There are many changes in our lives that we can attribute to our time of pandemic lockdown. That may not be the only thing that brought about the changes, but it is one that can go unnoticed much too easily.  That change would be the amount of loneliness that exists in our community; if we do not see it, we just don't know it is there.

I became aware shortly before the pandemic.  My mom was in her nineties and needed a caregiver to help with ordinary things. I would visit once a week and take her to the grocery store. While there, several people would greet my mom and remark about how wonderful she looked and how they had not seen her in a long while. I thought to myself, "You could stop in for a 5-minute visit".

And then I realized working parents, often with more than one job and all that involved could very well prohibit even a brief drop in visit. I lived more than an hour away from her, so I was only able to make the once-a-week visit. So, mom's crossword puzzles, Hallmark channel, and a couple of hours with an in-home caregiver were the extent of her life.  This was for a woman who had been so very active in her community. 

Sound familiar?

Recently, I became aware of a wonderful way to address this quiet and sad issue.  It was devised originally for family members with dementia.  It was called the Memory Cafe, a monthly gathering of volunteers, and folks who were generally home-bound, plus their caregivers. At the gathering, held in a place resembling our Legacy Hall, there were light snacks, some board games, and always some form of music.

We, here at St. Catherine of Siena, have the space and the community involvement available to start our own Cafe.  We would like to be able to offer this service by the beginning of Advent.  Hopefully, if it catches on, it can continue and grow, perhaps to other communities.

A simple idea, a small volunteer commitment.  Once per month, Saturday morning 10 am. till noon. Something to eat, some music playing, and most importantly, people to talk with--a true "cafe". 

Please let us know of folks who would benefit from this offer.  They do not have to belong to this parish community, they just need some outside companionship.  Fill out the form below or call St. Catherine's office (585-624-4990) to express interest.