Aging Friendly Parish Workshop to be given on March 26 at St. John Paul II Catholic Parish
March 14, 2022
Ryan Bilodeau | Communications, St. John Paul II Parish
SCARBOROUGH — Don Harden (pictured below) to present Aging Friendly Parish Workshop at St. John Paul II Parish on March 26.
Co-sponsored by the St. John Paul II Parish Social Justice and Peace Committee and Seniors Supporting Seniors Committee, the Aging Friendly Parish workshop is slated to occur in person at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church (150 Black Point Rd, Scarborough, ME 04074) from 9am — Noon on March 26, 2022 and livestreamed on our website as well.
Together the parish community will discuss the spiritual blessings of aging and also learn about important resources and supports, while also providing input into how our parish can be age-friendly. The event will be livestreamed on our website (http://jp2me.org) for those who can’t attend in person.
Communications Associate Ryan Bilodeau commented, “Our parish’s patron saint John Paul II spoke of reaching older age as a privilege because of how this period can serve as a time in one’s life when one is better able to evaluate the past and work towards building a better future for oneself and others. Workshops like Don Harden’s help remind us of our collective role in and responsibility for supporting those entering this period of life.”
Don is a founding Board Member of the Maine Council on Aging and coordinates the Power in Aging Project, MCOA’s new anti-ageism campaign. He has been affiliated with Catholic Charities Maine for over 42 years, most recently as Director of Aging Services and continues to serve as a Policy Consultant. He partnered with the Parish Social Ministry Team at Catholic Charities to create and deliver Age Friendly Parish Workshops across the State. He was co-convenor of the Maine Aging Initiative’s Workgroup on Workforce and the Economy, served on the Legislative Commission to Study Long-term Care Workforce Issues, and chairs Maine’s Department of Labor Committee on Older Workers.
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In July of 2020, St. Bartholomew Parish in Cape Elizabeth, St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Scarborough, and St. John and Holy Cross Parish in South Portland joined to form the new St. John Paul II Parish. The three churches maintained their individual names under the common patronage and intercession of St. John Paul II. For more information, visit www.jp2me.org.
