Could you hold a conversation in your parish and wider community on reaching out to older people who might welcome some help to join social activities?
Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) has produced a free online resource, called Reaching Out. This toolkit illustrates some ways parish groups can connect with older people through group activities that are right for them. You can use it to start a conversation in your parish, and refer to it as you develop activities. CSAN, Caritas Salford, Catholic Care (Diocese of Leeds) and Father Hudson’s Care have jointly developed this resource, aimed mainly for Catholic parishes in England and Wales. Reaching Out is available to download from CSAN’s website
During Lent, in association with The Catholic Times, Caritas Social Action Network will be publishing a series of blogs on an ageing society from their member organisations. The first, from the Medaille Trust, can be found at this link.
You may wish to read a recent reflection from Pope Francis. This was given at the First International Congress on the Pastoral Care of the Elderly in Rome, organised by the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, and attended by representatives from England and Wales.
