DYKER HEIGHTS — Christopher Trochalides, an eighth-grader at St. Bernadette Catholic Academy, paid a visit to a senior citizens’ home and found that age is not a barrier when it comes to making new friends.
Christopher was one of 21 St. Bernadette students who spent the morning of Oct. 15 visiting with older adults at the Norwegian Christian Home and Health Center in Dyker Heights, getting to know the home’s residents as they worked side by side with them on arts-and-crafts projects like coloring foliage on fall-themed “Welcome” signs.
It was all part of a community service project Christopher and his peers had to complete before receiving the sacrament of confirmation at the Shrine Church of St. Bernadette on Oct. 23.
However, while Christopher was obligated to be there, he enjoyed the intergenerational get-together.
“These people are really nice,” he said. “It’s fun interacting with them.”
The visit was arranged by Lisa Papio, who teaches social studies and religion at St. Bernadette Catholic Academy and worked on the details with administrators at the Norwegian Christian Home and Health Center.
Papio also accompanied the youngsters on their visit as the group walked from their school on 83rd Street in Dyker Heights to the home, which is located nearly a mile away.
Papio, who previously led the confirmation candidates on a trip to a Bensonhurst food pantry as part of their community service obligation, said she chose these specific locations to help the students develop a deeper understanding of what it means to be true to their Catholic faith and serve others.
“I think it’s a wonderful thing to give back to the community rather than just sitting in school reading a book,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see how they’re interacting with them and how they’re bringing their faith alive, being that they’re making confirmation soon.”
RELATED: When The Shrine Church of St. Bernadette Sought Altar Servers, Many Answered Call
Christopher, who described the visit as “a nice way to give back to the community,” added that giving back to the elderly meant a lot to him.
“They helped us in the first place, so we have to help them,” he explained.
Nancy Calasso, a resident of the home, loved spending her morning with the students. She also offered them some advice as they prepared for confirmation.
“I would tell them to take the faith the way it is … and to grow in spirit,” She said. “And to keep what they havenow, and as they get older, don’t lose any faith.”