 The Movement's Mission
Each and every person is very necessary and important to God and until the moment God calls us He wants to make full use of us.
“As you know there is no retirement age when it comes to doing God’s will. At every stage of life the Lord can ask each of us to contribute what talents we have. The service of the Gospel has nothing to do with age!” letter to the Elderly from the Vatican 1999
The life of the movement depends on each member as it belongs to them. It does not exist for the Church to say "how can the Church help older people?” No, it would be better to say “what can older people do to help the Church?”
In his address to thousands of La Vie Montante members at St Peter’s Basilica, Rome October 1982 Pope John Paul 11 said "You do not want to be mere helpless objects of assistance from so-called ‘active’ people.”
Our whole lives, experiences, talents, interests are a means of enriching the group meetings and beyond to comfort the sick, to help the lonely and those without faith and encourage young people.
 Most members of Ascent having more time during the day are able to join days of recollection, meeting other Ascent members for special occasions and joining in bigger gatherings such as retreats where spiritual friendship is developed.
The Ascent is for all retired people regardless of age, ability culture, and circumstances. The newly retired can give support and friendship to the more frail members who in turn contribute their suffering and prayers for the good of all the church.
Older people are able to play an important part in making the world a better place, for they have experience to share, wisdom to impart, tolerance and love to show and teach. To the right a member packs a Christmas shoebox for a child http://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk
Many Ascent members have families and grandchildren and consequently a real stake in the future. Older people have lived through good and bad times and now have time to witness to Christian values particularly in respect of the dignity of human life and social justice.
Positive action in small ways makes a difference
Monitoring television programmes and evaluating newspaper and magazine articles can be valuable ways in which members can contribute a thought provoking viewpoint to those in the media.
Where would parishes be without all the wonderful help offered by its older members? As permanent deacons, greeters, readers, Eucharistic ministers, church cleaners and gardeners, supporting the Holy Communion and Confirmation programmes and working in the repository.
There is a great thirst for God in these troubled times and God challenges each one of us to be His apostle by our serenity and love and words of peace. Often suffering will strengthen us, enabling us to help others. Coupled with prayer it can be a source of healing.
Resources and More information on our Spiritual Christian Mission
Spiritual inspiration- the aims of the movement
Spiritual inspiration- spiritual friendship groups
Spiritual inspiration - Our mission of spirituality
|
