Ruth Hayes-Barba, in her ministry to the aging for the Archdiocese of Portland, OR, has hit on a profound truth: not only does ministry to the aging involve everyone (aren’t we all aging?), but our service of the elderly is a primary means by which the dignity of every human person is upheld, and therefore deeply benefits society. The Church—and particularly Pope John Paul II—has had much to say about a society’s care for its older members as being both an indication of that society’s commitment (or lack of it) to human dignity, and a fruit of that commitment.

As the director of the Marriage and Family Life Office, it has been a pleasure working with Ruth Hayes-Barba, the director of the Office of Ministry to the Aging. Ruth brings to ministry a strong clinical background, and a solid understanding of theology and Church teaching. Her clinical expertise and theological background blend to create an effective ministry dedicated to a principled and practical approach. While the ministry focuses on caregiving and helping those older members of our Catholic community, ministry to the aging in a sense encompasses all of us. After all, who isn't aging? A prevalent theme of Ministry to the Aging under Ruth's direction is to strengthen an awareness of the dignity of the human person as we grow through all the stages of life. Our dignity as human beings derives from our being made in the image and likeness of God.  An authentic understanding of human dignity is foundational to both family life and aging.

The United Nations declared 1999 the International Year of Older Persons.  Recently the Pontifical Laity Council published a document entitled, "The Dignity of Older Persons and Their Mission in the Church and in the World." As I read this document, I began to think how important the connection is between the elderly of our community and the family. In John Paul's Familiaris Consortio, he writes: "The pastoral activity of the church must help everyone to discover and make good use of the role of the elderly within the civil and ecclesial community, in particular within the family" (n. 27). One of the most important roles of the aging members of our church and society is to remind us of the sacredness of life at all stages. In his address to the U. N. World Assembly on Aging, Pope John Paul II affirmed:

Life is a gift of God to man, who is created out of love in the image and likeness of God. This understanding of the sacred dignity of the human person leads to the appreciation of every stage of life. … It is impossible to truly value the life of an older person if the life of a child is not valued from the moment of its conception. No one knows where we might arrive, if life is no longer respected as something inalienable and sacred (Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II V, 3 (1982).

The Church teaches us that the family is the primary "school of humanity."  It is in the family that children first learn to respect the dignity of all family members, particularly those with the wisdom of years. Familiaris Consortio draws our attention to the fact that "the life of the aging helps to clarify a scale of human values; it shows the continuity of the generations, and marvelously demonstrates the interdependence of God's people" (n. 27). It is so important to realize that the "continuity of the generations" is crucial for the health of our church and society. As the Pontifical document reiterates, "The affective, moral, and religious values embodied by older people are an indispensable resource for fostering the harmony of society, of the family, and of the individual" (Origins, March 25, 1999, p. 697).

I came from what would be considered a "traditional" family. My father was the primary wage earner, while my mother dedicated herself to raising my brother and me.  However, we were a non-traditional family in that my parents have always served as the caregivers of older persons. First, my paternal grandmother who suffered from cancer lived with us during the late 1970s. Next, it was an "adopted" grandfather whom my mother had cared for over ten years during the 1980s and early 1990s.  The last three years of his life he lived with us in our home. Most recently, in December 1998, my parents finished caring for my maternal grandmother who also died in my parents' home after two and half years of their care. While often difficult, these times were filled with more laughter and joy, than with pain and tears.

Growing up in a family dedicated to upholding the dignity of the older person was not always easy. However, whether my parents realized it or not, by incorporating me in their caregiving, they taught me to value, respect, and honor older people. Some of my greatest memories are the times I spent with my grandmothers and "adopted" grandfather.

In a December 1982 audience with older adults and teenagers, John Paul II stated:

There is a great need today for reconciliation between old and young; a vital osmosis between the two which liberates the first from solitude and abandonment, and which enriches the second with the wisdom that is proper to the aging (Origins, March 25, 1999, p. 695).

Each Christian family is called to form a "community of persons" that includes our aging members. Each family is called by Christ to defend the dignity of the aging person, and, in doing so, to become more fully a true "school of humanity."

Copyright © 2000 Jay Wonacott

Jay Wonacott, who holds a master of theological studies from the John Paul II Institute for Studies in Marriage and Family in Washington, D.C., is the director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life for the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon.  He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife Michelle and their daughter Mary.