Dioceses and Parishes Reach Out to the Elderly On International Day of Older Persons

Believers Eastern Church dioceses observed International Day of Older Persons on 1 October 2019.

Teams from dioceses visited old age homes and homes of older adults in the community who are often overlooked and forgotten about by society. They honored them with gifts and appreciated them for their contributions and service to society and made them feel valued. They also brought comfort and help to the sick, lonely and homebound by spending time with them and helping them with household chores and providing necessities.

A team from Diocese of Kolkata led by Justin Mor Thomas Episcopa visited an old age home where they held a special program for the inmates and served them food.

Diocese of Anand organized a special program and invited the elderly people of the village to honor and acknowledge them for all they have done for society. At least 50 senior citizens from the village attended this program. They were honored with shawls and bouquets. Following the program, food was served to all.

A women’s fellowship team from Diocese of Jeypore visited the houses of the elderly and helped them in household chores. They gave bath to old women and gifted sarees and clothes.

A team from Diocese of Birtamod visited the elderly and spent quality time with them and gifted them with jacket, shawl and dietary supplements. They also cleaned the house of a 90 year old woman.

A team of students and staff of Believers Eastern Church Theological Seminary in Diocese of Niranam visited an old age home and brought joy to the inmates through songs, skits and other programs. They sponsored one time meal for the inmates. Another team from the seminary visited a palliative care unit at Believers Church Medial College Hospital and prayed for the elderly people who are undergoing treatment.

Diocese of Gurdaspur visited an old age home where they held a special program to honor the residents of the home and gifted blankets to 27 persons there.

Two parishes from Diocese of Sikkim visited the houses of elderly and presented them traditional shawl, gifts and food items. They also visited a sick person in the hospital and prayed for him.

A team from Diocese of Lucknow visited an old age home where they served food to 150 people. Local parishes also took initiative to provide food, clothes and mosquito nets to old aged people in need.

A Women’s Fellowship team provided fruits to the elderly in Surguja Diocese and in Diocese of Berhampur towels were distributed to old aged people and in Diocese of Raipur the elderly members of local parishes were honored with shawls, flowers and small gifts.

This year International Day of Older Persons was celebrated under the theme “The Journey to Age Equality”. It highlights the importance of age equality and stresses the need to eliminate age discrimination.