‘Called To Be Old’

People gathered at Wheeler Hall in Leeds this Autumn from all over our Diocese to reflect on older people’s gifts to the Church and to society.

Community Theologian and best-selling author Ann Morisy led the morning session.  Ann’s keynote address included space for discussion and we were invited to consider how we resist a habitual undervaluing of older people and negative attitudes to old age, especially given that current and future ‘third agers’ may have to withstand this subtle undervaluing for 30 years.  We are living so much longer than previous generations and are therefore older for longer.  Ann also invited everyone to discuss the role of Church in keeping us cheerful in later life, highlighting a study by the LSE of 10,000 people over 50 that showed a link between religious observance and feeling happier.  Ann’s slides can be downloaded here Leeds Oct 2015 for website

 

After Mass, celebrated in the Cathedral by Bishop Marcus, and lunch provided by the SVP’s Catering Services, we heard personal testimonies about how life changed after retirement from paid work.

 

 

All the speakers on our panel shared with us how they had found a new, and sometimes surprising, vocation in later life and many were very generous in bearing witness to both the joys and the sorrows that had led them to their new calling and the hope they had found within this.

 

 

Sr Marion Charley and Canon Bob Shaw both shared their memories of Sr Vivien Bowman, who died in 2013.  Sr Vivien, a religious sister from the South Leeds community of the (international) Society of the Sacred Heart, was a key contributor to the ecumenical report ‘Called To Be Old’ produced in Leeds more than 20 years ago.  In this report, Sr Vivien expressed how “giving up a worthwhile job has been more positive than negative. I experience a new freedom to explore unknown paths, to meet new people, and I am not restricted by a 9-5 routine.”

The response from all those attending was very positive, with a number of people commenting that the event had inspired and encouraged them, offering new challenging insights into the ageing process.  Quite a few of the attendees suggested there is a need to help people discern their personal vocation in later life and that Growing Old Grace-fully might be able to support people in fulfilment of this need.  Watch this space!

 

If you would like Rachel to come and talk to a Parish Group about the work of Growing Old Grace-fully, call 07702 255142, email: growing.old.gracefully@dioceseofleeds.org.uk  .

Rachel, as an Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Champion, can also offer short Dementia Friends Information Sessions to help your church in welcoming those living with dementia and their carers.