Parishes offer seniors activities

Clarion Herald, Elder Outlook

All Saints Church
ALGIERS

Trailblazers Senior Ministry
This ministry is designed to meet the needs of senior citizens with opportunities to socialize and obtain valuable information that affects their lives. Meetings are held every second Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Althea Holmes Center, 300 Ptolemy Street, New Orleans (behind the church) Chairman: Alvin Griffin, 361-8835.

Ascension of Our Lord
LAPLACE

Silver Crusaders
Senior citizens, 55 years and older, meet, socialize and pursue mutual interests and activities. Volunteer opportunities for the church are available. Meetings are held on Wednesday afternoons and field trips scheduled accordingly. Contact: Thelma Kugler, (985) 652-3616.

Divine Mercy
KENNER

•  Divine Mercy Mature Adults (DMMA) is open to all seniors in Divine Mercy Parish. The goals of the group are three: spiritual, financial and social. The group meets the second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Parish Community Center. Members enjoy field trips, a themed dinner fundraiser and participation in parish activities. The meetings are a mixture of information, playing a Bingo-like game and refreshments.
• The Sociable Seniors
  A fun-loving fellowship organization for those 50 years of age and above.   The Sociable Seniors meet on the second and 4th Thursdays of the month at noon.  They enjoy their meeting time, dessert and bingo at each meeting. The Sociable Seniors bring baby items to a baby shower at one of their meetings. These items benefit ACCESS Pregnancy. They also contribute groceries to the St. Anthony Ministry to the Needy at Thanksgiving time. If you are interested in joining, please call Divine Mercy Parish office at 466-5016.

Most Holy Trinity
COVINGTON

Holy Mackerels Club
Seniors gather in friendship, faith and fun. Meetings are held on the first Saturday of the month after the 4 p.m. Mass. Contact: Vernon Sprawls, 615-6970.

Our Lady of Divine Providence
METAIRIE

Silver Wings Senior Group
Seniors, 55 years and older, pray together, share information, help others, go to lunch and local trips and have one major trip a year. Meeting the first Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m. Annual membership dues. Contact: Janice Tassin, 467-3571.

Our Lady of Prompt Succor
CHALMETTE

Golden Agers
Golden Agers play bingo and other games to stay active. Monthly meetings to socialize and keep the mind active. Contact: Sherri Malbrough, 279-7763, or Selena Rodriguez, 309-9555.

Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church
WESTWEGO

Widows and Widowers Group meets every two months at 1 p.m. in Badeaux Hall. Guest speakers when available. Light refreshments served. More info, 341-9522. 

Our Lady of the Lake
MANDEVILLE

Faith and Fun
For the over-50 age group. The objective is to be a community of faith-sharing and fun, to help and care for senior members, and to contribute to the welfare of the parish. Members host crawfish boils, picnics, Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner and other events. Meetings are every other month. Dues are $25 per year. Contact Leon Toups, (985) 624-3868.

People Program, Inc.
NEW ORLEANS/ALGIERS 

Provides creative and intellectual activities for people ages 50 and older. More than 100 classes are offered on the east bank (Lakeshore campus, 2240 Lakeshore Drive) and the West Bank (Holy Spirit Parish, 6201 Stratford Place, Algiers). People Program recognizes the need for creativity, learning, fitness and socialization in a caring environment. This unique community contributes to a sense of well-being and enjoyment for the seniors it serves. Summer classes (June 12-July 17) are held on Tuesdays at the Lakeshore campus only. Summer cost is $40 for one class, $60 for two or more classes. Registration is ongoing at this time for both the summer and fall sessions (August 20-December 7), as space permits. Cost for the fall semester, which is 15 weeks long, is $200 for any number of classes. Call: Jan Martino or Jane Dassey, 284-7678, for questions. Registration downloaded from People Program’s website, www.peopleprogram.org, complete and mail with  check to the Lakeshore location.

