AgingIn NOLA
MISSION STATEMENT RespondingtothecalloftheGospel,ChristopherHomes,Inc.strivestoprovidedecent,affordablehousingtovulnerablemembersofourcommunity. AllwhoareassociatedwithChristopherHomes, Inc.havetherighttorespect,dignityand a sense of well being. Therefore, through the service and commitment of our staffandvolunteers,wewillenableour residents togrowspiritually, socially,and intellectually,empoweringthemtodeveloptheiroptimalpotential. ChristopherHomesisaseniorlivingministryoftheArchdioceseofNewOrleans.
AgingIn NOLA
TABLE OF CONTENTS2 August21-NationalSenior
CitizensDay
UrinaryIncontinence:ACommonCondition
3 July4thCelebration
MetairieManor-BearsBringSmilestotheCommunity
NewEventsatSt.Martin’sManor
4 EmployeeSpotlight
NewHiresandLeadershipChanges
EmployeeAppreciationPicnic
5 RTAContinuestoGetFeedbackFromResidents
SpiritualRenewal
SeniorHealthFair
iGiveCatholicNov.27th
ChristopherHomessponsors“WalktoEndAlzheimer’s”onbothsidesofthelake
6 ChristopherHomesStaffAttendsConference
RouquetteLodgeResidentsHeadtotheOldStateCapital
7 NewOrleansCatholicCemeteries
SaintSpotlight
8 FromtheDeacon’sDesk
August 2018
Manypeopledon’t talkabouturinary incontinencebecause they feelembarrassed,but thecondition iscommon. According to the National Association for Continence, about 25 million American adults havesymptoms. Urinaryincontinenceisleakingurinewhenyoudon’tmeanto.Itcanrangefromslightleakingtosevere,frequentwetting.
Commonsymptomsinclude:• Beingunabletourinate• Painwhenthebladderisfullorwhenurinating• Weakeningoftheurinarystream• Havingtourinatemoreoften• Needingtorushtotherestroomandlosingurineifnot
reachedintime• Urineleakagethatpreventsactivitiesorcauses
embarrassment• Urineleakagethatbeganorcontinuedaftersurgery• Frequentbladderinfections
Somesymptomsmaybesimilartootherconditionsormedicalproblems.That’swhyit’simportanttotalktoyourdoctorifyouarehavinganyofthesesymptomsandgetacheckup.Youmaybereferredtoaurologist,adoctorwhotreatsdiseasesoftheurinarytract. Ifurinaryincontinenceisaffectingyourlife,youandyourdoctorcanworktogethertosetupapersonalizedplantostopormanageit. TofollowtheHealthHabitsblogonlineheadtowww.christopherhomes.orgYou’llfindthisarticleaswellasprevioushealth-relatedarticles.
Also,followChristopherHomeson:Facebook:@christopherhomesano Twitter:@chi_archno Instagram:@christopherhomesinc
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Healthhabitsbroughttoyouby
URINARY INCONTINENCE: A COMMON CONDITION
AUGUST 21st - NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS DAY PresidentRonaldReagandeclaredAugust21stasNationalSeniorCitizensdayback in 1988.PresidentReagansaid,“Foralltheyhaveachievedthroughoutlifeandforalltheycontinuetoaccomplish,weoweoldercitizensoutthanksandheartfeltsalute.Wecanbestdemonstrateourgratitudeandesteembymakingsurethatourcommunitiesaregoodplacesinwhichtomatureandgrowolder.”
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WynhovencelebratedAmerica’sbirthdaywithaBBQ.ActivityCoordinator,DeniseBatiste,organizedtheeventthatattractedmorethan100residents.TheyweretreatedtohotdogsandhamburgersaswellasaDJ.Theeventwouldn’thavebeencompletewithoutasecondlinearoundthemaindiningarea.
MorethanadozenMetairieManorresidentsrolleduptheirsleevesforagoodcause.ThegroupgatheredinthediningroomattheYorkStreetsenior living facility tocreatebears, thosecuddlycreatureswillbegivenaway. Eachcreationishandsewnandstuffed.Theoutfitsarealsomadebyhand. “Theyareforanyadultwhohaslostalovedone,facingasurgeryorsomeonewho’s facinga tough time”,saidFrancesMunaco,MetairieManorResident. ThephilanthropicendeavoristhebrainchildofamemberoftheDawnBustersKiwanisClub. MeladieMunch,theDawnBustersKiwanisClubPresident,wasonhandasbusybearbuilderswerestuffingandsewingthemorethandozenbearsthataresettobegivenaway. Ms.Munchsaidthatshelikestheideaofthebearsbecausewhile the residents are helping people, the activity helps theparticipantsaswell. TheboybearsarecalledSunnyBearswhilethegirlsarecalledShareBears. “Wearegoingtohaveabearpopulationexplosion,”saidMrs.Munacoafterseeinghowmanypeoplecametohelp. Thegroupstartedwithjust3or4peopleaboutamonthago,buthasgrowntomorethanadozen.TheyareallMetairieManorresidentswhowantedtogiveback. TheresidentsgatheronThursdaysandSundays.Asforthefuture, the group has big plans for specialty bears for Saintsfootballseason.
