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 CONTENTS

2 WatchfortheWarning SignsofCOPD

3 St.Joseph’sAltars

4 St.Patrick’sDay Celebrations

5 Congratulations

ThankYou!

MassfortheElderly, InfirmandThoseWho ServeThem

6 AprilRecipe

St.BernadetteSoubirous

7 AprilEvents

8 FromtheDeacon’sDesk

April 2018

COPD(chronicobstructivepulmonarydisease)makesithardtobreathe.Whenyoubreatheinair,ittravelsdownyourwindpipeintotubesthatcarrytheairtoyourlungs.Thesetubesbranchoutintosmallertubesthatendintinyairsacs.Oxygenintheairyoubreatheisabsorbedintothebloodthroughtheseairsacs.WhenyouhaveCOPD,thelungsdon’tworkaswellastheyshouldbecausethey’redamagedinsomeway. COPDreferstoagroupoflungconditions.Thetwomostcommonarechronicbronchitisandemphysema.MostpeoplewithCOPDhavebothconditions,andmanywhoareatriskignorethewarningsigns.That’swhyit’simportanttotakenoticeofanyCOPDsymptomsyoumighthave.Theseinclude:

•Chroniccough

•Smoker’scoughwhenwakingup

•Expellingmucuswhencoughing

•Shortnessofbreaththatgetsworsewithactivity

•Wheezing(whistlingorsqueakingwhenbreathing)

•Chesttightness

•Fatigue

•Frequentcoldsorflu

•Lunginfections(morethanoneperyear)

Ifyouhavethesesymptoms—especiallyshortnessofbreath—seeyourdoctorrightaway.There’snocureforCOPD,butfindingitearlycanhelpyouslowitdownandmanageit.Workwithyourdoctoronatreatmentplantoeaseyoursymptoms,helpyoustayactiveandimproveyouroverallhealth.

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Healthhabitsbroughttoyouby

WATCH FOR THE WARNING SIGNS OF COPD

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ST. JOSEPH’S ALTARSROUQUETTELODGEALTAR

OnMarch9th,RouquetteLodgehostedaSt.Joseph’saltar.Thealtarwaswellattendedasmanyofthestaffandresidentsturnedout.

METAIRIEMANORALTAR

ThousandsofcookiesandbreadssharedanaltarwithstatueshonoringtheBlessedFamily.TheMetairieManorresidentguildspentmonthsplanningthealtarthatopenedtothepubliconMarch14th. Thealtarwasplacedinthelargediningroomatthefacility.Itservedasameetingplaceforsomeoftheresidentstocometogethertotalkabouttraditions,manymentioningseveralsuperstitionsthatcomewiththeSt.Joseph’sAltar. MetairieManorguildpresident,JaniceNicholas,saysthatittooktheresidentsmorethanaweektobakethe3,000cookiesthatlinedthealtar.Thebreadsthatwerecreativelyshapedwerepurchasedfromalocalbakery.Theycameinmanyshapes,likethatofanalligator,asawandevenaladderamongotherthings.ThosebreadsweremeanttorepresentLouisianaandthehistoryofSt.Joseph,thefosterfatherofJesus,whospenthislifeasacarpenter. Therewerefancycakesthatwerealsobakedbytheresidentsordonated.MetairieManorresidentandguildtreasurer,FrancesMunaco,saysthebestpartofthealtarisastatueoftheBlessedMother.Shesaysthatthestatueisdonatedtothealtareveryyearbyaresident. Mrs.Francessaysthatwhileshe’snotofItaliandescent,shemarriedintoanItalianfamily.FrancessaysthattheyholdthetraditionoftheSt.Joseph’saltarsacred. TheMetairieManorguildsaystheyhopetoexpandthealtarnextyearandinviteadditionalChristopherHomessitestoattend.

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OnMarch12th,VillaSt.MauricecelebratedthepatronsaintofIrelandwithahostofgreentreats.Theresidentsweretreatedtogreencookiesandpunch.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATIONS

ROUQUETTELODGECELEBRATESST.PATRICK’SDAYWITHAPARADE

SunshinewasabundantastheresidentsandstaffatRouquetteLodgetookpartintheirannualSt.Patrick’sparade.Aboutadozenresidentswerelinedupatjustbefore1p.m.onMarch15thtocelebratetheoccasion. Theywerereadytothrowbeadsandgiveawayfestivefoodslikecabbage,carrotsandpotatoes. LizDoran,oneofthecommunitymanagersatRouquette,saysthisisoneofthemostpopulareventsatthefacility.Shesaysithasbeengoingstrongforabout10years. Abagpiperledthewayfortheparadewhichfeaturedsomefestive“floats”madebytheresidentsthemselves. Manyresidentscameoutoftheirhomestoseetheparadeandmakesuretheygotsomeofthetastythrows. IntrueLouisianafashion,thebagpiperevenentertainedthecrowdtothetune“WhentheSaintsGoMarchingIn”.

