Last Thursday, the Young Vinnies group went on their long-awaited visit to Palms Lifecare and Village, a rest home in Pukekohe. Throughout the term, students have been learning about the challenges elderly face, such as loneliness, as well as the blessings they can offer, especially to our next generation.
The students have learned how to interact with the elderly, being mindful of things like loss of hearing and dementia.
When we arrived, Annabelle, one of the leaders, introduced the group and our new school. We then sang songs (Ka Waiata and Let it Be) that we had been practising throughout the term. Mr Ruegg generously accompanied us on guitar. It was touching to see the residents join us in singing Let it Be, obviously knowing the lyrics. Also, given it was Māori Language Week, they enjoyed Ka Waiata and at the end of our visit, they sang their own waiata they had been practising: Pokarekare Ana. This was a lovely moment of reciprocity!
Next, students got into small groups and attempted to engage with the residents. This required courage, but the students did excellently! A couple of the residents didn’t want to engage, which they found awkward, but they learned to respect that the residents were at different stages. Many of the residents were so happy to engage with the students, giving words of advice and listening intently to the students describe our school.
We then gave gifts to the residents. Students from the Art Club and Arts n Crafts Club made saint portraits and laminated cards with Bible verses and messages of encouragement. Young Vinnies students read the blurbs on the back of the saint portraits, which was a lovely chance for us to share our Catholic faith with them. The residents were so touched that they got to keep the art, thinking the students were just showing it to them. The residents thought our school was very talented!
We finished with Ignatious, our other leader, delivering a short farewell and message of thanks. Mr Ruegg then suggested we could end with an Our Father, which was a lovely idea. I first explained to the residents the emphasis we put on prayer at our college, praying at the start of every lesson and doing the midday Examen. There were many residents nodding in approval and they joined in with us when saying the Our Father.
Below are some reflections on the visit by our Young Vinnies students:
'My experience at the rest home was really heartwarming. During that time I had the chance to connect with several residents of Palm Aged life care who expressed genuine interest in our school and shared how much they appreciated the company. One particularly kind lady named Anne stood out to me. As we chatted she told me how much she loved the songs we performed—“Ka Waiata” and “Let It Be”. Many more of the residents expressed how what we were doing as a group was amazing and I know that the staff were appreciative too. During my conversation with Anne, I asked her about her life, and she shared some invaluable lessons about values and what it means to be the best version of yourself. She expressed interest in current affairs and her wisdom and kindness left a lasting impression on me. Visiting the home was eye opening and I think the residents truly enjoyed having some company - even if it was for just an hour or so. I am proud of the kindness that Young Vinnies showed and can't wait to return and continue to grow the connections with our wider community.'
Annabelle Shields
'Recently we had the opportunity to go to a rest home in Pukekohe. There we got to meet some welcoming elderly people and get the chance to tell them about our brand new school. When we first got there, we sang a waiata and the song Let it Be. It was so heartwarming, seeing the people in the rest home joining in with us. Afterwards, we all went into small groups to speak to some elderly. My group mainly talked to one woman, who touched our hearts. Margaret, but we call her Maggie, told us how to live our life to the fullest and how to enjoy what we have today. She told us all about her life and what she does at the rest home. At first, I thought it would’ve been hard to make conversations and connect with the elderly there, but as soon as I started speaking with Maggie, we just clicked. I realised I found God in Maggie and in everyone else. We shared saint portraits and artwork done by the students at Saint Ignatius, which brought smiles to each and every one of their faces. I am very grateful to have been given an opportunity to be there and connect with so many others!'
Simone Paterson
'Visiting the rest home was a truly heartwarming experience. Spending time with the residents made me realize how fortunate we are to have people around us regularly. I could feel the sense of isolation there and understand just how lonely the elderly can become. I enjoyed listening to their stories, sharing paintings, and simply being present with them. What touched me most was when one lady mentioned how she had seen others, who usually kept to themselves, open up and enjoy our presence. The trip deepened my empathy and gratitude. I'm so grateful for this experience and hope to visit the rest home again soon.'
Olivia Fitzpatrick
'I loved going to the rest home. It was fun knowing their stories, like what it was like at school for them and their hobbies. One particular male resident called Ken told me to strive for the best in school, aiming high in many ways. I’ve realised from my visit that people hold stories and you won’t know them, unless you talk to them.'
Reuben Fa'afiu