METAIRIE MANOR - BEARS BRING SMILES TO THE COMMUNITY
JULY 4th CELEBRATION
NEW EVENTS AT ST. MARTIN’S MANOR ThereareexcitingthingshappeningatSt.Martin’sManor.Residentswillsoonbeabletoenjoyseveralnewclasses,whichincludechairyogaandZumba Twoadditionalactivitieswerealsoaddedthispastweek.St.Martin’sManorresidentsnowhaveLineDancing,andBingohasofficiallystartedwiththeresidents’Bingocommitteeoverseeingit. TheresidentsatSt.Martin’sManorarehighlypleasedwiththeseactivitiesthatarebeingprovidedforthem.Ms.LynnJohnson,St.Martin’sManoremployee,spokewithseveraloftheresidentswhosaidtheactivitiesmakethemfeelactiveandalive. Intheupcomingweeks,theresidentswillhavetheirdedicationofthenewagencyT-Shirt.
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
NEW HIRES AND LEADERSHIP CHANGES
EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION PICNIC
Nazareth Inn has gaineda new community manager.Shevelle McCrary joined theChristopher Homes teamback inJune.ShewillmanageNazarethII.
ChristopherHomesstaffwerehonoredwithanemployeeappreciationpicnicattheAudubonZooonJuly28th.Staffandtheirfamilieswereinvitedtotheall-dayevent.Therewasplentyoffoodandsnoballsforallofthoseinattendance.Morethan200employeesandtheirfamiliesenjoyedtheevent. Thepicnicwas in recognitionofChristopherHomes’designationasabestplace toworkintheNewOrleansareafora2ndyearinarow.
“Ifeellikeit’smypurpose,andit’sanhonortoserve.Ienjoytalkingtotheresidents.Thereisneveradullmoment.”
-TanishaGoodman,CommunityManager(VillaSt.Maurice,St.MartinManor,St.MartinHouse)
CHI Employee 5 Years
OutsideofWork-Tanisha lovestocook. Shesaysshe’llevenmakegumbowhenit’shotoutside.BBQshrimpisherspecialty.
A familiar face has takenmanagerial duties at St.Teresa’sVilla.Sharline O’BrienisformerassistantmanageratNazareth Inn and has workedfor Christopher Homes for29 years. We look forward toher new role as CommunityManageratSt.Teresa’sVillainSlidell.
Mater Dolorosa has a newporter/housekeeper. We wanttowelcomeArnol Miranda,whostartedonJuly 10th.Welcomeaboard! Congratulations!
Congratulations!
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SENIOR HEALTH FAIR
CHRISTOPHER HOMES SPONSORS “WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S” ON BOTH SIDES OF THE LAKE
IGIVECATHOLIC - NOVEMBER 27th
RTA CONTINUES TO GET FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS
SPIRITUAL RENEWAL
ArepresentativefromtheRTAvisitedDelilleInnandNazarethInnlastmonth.It’sallpartofacontinuedefforttogetfeedbackfromcommunitymemberstoenhanceRTAservices. JenniferBrady,CommunityOutreachManagerwithTransdevthePrivateOperatingPartnerofRTA,spoketoseveralresidentsandwasabletohelpthedownloadofthenewGomobileAppwiththeRTA.
CHI’s Directorof Pastoral Care,Vincent Scozzari,held a spiritualrenewal on June22nd at RouquetteLodge. Vincent heldtheeventtoeducatethose in attendancemore about theBlessedMother.
ChristopherHomesisparticipatinginafairhostedbySt.FrancisofAssisiCatholicChurch
inNewOrleansWhen:Saturday,August4th9:30a.m–10:30a.m.
Where:St.FrancisofAssisi–NewOrleansLyceeFrancaisCafeteria,
5951PattonSt.NewOrleans,LA
Christopher Homes will participate in #iGiveCatholic on#GivingTuesdayonNovember27th,2018.Thisisanopportunityforpeopletomakeadifferenceinthelivesofourseniors. Pleasespreadthewordaboutthisimportantcause.Wewillhavemoreinformationonhowtodonateonourwebsitewww.christopherhomes.org
METAIRIESaturday,November10th
BabyCakesFieldMetairie,LA
NORTHSHORESaturday,November3rdFontainebleauStatePark
Mandeville,LA
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Gotowww.christopherhomes.orgforinformationonhowtoregister.