WYNHOVEN-ST.PATRICK’SHAPPYHOUR

ThestaffatWynhoveninMarreroturnedamonthlyeventintoareasontocelebrateSt.Patrick’sday.DeniseBatiste,theactivitycoordinatoratWynhoven,puttogethertheevent.Itcamecompletewithmusicaswellassnacksanddrinks(non-alcoholicofcourse).Residentscouldpickfromredorwhitesparklingjuiceasanumberofdifferentmixers.Morethanadozenpeopleshowedupfortheevent.

PLACEDUBOURG-ST.PATRICK’SDAYSCAVENGERHUNT

OnMarch14thPlaceDuBourgResidentsteameduptoparticipateinascavengerhunt.Theysearchedforitemslocatedonatreasuremap.Thehuntconsistedoffiveteamsoftwo.ThetwowinnerswereEnolaMorvantandJoycelynThomas.TheresidentsalsocompetedinSt.Patrick’sdaytrivia.

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NEWS

MASSFORTHEELDERLYANDTHEINFIRMEDANDTHOSEWHOSERVETHEM

ArchbishopGregoryAymondpresidedoveramasssponsoredin-partbyChristopherHomesatSt.LouisCathedral.TheMasswasheldonMarch11that11a.m.andwaswellattended.ChristopherHomesprovidedbusserviceforthoseresidentswhowishedtoattendthemass.

THANKYOU! WewanttothankpropertyaccountantAndreaLoganforher10-plusyearsofserviceandemploymentatChristopherHomes.AndreastartedatChristopherHomesinNovember2007aftergraduatingfromLoyolaUniversity.SherecentlyearnedherMBAandwasmarried.AndreahasbeenadedicatedandconscientiousemployeeatCHI.MostrecentlyshewasthepropertyaccountantforAnnunciationInn,ChristopherInn,MaterDolorosa,PlaceDuBourg,VillaSt.MauriceandWynhovenI.AndreawillbemissedbyhercolleagueshereatChristopherHomes,butwewishherthebestinherfutureendeavors.

CONGRATULATIONS!! PleasecongratulateDebraStepterforherappointmenttotheLeadingAgeGulfStatesBoardofDirectors.Thisorganizationrepresentsprovidersthatfocusontheissuesandchallengesfacinglong-termcareprofessionalsandthepopulationstheyserve.TheyworkforuslocallyandinWashingtonDCthroughadvocacy,grassrootsaction,coalitionworkandwithpartnershipswithournationalaffiliateLeadingAge.DebrabringsexpertiseintheHUDhousingindustryandhasbeenanemployeeofChristopherHomessince2010andiscurrentlyworkingasacontractadministrator.DebrahasassistedinplanningtheHUDsessionsfortheannualconferenceeachyear. Debrawaspartofthe2017LeadershipAcademyFellowsandisnowaLeadershipAcademyAlumni. ThefellowshipwasalargetimecommitmentasDebrametthroughouttheyeartoexplorediverseperspectivesfromagingservicesleaders,learnfrominnovativecareandservicemodels,enhanceleadershipskillsandcorecompetenciesandadvanceperson-centeredprogramminginagingservices.

“You are never too old to set another goalor to dream a new dream.”

– C.S. Lewis

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SaintBernadetteSoubirousJanuary7th,1844-April16,1879

FeastDayApril16th

OSaintBernadette,who,asameekandpurechild,dideighteentimesatLourdescontemplatethebeautyoftheImmaculateMotherofGodandreceivedhermessages,andwhoafterwardswishedtohideyourselffromtheworldintheconventofNevers,andtoofferthyselfthereasavictimfortheconversionofsinners,obtainforusthegraceofpurity,simplicityandmortificationthatwealsomayattaintothevisionofGodandofMaryinHeaven.Amen.

SAINT BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS

RECIPE It’sfestivalseasonandthatmeansthatpeoplewillbelookingforgoodmusic…andgoodfood.Oneofthemostpopularfestivaldishesis“CrawfishMonica”..acreamycrawfishsauceservedoverpasta.

