care for the Blessed Mother until her death and Assumption. John is said to have lived to the last decade of the first Christian century serving the Church. The tradition is that as an old man he was arrested in Ephesus during the persecution of Domitian, but was spared from martyrdom and died on the island of Patmos at close to 90 years of age.

Some saints, we know, lived to a great old age. St. Francis of Paola was born in Calabria in 1416. He founded the Hermits of St. Francis of Assisi and was renowned for his penance, humility and charity. On Palm Sunday, 1507, he fell ill and he died at age 91 on Good Friday.

The great St. Alphonsus Liguori lived an amazing life. He was born near Naples in 1696. As a young man, he was a lawyer who was reputed never to have lost a case. But he left the practice of law and was ordained a priest in Naples in 1726. The founder of the Redemptorists, Alphonsus was perhaps the greatest moral theologian in the history of the Church. He died August 1, 1787 at the age of 91.

We surely do not lack more contemporary Christian witnesses who have blessed the Church even in their old age. First in our own Diocese, Cornelius Heeney was a great Catholic gentleman who came from Ireland to Brooklyn in 1784. A partner of John Jacob Astor, he was instrumental in the founding of St. Paul’s Parish on Court St. in Brooklyn. His great charity was directed toward Catholic orphans. The Brooklyn Benevolent Society which he began still provides help to youth in our Diocese. He died in 1848 at age 94.

There are other examples. Angelo Cardinal Roncalli was 77 years old when he was elected Pope John XXIII in 1958. The heritage of this great Pope is the great blessing of the Second Vatican Council. The late Dorothy Day is another senior who has been a contemporary witness to service to the poor in our own City. And then there is that great woman Religious of the streets of Calcutta, Mother Teresa, a dynamic witness to the whole world in the ninth decade of her life. They all offer profound wisdom to our contemporaries.

The Experience of Aging

The experience of growing old is a beautiful one if we travel that road in faith and trust in God. It should be for us a time of great peace and preparation for our final moment in this life and then entrance into eternal life.

All of us know the death awaits us. For the Christian there is much consolation to be found in the great mystery of Christianity, the paschal mystery. God chose to send His Son to become one of us. The Son experienced in a fully human manner the reality of death. Jesus, Our Lord and God, died as man. But the true meaning of His death is discovered in His Resurrection, He restored life.

There is a unique value that people often experience at the end of life. We discover that our worth as a person is not to be found in what we have done but in who we have become. In our earlier years we may have been filled with plans for what we would do in life. In our later years we discover that what is more important is the person we have tried to become.

In the Diocese of Brooklyn we stand on the shoulders of giants. The vast network of churches, Catholic schools, colleges and universities, Catholic Medical Center, Catholic Charities and Catholic nursing homes is a tribute to the enormous generosity of the generations that came before us. In the name of all the People of God in this Diocese I express to them ‑and to you ‑ our profound gratitude and our love and esteem.

At times you may wonder with apprehension who will take your place. But I wonder, who could take your place?

Pastoral Opportunities

The older members of our community have the great treasure of their recollections ‑ about life, the Church and the nation. For many in our community these recollections may well go back to another land, another tradition, another language, another nation thousands of miles away. Yet the traditions            ‑ especially the religious traditions – which the elderly can recall from former days and former homeland help to form the minds and hearts of the young in our society as they listen to stories about a past long gone and a place far away.

A very important part of the pastoral ministry of the Church is the care that we must offer to and with the elderly who have lived faithful lives and are now 11senior citizens." Many will be confronted by new challenges and new problems to deal with as they grow older. The Church must be there to guide and help them. I wish to commend those priests, Religious and lay care givers who offer their lives in service to the elderly. This is especially true of the large number of women Religious who dedicate their lives to this ministry in many parishes. I also commend those who serve in health care and nursing home facilities, both religious and lay. They perform their service with great love and dedication.

