“Parishes as Communities of the Beatitudes” discussion groups in Louisiana assisted living center, Kirksville nursing home

The Beatitudes are about finding God’s love in lifting people up.”

Sandy Orf, small-group coordinator for St. Joseph Parish, Louisiana

Some who were raised to observe the Ten Commandments as the yardstick for discipleship are discovering The Beatitudes in several communities for seniors in the diocese.

With facilitators from their parishes, several residents of Lynn’s Heritage House Assisted Living in Louisiana and The Pines in Kirksville are participating in the “Parishes as Communities of the Beatitudes” small group faith sharing experience.

In the process, they’re helping their parishes update their parish pastoral plans in light of the deanery pastoral plans that were approved earlier this year.

“I think I’m learning more than they are. It’s really been a gift,” said Sister Ruth Ann Klauser SSND, who facilitates a faith sharing group at The Pines and two other groups at her home while serving in retirement at Mary Immaculate Parish in Kirksville.

The Beatitudes, an integral part of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, include a litany of blessings: Blessed are the poor in spirit ... those who mourn ... those who are meek ... those who hunger and thirst for righteousness ... those who are merciful ... those who are clean of heart ... the peacemakers ... those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness ... and those who endure insults falsely because of Jesus.

Earlier this year, Bishop W. Shawn McKnight made the Beatitudes the basis for the diocese’s new, three-year pastoral plan and the concurrent pastoral plans for the diocese’s five geographical groupings of parishes, known as deaneries.

He promulgated the new pastoral plans this spring in a pastoral letter titled, “Shaping Our Future Together: Parishes On Mission Together as Communities of the Beatitudes.”

“Parishes as Communities of the Beatitudes” was developed to help parishioners discern in a prayerful and supportive setting, ways for their parishes to cooperate more effectively with neighboring parishes in promoting stewardship, co-responsibility among the clergy and laity, and parishes being universally recognized as centers of charity and sanctuaries of mercy.

“Parishes helping parishes and helping communities,” said Sandy Orf, small-group coordinator for St. Joseph Parish in Louisiana.

She facilitates a faith sharing group composed of two members of St. Clement Parish in St. Clement who are residents of Lynn’s Heritage House Assisted Living in Louisiana.

“They really enjoy it,” said Ms. Orf. “The Beatitudes are about finding God’s love in lifting people up.”

Ms. Orf got the idea to start a faith sharing group at Lynn’s Heritage from Joe and Karen Shuckenbrock, two fellow parishioners who take Holy Communion to Catholics in local senior communities and nursing homes.

The couple suggested that the two parishioners at Lynn’s Heritage might enjoy having their own “Parishes as Communities of the Beatitudes” discussions in order to grow in faith and help their parishes.

Ms. Orf and the Shuckenbrocks agreed to help facilitate the program there.

“There’s a nice family dining room, and that’s where we meet,” said Ms. Orf. “We spend about an hour talking and listening.”

Fellow parishioners Edith Gatzmeyer and Lynda Clair help facilitate the faith sharing, offering insights and contributing to the conversations.

Much of the discussion focuses on the Beatitudes themselves.

“I was looking at the word Beatitudes when we started this,” said Ms. Orf. “And it got me thinking: If we want to BE good Christians, we have to have the right ATTITUDES.”

Participants talk about ways to help their whole Lynn’s Heritage community reflect the Beatitudes more effectively.

“Even if you can’t get to church, you can work with the Beatitudes with the staff and fellow residents and be kind to others and help others,” Ms. Orf noted.

“Their response to that has been excellent,” she said. “They say, ‘that works.’ So, for this little group in this little town, it’s working. We do what we can for whom we can, for what we can.”

Ms. Orf enjoys “seeing the wheels turn” as the man and the woman in her discussion group talk about ways to make the Beatitudes real, right where they live.

It also helps them stay connected with their community of faith.

“The interaction and having the people there know that they’re part of the parish — that’s rewarding to see,” said Ms. Orf.

Emphasis on compassion

One of the participants at The Pines in Kirksville told Sr. Ruth Ann: “We grew up learning to obey the Commandments, which is ‘thou shalln’t.’ This is more of a positive way of looking at things.”

The oldest member of one of the faith-sharing groups there is 95. The youngest is 90.

The 95-year-old used to serve as a deanery representative to the Diocesan Pastoral Council.

“She’s comes alive sharing what she’s experienced with the Beatitudes,” said Sr. Ruth Ann.

“She says, ‘I might not have them all memorized, but I know what it’s like to live in compassion with each other,’” Sr. Ruth Ann stated.

She usually brings them Holy Communion and gives it to them before their faith sharing begins.

Then, she begins with a prayer, and the group members spend time praying together.

Sr. Ruth Ann reads the Beatitudes aloud, and the group members discuss which are easiest for them to put into action, and which are the most difficult.

Participants say they’re life-long learners and that “this is a great way for us to keep our religion and our faith formation going.”

Discussions often turn to compassion.

“They live this compassion with the companions they have at the nursing home and the people who care for them,” said Sr. Ruth Ann.

One participant told her: “God loves us, and he sent his Son to die for us. So, it’s very important for us to try to live out each day what those Beatitudes are telling us.”

Group members are concerned for the past and present pastors of their parishes and pray for them every day.

They say, “We didn’t know what co-responsibility was when we were active in our parishes,” but they feel like when they pray, they are being co-responsible.

They’re also very concerned for the young people in their parishes and want to give a good example in their life.

Overall, Sr. Ruth Ann is amazed and gratified at the impact these discussions are having on the participants at The Pines.

“Just listening to them and watching them has been a real gift for me,” she said. “They say, ‘We’ll keep studying. Because we don’t want to stop forming our life with Jesus. We want to develop that more. And this is helping us.’”

Finding true happiness

Sr. Ruth Ann hosted faith sharing groups at her home this year, but then she thought: “What about the people who can’t get out anymore?”

She called The Pines to gauge interest in starting one or more groups there.

“The enthusiasm that it brought! I knew we had to do it!” she said.

One of the participants told her: “These Beatitudes are really true happiness, and that’s what God wants us to be at our age: truly happy.”

Each group member exudes humility and willingness to help their fellow residents and pray for their families and the people of their parishes.

“And they want to continue to grow in their relationship with God,” said Sr. Ruth Ann. “They live the Church in the nursing home.”

“It’s been a wonderful Advent experience,” she stated. “The coming, the waiting.”

Members of her group tell her, “We have to wait while God is calling us. But while we wait for that, we need to get better, to get holier.”

All of this has helped convince her of the importance of ongoing faith formation opportunities for people of every age, and the fact that many people have a lifetime’s worth of wisdom and experience to share.

“So, you listen,” she said. “That’s one of the main things. And understand where they were in their life, and where they are today, and the acceptance that comes with that.

“It’s enlightening and truly inspiring,” she said.