Club 55+ is organizing a new initiative in the parish - Neighbours Helping Neighbours, a seniors' ministry. The program begins with a series of training sessions. The series gives participants an opportunity to grow skills they may be practicing now or believe will soon be needed in the near future with aging family, friends and neighbours
Club 55+ ’s stated goal is to meet Holy Cross Parish seniors’ life necessities including spiritual, health, and social supports, all provided within a mutual helping, entertaining and companionship environment. While the focus is on the members of Holy Cross parish, it is also considered imperative that the Club reach out as well to our neighbours who are non-parishioners.
The objectives of this Seniors’ group are to provide a better quality of life by offering opportunities for seniors to be more social, active, embrace volunteering and enhance their learning. These members benefit directly from networking, learning and engaging in related programs and services. The planned activities address the issues that seniors meet day-today in their twilight years. The Club’s Planning Team consists totally of volunteers who give generously of their time, effort and skills.
The Club members meet twice a month, from September through June. An invitation is extended to attend the 12:15 mass prior to the 1:00 PM start in the parish hall where members enjoy a nutritious lunch and participate in social conversations, card games including bridge, etc.
During the summer months, less formal gatherings happen where the Club members meet following mass at the Joy Garden patio and members bring along snack items to share.
Club 55+ membership is free, and the Club remains financially self-sustaining as all expenses incurred for lunches and outings are funded by the members themselves. The Club members look forward to and participate in outings that include trips and plays at the Upper Canada Playhouse and lunch at the Stone Crop Acres winery. Other fun outings have included Tea on the Lawn at Billings Bridge Estate, an adventure to the Diefenbunker in Carp, lunch and a tour at the Saint Albert Cheese Factory, an educational tour of the Aviation Museum, etc.
Club members enjoy in-house activities as well including the Christmas party celebration where Anne Hurley and Jim Vetito lead sing a-longs and features lunch and many home-baked goodies. Other activities include the February Special Olympics, guest speakers sharing their adventures to places around the world, and recently the CarFit program, etc.
The Club is active in supporting parish events and fund-raising initiatives. These include Parish Feast Day, Christmas Craft and Bake sale, and many other shared activities too numerous to list.
We extend an invitation to all who are interested in learning more about our Great Club.