Many of the issues seniors confront are very practical and sometimes relate to economics. Often they are confronted by a diminishing purchasing power at a time when Social Security and pension increases do not remain commensurate with the cost of living. Others may suffer the experience of health problems as they grow older. Still others may need long term or extended care services. Both as advocate in the public policy arena and as counselor to the parishioner, the pastoral staff must be aware of these challenges to the members of the parish who have grown old. They must bring to them their pastoral concern and help.

The declining years are a time when some experience the frailty of age. For them this could be a source of discouragement. They may recognize the loss of their powers of concentration and memory. But other elderly may be blessed with energy and strength that enable them to minister to the frail. That may be the challenge that the Lord extends to them.

The loss of a beloved spouse with whom one has spent a lifetime of love and friendship is a devastating moment. The relationship of husband and wife is very personal and the mourning for that loss is grave. We must not lose sight of the loneliness and depression that can set in after such a loss. Bereavement support in the parish is a very sensitive and loving ministry.

We must also be conscious of the needs of the single elder. Some may be the last of their generation and find themselves alone. Many of them may have lived in the parish for many years and this is a time for the parish to remember them and their service to the parish. They may be holy people who gave witness to the Christian life in the single state.

Then there are those who have long been in widowhood. Friends may have passed on or are now incapacitated. Parish programs, particularly for the homebound, will bring to these widows and widowers a sense that they are remembered and do have interaction with people who care about what happens to them.

One of the most important aspects of life as we grow closer to the end is the spiritual life. This is the time when we begin the final preparation to meet the Lord. Prayer and the sacramental life are very essential for that meeting. It is important to encourage the elderly to think back on all the blessings that God has given them in their life and to thank the Lord and His Blessed Mother for all the graces they have g ranted.

Their prayers may also be a petition that God answer their plea for blessings on the younger members of their family. In addition the plea for the grace of a happy and holy death is a wholesome one for all. The elders can become a brigade of "intercessors, 11 offering their prayers for the needs of people in families, both their own family and the wider community.

There is another form of prayer that many people arrive at late in life. I speak of the Prayer of Adoration or the simple Contemplation of the Mystery of God. It is the initiation of the prayer that will be ours in Heaven. The Church has always taught that the Prayer of Contemplation is not reserved only for a few.

I urge our parish ministers to recognize the holiness in so many of our elderly and to pray with them.

It is the responsibility of the Church to offer pastoral services to the aged in our parishes and institutions. Through a large portion of their lives they have experienced the spiritual benefits from the reception of the sacraments. I speak particularly of the Mass and the reception of Holy Communion. Where it is possible a great effort ought to be made in the parish to schedule a Mass ‑ daily if possible ‑ at an hour convenient for the elderly to get to church. The center of the Christian prayer life is the Eucharist. It is also the center of the Christian preparation for eternal life, and the pastor should make every effort to meet this need for the elderly.

The two other sacraments that seniors may wish to celebrate are Penance and the Anointing of the Sick. I am happy to say that many parishes in the Diocese have made provision for the reception of these sacraments at hours convenient for the elderly. It is a practice that I hope will expand.

The seniors remember the special devotions that they knew from childhood and which they found comforting and consoling. I speak of the Marian Novenas, Devotion to the Sacred Heart and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, to name a few. In addition, the multi cultural face of our Diocese reveals devotions to special saints, the origin of which may be in a homeland far away. I urge our parishes to provide these devotions at a convenient time. It is a truly pastoral way to serve a large segment of our people.

Some seniors are rarely able to leave their homes. For them the celebration of Mass on television provides great comfort. I congratulate the Office of Pastoral Communications for programming the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I urge local commercial stations also to program Mass for Sunday morning at a reasonable hour. It is a great joy for those who no longer are bound by obligation because of their age or frailty. I commend parishes that have the custom of taking Holy Communion directly from the Sunday Liturgy right into the homes of the elderly.