CRAWFISH MONICAINGREDIENTS:

1poundrotinipasta

1stickbutter

1cupchoppedyellowonions

2clovesmincedgarlic

1bunchfreshparsley,chopped

2teaspoonsCajun/creoleseasoning(IlikeTonyChachere’s)

2cupsheavycream

1poundcrawfishtails

1bunchgreenonions,chopped

1cupgratedparmesancheese

FrenchBread

DIRECTIONS: Cookpastaaccordingtopackagedirections;drainthoroughlymeltbutterinlargepotandsauteonions,garlicandparsleyuntilonionsturntranslucent.Addcrawfishandsauteforabout3minutes.Addheavycreamandseasoning.Tastetomakesureit’sseasonedenough.Cookfor5-10minutesovermediumheatuntilsaucethickens.Addpastatosauceandtosswell.Addgreenonionsandparmesancheese.ServewithFrenchbread

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APRIL EVENTS

NewOrleansCouncilonAging

19thAnnualSeniorFestFriday,April20,9:00AM-1:30PM

Location:UNOLakefrontArena

ChristopherHomesisasponsorofthe19thannualSeniorFestEvent&Expo

2018NewOrleansJazz&HeritageFestival

April27-29thMay3-6th

FairGrounds

FrenchQuarterFestival

April12-15thFREE

11a.m.–8p.m.daily

TricentennialInterfaithPrayerService

St.LouisCathedralTuesday,April17,2018at7p.m.

TheservicewillbeanopportunityofvariousfaithsofNewOrleanstocometogetherinthankfulnessandunity.

St.TammanyCouncilonAging

SeniorPromFriday,April27th,6p.m.–8p.m.

Cost:$5,includesadmission,beveragesandsnacks

ChristopherHomesisasponsor

FROM THE DEACON’S DESK

DearResidentsandStaff,

“theireyeswereopenedandtheyrecognizedhim.”Luke24:35

OurGospelreadingforEasterSundayeveningistakenfromSt.Luke’s

recordingoftwodiscipleswalkingtowardEmmaus,avillagesevenmilesdistantfrom

Jerusalem,followingourLord’spassion,death,andburial.TheydonotunderstandthatChrist

wastorisefromthedeadandtheyaresufferingfromdespairanddisillusionmentoverthe

eventsofthepastthreedays.ThediscipleshadbelievedthattheLordwasthelongpromised

Messiahbutnowitseemsthattheyhavewitnessedthetotalfailureofhismission.

AstheywalkalongJesusappearsbut“theireyeswerepreventedfromrecognizinghim.”

WhenJesusasksofwhattheyarediscussing,theyrelatewhathadtranspiredinJerusalem

duringPassover.“ThenbeginningwithMosesandalltheprophets,heinterpretedtothem

whatreferredtohiminalltheScriptures.”Laterastheyapproachedthevillagetheyurged

himtoremainwiththem.Duringtheirmeal“theyrecognizedhiminthebreakingofthe

bread.”Thetwodisciplesrejoicedandsaidtoeachother,“Werenotourheartsburningwithin

uswhilehespoketousonthewayandopenedtheScripturestous?”Inthecourseofan

afternoon,thedisciples’moodchangesfromsadnesstojoy;theirhopereturnsandtheyare

compelledtosharetheirjoywithothers.

Whereareweonour“roadtoEmmaus?”AreweabletorecognizeJesusinourdailylife?

DoweregularlyspendtimewithourLordinthescripturessuchthatweunderstandhowthe

NewTestamentisconcealedintheOldandtheOldTestamentisrevealedintheNew?Dowe

desiretoshareChristwitheveryoneweencounter?Howdeepisourrelationshipwithour

Lord?

Ourresponsetothesequestionscanrevealwhereweareonour“roadtoEmmaus.”This

Gospelismeanttobeanimageofeachofourfaithjourneys.ItshowsChrist’szealforour

soul;hisdesiretotoucheachofuswithhislovingmercy.Thestorybeginsontheroadwith

thetwodisciplessearchingtounderstandthepastthreeyearsoftravelingwithourLord

andendswiththeirfindingfulfillmentintheirfaiththroughbeliefinhispassion,death,and

resurrection.WetoocanreachthatfulfillmentoffaithifwestrivetounderstandourLord’s

teachings,reachouttoaccepthiscalltoeachofus,andthenshareourfaithwithothers.On

theRoadtoEmmaus,Jesussearchedouthisdisciples;hecontinuallysearchesouteachofus,

callingustohimselfthroughtheScripturesandtheSacraments.

“Heisrisen”(Mt.28:6)Heisrisen,indeed!

WithGod’sBlessings,

DeaconDennisF.Adams

ExecutiveDirector,ChristopherHomes