When it comes to faith, “You can do more by example,” says Betsy DuVernois, 86, of Christ the King Parish, Haddonfield, forefront. Sunday, July 25, marks the first celebration of World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly. Whether it’s to younger family members or peers, seniors have a key role in sharing the Catholic faith, Pope Francis says. From left, fellow parishioners Art and Pat Keegan and Bernie Schaming stand with DuVernois in front of the Haddonfield church. (Photo by Debbie Troy)
Role models of faith: Seniors share the importance of passing on their Catholic beliefs
By Peter Sanchez
Sunday, July 25, marks the World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly, a celebration instituted by Pope Francis earlier this year. The day will be celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of July, near the feast of Saints Anne and Joachim, grandparents to Jesus. This year’s theme is “I Am With You Always” (Mt 28:20). In preparation, the Catholic Star Herald spoke with some South Jersey grandparents to learn about their faith, how they live it with their families, and advice they give their grandchildren.
Dona Re Shute makes it a point to pass on the faith to the younger generation. Now 76, she said her own faith was nurtured by her parents, and similarly she seeks to be an example to the younger members of her family.
One of Re Shute’s strongest childhood memories is her father – “a man of quiet spirituality” – at prayer. “I would see him kneeling at the foot of his bed at night,” says Re Shute, of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Cape May Court House.
She says that her mother was also devout, and she describes her parents as “great role models.”
Now she and her husband, Edward, are examples for their six children and seven grandchildren.
“They see me when I pray the Rosary, or say a ‘Hail Mary’ every time I hear a siren,” she said. “They know I attend daily Mass, and they know no foul language in my presence.”
Betsy DuVernois, 86, sounds the same theme. She talks about the example of her grandfather, an immigrant from Ireland with a strong faith.
She and her husband, Francis, parishioners of Christ the King in Haddonfield, have been married 66 years. They have six children, 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
DuVernois said her grandfather was a “good example” and adds, “you can do more by example” than words to encourage faith.
Wayne Wexler, 74, says that his wife, Bernadette, “hooked” him on the path of the Catholic faith.
Wayne and Bernadette, 71, have been married 54 years and are daily communicants at Incarnation Parish, Mantua. Bernadette said her faith was influenced by her family, including a great-uncle who was a priest, a cousin who was a Jesuit and an aunt who was an Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister.
The couple belongs to their parish’s Prime Time Senior Ministry, and Wayne, a Third Degree Knight of Columbus, participates in a Rosary-making ministry and recently signed up for a parish program to provide transportation to seniors for grocery shopping and doctor appointments.
The couple is also actively involved in nurturing the faith in their 10 grandchildren. Wayne recently helped his 8-year-old granddaughter, Emilia, prepare for her first Communion at Saint Clare of Assisi Parish in Swedesboro, and Bernadette helped Emilia’s siblings, Olivia and Michael, with their religious education studies.
They also say morning prayers with their grandchildren.
“We tell [our children and grandchildren] that God will answer all your questions; he knows what’s best,” Wayne said. If they need comfort, he adds, he tells them to talk to God.
Re Shute expressed the same sentiment with different words. “When my grandchildren go through hard times, I tell them to reach out to the Lord in prayer, and tell them that the spiritual world is more powerful than the physical,” she said.
She has given each of her grandchildren a Saint Benedict medal, and she prays for them. “I can be a prayer warrior,” she said.
The DuVernois’ children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are scattered across the United States, from Pennsylvania to Texas, Massachusetts to Florida.
“I pray for them to be good, faithful people,” Betsy DuVernois said.
She and her nearby daughter, Mary, are part of a ministry at Christ the King that takes responsibility for laundering the priests’ vestments.
“We do it because we feel like we’re contributing something,” Betsy said. Her own mother also laundered the priests’ vestments, so Mary represents the third generation to participate in the ministry.
Amid discussions of the importance of prayer and the consolation of faith, grandparents talked about how much they enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren. Betsy DuVernois spoke happily of family members gathering during the July 4th weekend at her Haddonfield home to swim in the backyard pool, enjoy a cookout and watch fireworks.
Dona Re Shute is looking forward to vacationing in Avalon with children and grandchildren this summer. She believes faith has a message: “Live joyfully. The battle is already won.”