In addition to the sacramental and devotional character of our service, there are other ways in which we can serve the elderly. Many of them are interested in Bible classes and study groups especially tailored to their needs. The timing of these classes should take into account the schedule of the seniors.

It is important that we reach out to those who may have found their devotional life disturbed by the changes that followed the Second Vatican Council. Some still find the older rites more enticing. Now is the time to reassure them that these treasured memories from younger days are the foundation of their present goodness.

Some of them may be troubled about their children or their grandchildren and the choices that these younger ones are making, especially with respect to church attendance or even continued membership in the Church. Reach out to these elderly and reassure them that God's merciful grace is always available and that their prayers both here in this life and in eternity will be efficacious.

The most difficult task for parents is to take their own child to the grave. It seems to be so out of order. The expectation would be for the opposite. Yet some of our elders will have experienced the loss of a child and still grieve over that loss years later. No pain can be greater than that. As some frail elderly come closer to death they might be comforted by being reminded that soon they will be reunited once again with their child.

Transportation can be a serious problem for those who are advanced in years. Parishes should make every effort to encourage the younger members of the parish to assist in the transportation of the seniors. When they arrive at church the aged may not always find the church building accessible to their needs. Diocesan guidelines on building accessibility will be developed in the future. They then should be implemented in order to provide for the needs of the people.

Many of the frail elderly need reassurance. They may be alone and fearful. Some might be reassured by a simple phone call every day to inquire after their well being. Phone trees can be a project for parishioners who want to help.

For those who are alone and fearful, however, there is another significant problem. With the advance of medical science, difficult medical decisions may often have to be made. First, our Catholic hospitals and nursing homes do offer a "Health Care Proxy” form to protect the interests of the patient. The Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens will always act in conformity with Catholic moral teachings.

Second, we are all obliged to accept what are called "ordinary' means of treatment, such as food, water, medicine and drugs. We are not obliged, however, to accept "extraordinary' means, such as experimental drugs or very burdensome treatment with no hope of survival.

In the instance where the patient has not made a health care proxy and becomes incapable of deciding what he or she wishes, the State proposes a surrogate be empowered to make these decisions for the patient. But who should that surrogate be? Ideally, it would be a relative or someone empowered by the patient and who knows the desires of the patient. A serious issue arises, however, if the patient has not delegated someone to be the surrogate. Then there are two very significant concerns which demand extraordinary attention.

The first concern is for a patient who has named no surrogate and has no living relatives who are capable to decide. Some propose that hospital committees make these decisions. That, however, makes strangers ‑ who may put institutional priorities before all others ‑ the ones who would decide for the patient.

My second concern is for the issue of the removal of nutrition and hydration from a terminally ill patient. Food and drink are nourishment, not medicine. They sustain life and must be treated that way.

Challenges To The Diocese

The elderly are the legacy of the Diocese and include a large number of very talented people. The Lord challenges many of you to use your gifts for the service of the Church.

My first challenge, then, is to the elderly themselves: Continue to expand your horizons. Some of you can help the parish by serving as catechists, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, in a host of other services. Offer yourselves for service to your fellow men and women. Use your talents in a productive way. Continue to make a difference in our lives.

I challenge the well elderly particularly to be strong advocates in the public policy forum for the rights of the senior population. Your voices are especially powerful.

I challenge our youth to interact with the elderly. They have lived the major part of their lives; you still have most of your life ahead of you. Be assured that you can learn much about life and its challenges in dialogue with them. Help the elderly by offering to run errands, stay with the elderly when a care‑giver goes shopping, write letters for those who are not able to do so, shovel snow and carry heavy loads. Visit them at their own homes or in the nursing homes where some now reside. They have so much to offer and you have so much to gain from their experience of life. I ask that you consider volunteering your time and efforts at our nursing homes where you can help them on and off the elevators, push the wheelchairs and help in the kitchen and the dining room. How much they will appreciate your generosity. It is you, however, who will benefit the most by learning how to extend yourself for others.