SENIOR HEALTH
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CHRISTOPHER HOMES STAFF ATTENDS CONFERENCE The annual Louisiana Affordable Housing Management Conference (LAHMA)was held at the Hyatt Centric Hotel in New Orleans. The theme - “Our UniqueAffordableHousingWorld”. Metairie Manor Assistant Manager Dawn Royes and Contract AdministratorDebraStepterwereinattendance.TheyweregraciouslyinvitedbyLandlordShield’s,AlbertoCastillo.
ROUQUETTE LODGE RESIDENTS HEAD TO THE OLD STATE CAPITOL OnFriday,July 13th,severalRouquetteLodgeresidentstookastepback intooldLouisianahistoryandpolitics. Louisiana’sOldStateCapitolbuildingisaNationalHistoricLandmark.ItsitsnexttothemightyMississippiRiverat100NorthBlvd.,andhousestheOldStateCapitolMuseumofPoliticalHistory.Thereareseveralstateoftheartexhibitsatthesite. ThemuseumofopenTuesday–Friday,10a.m.to4p.m.andonSaturday,9a.m–3p.m. Admissionisfree.
DawnRoyeswithAlbertoCastilloenjoyingchowtime.
LaurenHolmes,HousingDeputyAdministrator,
LouisianaHousingCorporation,BatonRouge
Pictured,SpeakerKathrynVaughn,DirectorofSouthwest
RegionalHUDofficeinFortWorth,DebraStepterandAnitaHamm,AccountExecutive,New
OrleansHUDOffice.
DawnRoyestalkingtoneighboringMetairie
propertiesstaff.
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NEW ORLEANS CATHOLIC CEMETERIES Formanyyearsnow,anannualprayerservicefortheunbornhasbeenheldinSt.PatrickCemetery#3byasmall,whitemarblemonumentdedicatedtothebabieskilledbyabortion. Aftertheprayerservicein2017,ArchbishopGregoryAymondaskedasimplequestion“whyisn’ttheprayerserviceheldbythemausoleumwherethebabiesareburied?”Itwasafairquestionandonethatneededmorethoughtthanto simply move the modest marble monument over to St. Patrick Cemetery#1. AlongwithdirectorDebbieShinskieoftheArchdioceseofNewOrleansRespectLifeoffice,weknewthisvisionwasimportant,andDebbiesuggested
thenewprayer locationbededicatedtoall thebabieslostbyabortion,miscarriage,orstillbirth. WenowhadtheopportunitytoenvisionadedicatedlocationfortheunbornprayergardenwhichbecameHolyInnocentsPrayerGarden.Thegardenconsistsofabench,aRachelstatue,andatreeallsurroundedbyagarden.Theinteriorofthegardenhasinlaidbricksintheconcreteformingtheshapeofacross. The garden was ready for the prayer service on January 22, 2018, to coincide with USCCBDay of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. Whilethecloudsloomed,weweresparedthedownpourasweprayedfortheunbornandArchbishopAymondblessedHolyInnocentsPrayerGarden. Aswecontinuetoprayforanendtoabortionandforallgrievingparents,let’srejoiceinknowingGod’spresencecanliftusandhealourhearts. Forthosewhowerenotabletomemorializetheirunborn,weofferbabyplaquesthatcanbeinstalledintheprayergarden.Formoreinformation,pleasecontactCatholicCemeteriesat504-596-3050.