St. Agnes
JEFFERSON

Boomers and Beyond
Open to seniors ages 50 and over. Meetings are the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. and include meals in Marquette Activity Center (MAC), next to St. Agnes Church. Outings are planned almost monthly at Louisiana attractions, parks, plays, dinners and cultural events. Annual dues: $10. Parishioners from other churches are welcome. 833-3366.

St. Andrew the Apostle
ALGIERS

SAGES (St. Andrew’s Gregarious Elders)
Parishioners, 50 years and over, meet on the third Monday monthly at 11 a.m. to hear a guest speaker. Entertainment, raffles, door prizes, refreshments included. A SAGES Mass is celebrated on the second Saturday of each month at 4 p.m. Dues are $10 annually. Contact: Karen Niklaus, 392-4994.

St. Angela Merici
METAIRIE

Young at Hearts
Promotes cultural, social and spiritual enrichment for its members. The group volunteers at the parish fair and participates in activities such as the May crowning and collecting food items for the poor. The group meets the first Thursday of the month at noon from September through May. Contact: Carol Gutelius, 833-2070.

St. Anselm
MADISONVILLE

SAGA (St. Anselm Golden Agers) is a social group for those 55+. SAGA enjoys eating out a few times a year and assists the church as needed. SAGA meets the first Wednesday of the month in St. Joseph Hall at 11 a.m. for a covered dish with an occasional speaker. This is a fun group that welcomes new members. For information, please call Iris, (985) 875-2649.

St. Benilde
METAIRIE

Cher Amis
A social group open to people 50 years and older. Meets on the second Tuesday of each month, except during the summer. Hospitality and activities both on- and off-campus are planned throughout the club year. Contact the parish office for more information at 834-4980.

St. Charles Borromeo
DESTREHAN

• Nifty Fifties
  Provides social and spiritual activities for seniors over 50. Annual dues are $10. Monthly meetings are the first Tuesday of the month in the Borromeo Room. Activities include attending Mass as a group, bus trips, luncheons and celebrations of special occasions such as Christmas and Mardi Gras. Contact: Church office, (985) 764-6383.
• SCB Grandparents’ Club
  Grandparents of St. Charles Borromeo School and other caring family members help with fundraising and social activities to benefit the school. Annual dues are $10. Contact: School office, (985) 764-9232.

St. Clement of Rome
METAIRIE

Young Elders
Seniors 50 and older meet the first Wednesday of every month at 2:30 p.m. in the Parish Center. Members enjoy spirituality, socializing, luncheons, refreshments and games at all meetings, and occasional bus trips and speakers. They also enjoy a potluck lunch special once a year. Dues are $10 per year. For further information, please contact Wendy Alciatore Rogers, president, at 835-4177.

St. Dominic
NEW ORLEANS

Lakeview Shepherd Center
St. Dominic supports the Lakeview Shepherd Center with financial donations and other help. Many parishioners participate in weekly activities.

St. Edward the Confessor
METAIRIE

Hilltoppers
Membership is open to all Catholics, 55 or older. There are monthly luncheon meetings and parish and community activities. Contact: Carol Hollier, 885-8692.

St. Francis of Assisi
NEW ORLEANS

Senior Associates
The group addresses the spiritual, social and cultural needs of parishioners ages 55 and older. Members participate in monthly meetings, speakers, day trips, Day at the Races, Oktoberfest and Christmas luncheon. Call Melisa Rey 227-3766 or email [email protected].

St. Francis Xavier
METAIRIE

Seniors Sharing Program
The parish program has approximately 300 members enjoying comprehensive activities including one-day trips, luncheons, social activities and more. The program includes exercise, dance classes, yoga, foreign languages, genealogy, a historical New Orleans lecture series and a book club. Games include barbu, bridge, canasta and Mah-jongg and art activities including watercolor painting and drawing and creative art. Contact: Carol Pritchard, 835-6809.

