Dear Young at Heart Friends and Family;
Below is a letter Fr. Christopher of St. Alphonsus Parish has posted in this weekend’s Parish Bulletin. St. Alphonsus has decided to terminate the contract with the Kent County Senior Millage, and discontinue the yearly stipend, which funded the Director Position of the Young at Heart as well as the Cooking Classes. Fr. Christopher has opted to use the money YAH has raised over the past 10 years to continue services for Seniors at St. Alphonsus. At this time, Fr. Christopher will be using his Parish staff as well as volunteers to support this ministry. Fr. Christopher and his staff will need time to figure out exactly what this will look like.
In the meantime, A committee and I will work with Creston/Belknap Community Leaders to launch a new Spirit-led Senior program for the ‘young at heart.’ We are excited by the level of support YAH has received over the past 10 years from participants and the wider community. It is not our intention that these two programs compete against each other – it is our goal that they are complementary and can work together to serve the Seniors in our respective Communities. Likewise, we ask for your patience as we work through the details this summer. We look forward to continuing to serve you.
Programming for the Young at Heart for May and June will continue as normal. On Monday, June 24th we will hold a Closing Event celebrating all the volunteers and participants who made YAH such an amazing program.
Stay tuned, we will keep you informed on a weekly basis as these changes progress.
Respectfully, and in God’s Peace,
Virginia Scholten
Director, Young at Heart Senior Enrichment Program
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To Our St. Alphonsus Community,
I wish to inform you of a programming change beginning on July 1. Due to changes in grant funding, St. Alphonsus is no longer able to financially support the Director role for Young at Heart Enrichment Program held by Virginia Scholten. For almost 10 years, Virginia has done an incredible job of creating, growing, and promoting a successful senior ministry. Our deepest gratitude for the work and passion she has given Young at Heart this past decade.
While this news is very sad for our parish and the wider community, I have made it a priority to continue senior programming to the best of our ability on a parish level, relying upon St. Alphonsus staff and volunteers for the planning and coordination. I ask that current participants and volunteers continue to support senior programming, as you play a big role in making this program so special. During the next two months, we will be devising a plan to make this transition as seamless as possible and I look forward to the good work we will accomplish together. Rest assured, many activities and social events will continue to be part of the senior programming, along with a deeper focus on faith-based programming and spiritual enrichment. I ask that everyone be open minded, creative, and prayerful during this time of transition. Please know of my dedication to the seniors of this parish as we move into the next phase of senior programming/ministry at St. Alphonsus. I care about you and know that change can be difficult. Let’s have grace with one another as we work to continue a great program at our parish.
Let us also be grateful to Virginia for her many years of service and dedication to senior programming. Please extend your thanks when you see her. We will be planning an event to honor her before her departure and I hope you can attend and celebrate with us.
Additionally, I will be available to meet with everyone on Monday, May 6 at 1:30 as a time to share any suggestions or concerns. I am hopeful that as many as possible can attend.
Please pray for our senior ministry, staff, and for me as we begin this work together,
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Christopher