I challenge our parishes to schedule ‑perhaps twice a year ‑ an afternoon of recollection especially for the elderly. I challenge our parish Golden Age Clubs to become advocates for benefits for the elderly ‑ both social and spiritual ‑in the parish and in the community. I challenge school teachers ‑ both parochial school and public school teachers, active or retired ‑ to teach the elderly new skills, like computers or new talents, like speaking a foreign language. I challenge school teachers to offer classes in topics that would be of special interest to the elderly. Remember, a Golden Age Club need not be just coffee, cake and recreation.

I challenge religious educators in our diocesan office ‑ and more especially in our parishes ‑ to schedule classes about the sacraments, the Bible and contemporary Church teaching at times when seniors can attend.

As we grow older we frequently tend to become more reflective. The aged may look back on their lives, and in the midst of all their blessings, they may be confronted by the failures and mistakes which they have made in life. I challenge them not to be frightened by that. Our God is a very loving and forgiving God. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God extends to us the peace that His forgiveness brings. Opportunities for receiving this sacrament ‑ especially for the homebound ‑ should be an integral part of ministry in every parish.

This moment in life may also be a time for “reconciliation" with friends and family with whom we may have lost contact or whom we may have failed. I challenge our seniors to come to peace with all those who have offended you or whom you have offended. The task of offering reconciliation is a profoundly Christian act.

I commend our senior priests who are capable and willing to offer their pastoral care to meet these needs and challenges. Several are already doing so, both in our Diocese and in other parts of the country and beyond. They are one of our greatest blessings. I challenge those who are well to offer their pastoral services. They have so much experience in pastoral service and we need their ministry. I challenge pastors to offer them the opportunity for service to the parish.

Likewise, I would like to commend the many men and women Religious who, having served the People of God for decades, are now themselves coming into their golden years. Many are still actively serving the Church, their religious community and our parishes. I challenge others who are capable to offer their service.

A Word Of Thanks To Our Care Givers

May I now address myself to you, our selfless care givers, who minister both at home and in our institutions. Your devoted service moves me and I thank you for your committed lives. In addition, I am grateful to the staff at Catholic Charities and the Catholic Medical Center for their dedicated services. You are all very professional in what you do. What pleases me most is that you are very loving in your service. I am so grateful to you, as is the whole Church of Brooklyn and Queens. Your service may often require patience and tolerance. But you exhibit these virtues in a truly Christian way. May I tell you all that I pray that God will bless you abundantly. I want you to know that I am very proud of you.

Finally, 1 want to commend the diocesan Commission on the Elderly for its commitment to this treasured part of the People of God. I thank all the members for their support for the aged in the Diocese, and especially Bishop Rene Valero for his faithful leadership.

I write all these thoughts as we commemorate the 20th anniversary of "Society and the Aged: Toward Reconciliation," a statement of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops issued May 5, 1976. That document affirmed for an earlier generation the commitment of the Church to the elders in our society. I want here to reaffirm that commitment for this generation of elders.

In addition our diocesan Commission on the Elderly has written a very moving mission statement which I commend to you all. In the words of that statement we assure the elderly that we "conscious of their wisdom, their talents and needs." ( We hope that we might "create new models within local parishes where the elderly might lend skills,. wisdom and experience in building up the Church."

The elderly are "our mentors., our parents, our heroines and heroes." Indeed that is what you truly are for us. We thank God for you. May you be blessed to serve the Church and your family for many years to come.

Psalm 71 includes a prayer most fit for the elderly: "God, you have taught me from my youth; to this day I proclaim your wondrous deeds. Now that I am old and gray do not forsake me, God,, that I might proclaim your might to all generations yet to come., your power and justice,, God, to the highest heaven."

May the grace and peace that inspired the psalmist to write these words over 2,500 years ago fill the hearts of each of us with love, reverence and support for the treasure of our elderly community.

Most Reverend

Thomas V Daily, D.D.

Bishop of Brooklyn

May 31, 1996

Feast of the Visitation