Care Parcels Delight Retired Priests

by Erin Carelse · Published October 14, 2017 · Updated October 12, 2017

Retired priests Fr Ralph de Hahn (above) and Bishop Reginald Cawcutt (right) received care packs from Catholicare at Nazareth House in Cape Town.

After a winter filled with ailments, the retired priests at Nazareth House in Cape Town were spoiled with care parcels.

Catholicare, an initiative of Milnerton/Brooklyn parish, visited the retired priests to deliver parcels that included personal care items as well as fruit, charcuterie, savouries, chocolates and some tipple.

“This small gesture was our way of letting them know that we remember our retired Fathers and the enormous contribution they have made to our faith, our Church, and our communities,” said Mireille Wenger, chair of Catholicare.

“It was truly wonderful to see their excitement and appreciation.”

Catholicare Parish Charity Programme

Catholicare was founded in 1991 by Fr Stan Botha as the parish’s charitable programme whereby Catholics would be able to practise their charity to those in need of any assistance.

Activities often include helping the poor, unemployed and homeless, and caring for the sick, housebound and seniors, as well as for prisoners. Catholicare also offers HIV/Aids counselling, and links to other Catholic and non-Catholic organisations.

“We have been blessed with donors through our fundraising efforts which allow us to visit the sick and housebound, and care for the elderly in our community, among many other activities. We also make contributions to the retired priests’ medical aid fund whenever possible,” Ms Wenger said.

The retired priests wrote a letter thanking Catholicare for the gifts they received. “Although as elderly residents we need to watch our appetites and diet, there is so much here that we are all happily satisfied. Thank you for such loving kindness to us in the ‘departure lounge’. With love and deep gratitude, ‘The Retired Gentlemen’.”