SAINT SPOTLIGHTSaintPiusX
FeastDay:August21st
PrayertoSt.PiustheX
Glorious Pontiff, Saint Pius the X, devoted servant of Our Lord and lovingchildofMary, I invokeyouasasaint inHeaven. Igivemyself toyouthatyoumayalwaysbemyfather,myprotectorandmyguideinthewayofholinessandsalvation. Aidmeinobservingthedutiesofmystateinlife.Obtainformegreatpurity
ofheartandaferventloveoftheinteriorlifeafteryourownexample.PopeoftheBlessedSacrament,teachmetoloveHolyMassandHolyCommunionasthesourceofallgraceandholinessandtoreceivethisSacramentasoftenasIcan. Gentlefatherofthepoor,helpmetoimitateyourcharitytowardmyfellowmeninwordanddeed. Consolerofthesuffering,helpmetobearmydailycrosspatientlyandwithperfectresignationtothewillofGod.LovingShepherdoftheflockofChristobtainformethegraceofbeingatruechildofHolyMotherChurch. SaintPiustheXbelovedHolyFather,IhumblyimploreyourpowerfulintercessioninobtainingfromtheDivineHeartofJesusallthegracesnecessaryformyspiritualandtemporalwelfare.Irecommendtoyouinparticularthisfavor…(mentionyourrequest) GreatPontiff,whomHolyMotherChurchhasraisedtothehonorofouraltarsandurgedmetoinvokeandimitateasaSaint,Ihavegreatconfidenceinyourprayers.IearnestlytrustthatifitisGod’sHolyWill,mypetitionwillbegrantedthroughyourintercessionformeatthethroneofGod. St.PiustheXprayformeandforthoseIlove.Ibegofyou,byyourloveforJesusandMary,donotabandonusinourneeds.Mayweexperiencethepeaceandjoyofyourholydeath.AmenOurFather,HailMaryandGlorybe,3xeach
Providedby
FROM THE DEACON’S DESK
DearResidentsandStaff,
“ForwhoeverdoesthewillofmyheavenlyFatherismybrother,
andsister,andmother.”Mt12:50
Familyhasalwaysbeenimportanttome.Itisasentimentdeeplyengrainedinmy
psyche.PerhapsthisisbecauseofmySicilianancestrythroughmymother.Myfatherhas
alwaysbeenagreatexamplewithhisdevotiontofamily.Hisloveoffamilycomesfromthe
tragedyoflosinghismotherataveryyoungagewhichlefthimlongingforthefamilylifehe
didnothave.Myparentscreatedabeautifulfamilyenvironmentformyfivesiblingsandme.Ihavegiven
muchthoughttofamilyinthepastseveralweeksandonetruthkeepsreturningtome,onethatIhave
oftenuseinweddinghomilies.
Thefamilyistherootofoursociety,itsmostbasicunitwhich,initself,whenlivedtoitsfullestpotential
hasthepowertobindallhumanitytogether.
Familylifecanbeachallenge.MysiblingsandIwereoftenatodds;wefoughtwitheachotherand
wereoftenpunishedforthoseclashes.However,wealsostoodupforeachotherandprotectedour
youngerbrothersandsisters.Thatiswhatfamiliesdo.PopeSt.JohnPaulIIoncewrote,“Allmembersof
thefamily,eachaccordingtohisorherowngift,havethegraceandresponsibilityofbuildingdaybyday
thecommunionofpersons,makingthefamily‘aschoolofdeeperhumanity.’Thishappenswhenthereis
careandloveforthelittleones,thesick,theaged;wherethereismutualserviceeveryday,whenthereis
asharingofgoods,ofjoysandsorrows.”
Inthefamily,wediscoveragood,whichcanonlyberealizedwithinarelationshipofloveforone
another.Livingsuchacloserelationshipisnotalwayseasyandasinmyfamily,therewillbeissuesand
disagreementsbutifthefamilyisfoundedupontheloveofhusbandandwifeandbaseduponkindness,
patience,mercy,andmostespeciallygenerosityanyissuecanberesolved.AsSt.JohnPaulsaidlifewill
consistof“buildingdaybydaythecommunionofpersons”whereinwebecomeatightknitgroupjoyfully
boundtogetherinlovingunion.
Whenweconsiderfamily,weshouldacknowledgemanytypesoffamilyunits.Ourextendedfamily
mayincludegrandparents,inlaws,cousins,lifelongfriends,workfriends,andassociationswithcommon
goalstowhichwebelong.Inthepastseveralweeks,Ihavehadthejoyofgettingtogetherwithmanyof
suchfamilygroups.
Recently,Iattendedandcookedformyniece’shighschoolgraduationparty.Thetimespentwith
myAtlantain-lawswasjoyfulanddiverse.Lastweek,myextendedfamilyincludingmyparents,siblings,
theirspouses,andchildrengatheredforafamilyreunionincludingsome80members.Thiswasourthird
yearandIcannotbegintosayhowwonderfulthisannualeventhasbecomeinourlivesandIrecommend
ittoallfamilies.Also,lastweekIwasabletogatherwith2,800membersofmyfamilyofDeaconsto
celebratethe50thanniversaryoftherenewaloftheorderofdeaconsintheCatholicChurch.Thiswas
anincrediblegatheringhostedinourfinecitybytheArchdioceseofNewOrleans.
Finally,thispastSaturdayourChristopherHomesfamilygatheredattheAudubonZoowithour
individualfamiliesforawonderfuloutingandpicnic.ThiswastrulyspecialandonethatIhopeweare
abletodoannuallygoingforward.Comingtogethertocelebratefamilyinitsmanyformscanbringgreat
meaningandjoytoourlives.Weneedtodothisoftenandweneedtorecognizejusthowimportant
familyis,notonlytoourlivesbuttothosearoundusandtothewholeofhumanity.
“Godblessus,everyone.”
WithGod’sBlessings,
DeaconDennisF.Adams
ExecutiveDirector,ChristopherHomes