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April 3, 2024By Tanya Connor
The Catholic Free Press
WORCESTER - Health care center residents raved about the privilege of attending Triduum services (Holy Thursday through Easter) where they live, since getting out to church would be difficult.
Lay pastoral care directors, priests and religious sisters made that possible with their sacrifices and creativity.
Donna Domiziano, former director of the Mustard Seed Catholic Worker community, spoke with The Catholic Free Press after Holy Thursday Mass at her new home, Notre Dame Long Term Care Center. She said she used to cry watching Mass on television at home, when she couldn’t get to church anymore, unlike the “lucky” people who were receiving Communion.
Now, she said, she attends Mass in the chapel at the Long Term Care Center, including her first Holy Thursday Mass in about three years.
“It just makes me feel more connected,” she said. “It keeps my faith strong to remember the priesthood, the Eucharist. I love Holy Thursday.”
“The service here was a wonderful way to celebrate Holy Thursday, reminding us of what Christ did for us,” said another resident, Sister Catherine Hannigan, a former Superior General of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. “And what a gift it is for us to follow what we have learned and enjoyed for so many years ... the gift of Christ’s living, suffering and dying for us.”
At the Holy Thursday Mass Father Jonathan J. Slavinskas, pastor of Our Lady of Providence Parish, who celebrates sacraments at the Long Term Care Center regularly, washed the feet of four of its workers. In his homily, he acknowledged their service and that of religious sisters who are now residents there.
Father Slavinskas led the Good Friday service, and Assumptionist Father Dinh Vo Tran celebrated Mass on Easter Sunday, said Gina Kuruvilla, the Long Term Care Center’s director of pastoral care, a member of St. Mary Parish in Shrewsbury.
She said there is a television screen in the Care Center’s chapel for those who sit further back, and the system is connected to residents’ rooms, for those who need to watch from there.
Colin McNabb, director of mission and pastoral care at St. Mary Health Care Center and a member of St. Cecilia Parish in Leominster, said he led St. Mary’s Communion services on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, like he does year round when priests are not available to celebrate Mass.
“The weeks that we had up until Easter made you think,” with the homilies and Stations of the Cross on Fridays, resident Kristina Benoit said after St. Mary’s Good Friday service. “We were walking with Christ as he carried his cross,” and had the opportunity “just to be quiet with Christ. ... And when we came in here and saw the candles lit ... it was very inspiring. It put you in the mood for Good Friday.”
“It’s kind of our way to elevate what we’re doing, to emphasize the quiet ... ,” Mr. McNabb said, explaining the chapel’s atmosphere on Good Friday. “We try to do [the service] in almost total darkness.” Candlelight enables him to read.
When Mr. McNabb removed the cloth covering the crucifix, Ms. Benoit said, it hit her how Jesus died for us; “we were feeling his pain.”
She said she misses her parish, St. Paul Cathedral, but gets to see her priests, who regularly celebrate Masses at St. Mary’s.
“It’s good that we can have this here – all of the services,” she said. Mr. McNabb has compassion for the residents; “he thinks about us a lot and that means a lot.”
“I love the services in the chapel,” said resident Phyllis Kaczyk. “I love Colin. We’re very blessed to have him.”
During the Good Friday service, Mr. McNabb took a cross to the residents for them to venerate, went around again with Communion, and gave a blessing to non-Catholics.
Sister Charlene O’Leary, a Sister of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also thinks about health care center residents’ needs. She has continued her years-long ministry of leading Communion services and giving spiritual reflections at Christopher House, a rehabilitation and skilled nursing center, even after becoming a resident of Notre Dame du Lac assisted living facility last year.
For Holy Week, she focused on Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter, in her Monday services and reflections at Christopher House, she said. She gave residents there palm crosses and holy cards of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. It helps if they have something to see, she explained.
Father David B. Galonek, a resident of the independent living community at Southgate at Shrewsbury, blessed the palm crosses he ordered to distribute there, and gave her some for Christopher House, she said.
Sister Charlene said her helpers – Andrea Malo and Moira Minnucci – take these gifts, along with Communion, to the rooms of residents who can’t come to the services.
“On Holy Thursday we did a group rosary ... for Pope Francis and Bishop McManus and for all the Worcester [Diocese’s] priests who help us out,” said Lawrence Trapasso, pastoral care director at St. Francis Rehab and Nursing Center. He said interested people prayed the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday.
Since Jesuit Father Thomas McMurray, who celebrates the Sunday Mass, was sick, Father Jean Robert Simbert Brice, associate pastor of St. John Parish, celebrated Mass on Easter.
At St. Mary’s Good Friday service, Mr. McNabb summed up what residents in such facilities were celebrating with the whole Church.
“The Triduum is a time we walk the road to Calvary, to Christ’s death and resurrection, as a community of faithful. ... This coming Easter season we will reap the benefits and joys we have been preparing for these 40 days.”
