By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ (http://rcsocialjusticett.org) & Director, CREDI
On Saturday, January 25, I attended the 100th birthday celebrations of Mrs Mary Alice Pemberton of Lange Park, Chaguanas. This grand old lady left those gathered in awe at her amazing memory.
She addressed us for more than 30 minutes, recalling important milestones in her life’s journey, without reference to a written speech.
Of course, my father, sister and I had to be there – particularly as Aunty Mary delivered six of my parents’ seven children (including me) and is Godmother to four of my siblings.
I thank Archbishop Joseph Harris for the heartfelt greetings he sent to her. Fr Lumsden read His Grace’s message to us on Saturday and also to the congregation at the 8.30 a.m. Mass on Sunday.
Not only did the Mayor of Chaguanas come to present her with a plaque, but friends and family from various parts of the world came to celebrate with her. My heart filled with joy as I observed how wonderful we could live when we come together as ‘community’.
Her sons, Gerard, Ian and Michael were there with their children and grandchildren; neighbours came to pay tribute to her; even the Hon Minister Stephen Cadiz was there to greet her. Canon Max Murphy Hall at St Phillip & St James was brimming over with love.
But not all our elderly in T&T/the world are as fortunate as Aunty Mary. Last November Pope Francis reminded us that the elderly are the treasure of our society. Inter alia, he said: “We live in a time when the elderly do not count. It’s awful to say, but they are discarded because they are a nuisance to us.
The elderly are those who carry history, that carry doctrine, that carry the faith and give it to us as an inheritance. They are like a good vintage wine who have this strength from within to give us a noble heritage.”
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The Holy Father went on to say that the knowledge that the elderly bear is an inheritance that all should receive. “A people that does not care for its grandparents, a people that does not respect their grandparents, does not have a future, because they do not have a memory, they have lost their memory.”
He called on the faithful to remember those elderly who live in retirement homes, especially those who are abandoned by their families…“let us ask for the grace to take care of, to listen to and venerate our ancestors, our grandparents” (Zenit).
As far back as 1998, the document by the Pontifical Council for the Laity, titled The Dignity of Older People and their Mission in the Church and in the World, stated: “Inspired by a conviction that older people still have a lot to say and a lot to give to the life of society, the Holy See calls for their dignity and fundamental rights to be respected…
The time has come to begin working towards an effective change in attitude towards older people and to restore to them their rightful place in the human community.
“Society and its institutions are called to give older people scope for personal development and participation, and provide them with forms of social assistance and health-care consonant with their needs and responding to the need of the human person to live with dignity, in justice and freedom.”
I end with an excerpt from a written tribute which I presented at Aunty Mary’s birthday celebration: “Aunty Mary at 100 years old, you still emanate grace and poise… I know that in your profession as a nurse and midwife, you served selflessly. You have made an enormous contribution to the nursing profession… We all appreciate the single-heartedness of your life and the sacrifices you made for your family. You are a source of inspiration to many. You epitomise the sentiments contained in our national watchwords: Discipline, Production and Tolerance. These words are even more relevant to us today as we seek to lift our nation to a higher, more noble place.
We pay tribute to you as a woman of wisdom; a woman of deep, abiding faith – having been brought up on biblical principles and strong morals and values. Through good times and bad, you have held on to your faith and your faith has seen you through.
We love and respect you and thank God for your life and your love…May you continue to live in God’s grace always; and may the Lord continue to journey with you and keep you close to Him.”