St. Gabriel the Archangel
NEW ORLEANS

Trumpeteers Bingo
The elders in the parish and community gather every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to play bingo with prizes, fellowship together with a light lunch and socialize, providing an opportunity for seniors to have a place to go and meet people with common interests. Contact: Mrs. Velez White, 282-0296.

St. Genevieve
SLIDELL

Golden Age Club
Meets on the first Monday of the month at 1 p.m. Bingo and snacks are provided during meetings. A monthly bus trip helps raise funds for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Contact: Claire Crawford, (985) 288-0504.

St. Jane de Chantal
ABITA SPRINGS

Widow/Widower Group
Provides an opportunity for those who have lost loved ones to share prayer, spiritual enrichment, encouragement and social activities. There are occasional guest speakers or a visit to local shrines, churches, museums and restaurants. Regular meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m. in the Barre Center Library. Call (985) 892-1439 or Mary S. Francis at (985) 290-9170.

St. Jerome
KENNER

Seniors are active, serving as extraordinary ministers of holy Communion, ushers, ministers to the sick, lectors, altar servers, on the Unity and Hospitality Committee and Altar Society.

St. John the Baptist Church
PARADIS

Ministry of Care
The ministry sponsors the fellowship luncheon/bingo for seniors 65 years or older from St. John the Baptist, Paradis, and St. Gertrude, Des Allemands, monthly, except November and December. Call: Mary Picou, (985) 758-2668.

St. Mary of the Angels
NEW ORLEANS

Young at Heart Bingo
Third Thursday of the month at noon, playing bingo with prizes, lunch, giving seniors a place to go and meet people. Peggy Lee Williams, 416-3071 and Vera Landry, (901) 653-8059.

St. Matthew the Apostle
RIVER RIDGE

Joy Ministry
The JOY (Just Older Youth) Ministry offers monthly activities for those 50 and older: Socials, concerts, museum tours, luncheons, retreats, day trips, games, fitness. Contact: Dianne Varisco, 737-4537.

St. Peter Parish
COVINGTON

• Homebound Ministry
  Elderly parishioners who are homebound and unable to attend Mass are brought Communion by extraordinary ministers of holy Communion. Contact: Anne Ensley, (985) 892-2422.
• Homebound Prayer Warriors
  The parish homebound asked to be committed prayer warriors with a special intention each month, one of which is to pray for the parish’s ill or homebound. Contact: Anne Ensley, (985) 892-2422.
• Eleventh Hour Ministry
  When the coordinator of the ministry is informed of imminent or recent death, calls are made to three (or more) of the prayer ministries who are asked to pray for the dying or recently deceased person. The rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet are the most frequently used forms of prayers. Contact: Kathy Barre, (985) 892-2422.
• NAIM
  The St. Peter Parish NAIM Ministry provides spiritual, emotional and social support to the elderly who have lost their spouse to death. Members meet once a month. Contact: Judith Barrow, 400-7888.
• Bereavement (food)
  Members offer an outreach of care, support to elderly who have lost a loved one by cooking food for bereaved family following the funeral. Contact: Olivia Simoneaux, (985) 892-2422.

Sts. Peter and Paul
PEARL RIVER

• Grand Adults of Sts. Peter and Paul (GASPP)
  Objective and purpose of GASPP provide social and spiritual activities, such as a pot luck, on the first Monday of the month.
• Widows
  Group meets monthly to help support each other in any way that is needed. Meetings are held on the third Friday of the month.

St. Rita Parish
HARAHAN

• Silver Trotters
  A social and service organization for persons 50 and older. The group offers pot lucks, socials and bus trips throughout the year. Meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of the month in the school gym at 7 p.m. Contact church office, 737-2915.
• Grandparents’ Club
  The Grandparents’ Club helps grandparents become involved in the lives of their grandchildren through school functions. The group takes field trips, makes baked goods and assists with the St. Joseph’s Day Altar. Contact church office, 737-2915.