Saint Vincent students experience the greatest commandment
By Intermountain Catholic (January 29, 2010)

Saint Vincent middle school students are learning the true meaning of “Love thy neighbor” by taking three senior citizen centers under their wings. During monthly visits to Cottonwood Creek Retirement Center, Wellington Senior Residence and Paramount Health and Rehabilitation, Saint Vincent students play board games, perform and visit with residents. The students have learned the Catholic social justice teaching of recognizing the dignity of human life by interacting with people who are often undervalued, marginalized, and lonely.

The seniors benefit from these monthly visits, but the students benefit as well. Senior Willy Simonis at Cottonwood Creek, who celebrated her 90th birthday the day before the students visited, was “Miss Holland” twice, an honor equal to Miss America. One could still see her beauty shine through as she gave explicit instructions to 6th-grader Marissa Ulibarri, moving her finger back and forth saying, “Never, never tell a lie.”

Ulibarri listened intently to her words of wisdom, the same words Simonis had told her daughter while she was growing up.

Senior Lucy Zumbrunnan, also from Cottonwood Creek, said she enjoys the students’ visits. “The children seem to like to be here and we love them to come,” she said. “They all seem to want to talk to us. That is a wonderful feeling.”

Senior Mary Tangaro, who was as spry and friendly as can be with the students, said she tries to encourage the students to talk.

“I enjoy visiting with them, playing games with them, and hearing their stories about their lives come to life,” said
Senior Boyd Chapman. The visits have proven to be tremendously worthwhile in developing students’ conscience and sense of giving back to others. St. Vincent’s students have learned to recognize the value of senior citizens and, no matter how young or old, to practice Jesus’ commandment, “Love thy neighbor.”

Photos courtesy of Intermountain Catholic