This Years message for the Day of the Sick, February 11 (feast of Our Lady of Lourdes), our Holy Father Benedict XVI brings out the example of the “Good Samaritan.” Our Holy Father brought out that the “Good Samaritan” should be a part of our “daily life.”
Here at Villa Guadalupe, we have many “Good Samaritans who come and help our Residents in one way or another. One that comes to mind is Marie Claire, who comes to play the organ on Sundays for us and helps one of the Sisters for organ lessons.
She is also a “Good Samaritan.” It has been several years now that she has “adopted” a Resident, Barbara Matten (who at 103 has no family in the area). She met her when she was bringing Communion to the Sick, and continued her friendship with her when she came into the Home. She takes her home for the afternoon for a meal, and has on occasion “Skyped” Barbara’s Sister, who is also elderly and unable to visit her, this was like having her sister right there.
Recently Barbara had to go to the Hospital, and Marie Claire went each day to help her at meal time to make sure she ate (she also asked a friend to go to help her at supper).
She visits Barbara a couple of times a week, and truly is a “Good Samaritan.”
