sponsored by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Archbishop Cousins Catholic Center, St. Francis WI
September 20, 2002

A very warm welcome to all of you wonderful seniors, caregivers, parish leaders, religious, my brother priests, deacons, parish directors - welcome one and all.

Mother Teresa was asked why she seemed especially to love babies, the sick, and the elderly: "Babies, because they're fresh from God; the sick, because they're with Jesus on the cross; the elderly, because they'll be back with God pretty soon!"

So does the Church see our seniors as close to God; they are not problems to be solved, but gifts to the Church; they are fonts of wisdom, holiness, and love.

That's why the Church loves and cherishes our elderly; that's why every parish and program in this Archdiocese loves and cherishes our seniors; that's why you are all here today.

Yesterday I called a 99-year-old woman to thank her for a very generous gift she had given the Archdiocese. She has no family. The only person to visit her, she tells me gratefully, is another woman from her parish who weekly brings her Holy Communion, prays with her, visits with her, and then calls her daily to check on her.

How many there are who look to the Church for company, companion – Christ. You all are so. Thank you!