SAGE Ministry

We’re Sisters of Charity of Halifax, working with older parishioners at Our Lady of Lourdes, West Islip. Father Mike Vetrano asked us to develop a program, as the result of a questionnaire where older parishioners had requested that more attention be devoted to their pastoral needs. The result is the SAGE Group (Senior Advocates for Growth and Enrichment), formed in 2003. There are fifty-one members, about forty of whom attend our meetings every other Tuesday. Our basis for discussion is the book, A Gospel for the Mature Years, by Harold Koenig. We gather in what we call our “sacred circle” where we emphasize that what is shared there stays there. As we consider the book’s topics, SAGEs think about the text, reflect on its meaning and relate it to their own faith lives. We pray and learn, we share and discuss together in order to grow “in wisdom, age and grace.” Many of the members had not been in a venue like this before and so were not at ease in expressing ideas, opinions and their faith. SAGE helps them to become more comfortable in articulating their thoughts in the group.

As leaders, we have seen SAGEs grow in their faith over the past eight years. They have learned from one another in many ways. As one member said: “Where was the SAGE Group when we were young parents?!” The wisdom they have gleaned throughout their lives now overflows to and supports the members of the group, enriching them during these later years.

The SAGE Group does not have officers, elections or dues as it is not a ‘club,’ but they have a free-will offering at each meeting. Through this, they built a home in El Salvador and they adopted a Salvadoran elder for this year, thus focusing on issues beyond the group.  

As moderators, we have been inspired by the holiness and spirituality of the members. We are in awe at their dedication over the years to their families and their parish community. The same spirit of faith and dedication is now helping many of them to continue on after the death of a spouse or other loved one. We are privileged to work with the SAGE Group.

Margaret Mary Bickar, SC

Betty Toohig, SC