GREENSBURG — Recognizing the "huge" need to respond to people who are aging in the diocese, Msgr. Raymond E. Riffle welcomed a sizeable gathering of clergy and laypeople at the first Senior Enrichment through Parish Social Ministry Workshop held May 19 at the Bishop William G. Connare Center.

"Linking people to possibilities — that’s really what most ministry is about," said Msgr. Riffle, managing director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg.

Sponsored by Catholic Charities, the afternoon featured Catholic Charities USA speakers and a panel of parishioners who shared examples of successful senior ministries.

Msgr. Riffle noted the diocese is composed of a significant rural population where many seniors have limited mass transit opportunities and a sense of isolation. While Catholic Charities cannot be everywhere at all times, it can facilitate working with seniors by linking with parish ministries — who then connect with the seniors in need, he said.

According to Jane Stenson, senior director of poverty reduction strategies of Catholic Charities USA, 13 percent of the United States’ 300 million people are age 65 or older, with the percentage expected to grow to 20 percent within the next 20 years.

Many parishes in the Diocese of Greensburg are reflective of this statistic, she said, and this demographic shift will result in a greater need to support seniors. Parishes need to assess their needs, strengths and volunteer base.

"You need people who really relate to this kind of work and want to do it," she said.

If resources aren’t available at the parish level, parishes can work with Catholic Charities’ Information and Referral service to identify regional resources.

"The role of the faith community is not to become a health and human service organization," she said. "The role of the parish is to support that (senior) individual’s life in faith and grow in a relationship with God," she said.

John Kane, coordinator of ministry at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Lower Burrell, described its senior adult ministry as "wrap around ministry."

"Our focus on senior adults is that they are included in the life of the parish in every possible way through participation in service as well as being the recipient of programs for seniors who are homebound, frail or ill," Kane said.

He highlighted ministries in which seniors are serving, such as funeral candle bearers and parish nut roll bakers. They also fundraise through the annual flea market and provide clerical assistance in the parish office.

"(This) provides seniors with very purposeful and meaningful opportunities to be involved and stay connected to the parish," he said.

Seniors benefit as recipients through the parish Good Samaritan Network, where they receive supportive visits and phone calls. The parish’s monthly film socials and parish health ministry events are also beneficial, he said.

Kane said seniors also benefit from resources outside the parish, such as Family Services of Western Pennsylvania and Alle-Kiski Faith in Action, which helps seniors to remain longer in their homes.

"It’s amazing the networks that are out there, the resources that are available to the parish," he said.

Sandi Kocian, coordinator of social and care ministries at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Parish in Greensburg, lauded the parish’s newest ministry, Cathedral Active Seniors. Its four goals are spirituality, service, education and social.

Seniors meet once a month and engage in events such as listening to speakers, taking social trips, delivering ashes to the homebound and holding an annual flea market.

"They’re always wanting to see if they can do more to help out," she said. "It’s nice to watch this whole thing develop and see the seniors become more dynamic in their giving and in their service."

Teri Pomerleau, social minister at St. Vincent Basilica Parish in Latrobe, emphasized the importance of holding regular ministry fairs to expand or start a social ministry.

Parish needs can be identified through surveys, and it’s important to not duplicate services that are already available to seniors in their local community. She encouraged parishes to work through an Area Agency on Aging to acquire reduced or free transportation for seniors.

"Know that you’re not trying to reinvent the wheel," she said, encouraging participants to contact her — or other parishes — to learn about specific ministries that have already been developed.

According to Rachel Lustig, senior vice president of mission and ministry at Catholic Charities USA, parish ministry is a form of discipleship.

She outlined four types of ministry: relief, which gives a person a fish; individual development, which teaches a person to fish; community development and organizing, which gives a person fishing equipment; and structural change, which helps everyone get access to the pond.

And she emphasized that parishes always need to expand their "social ministry imagination."

"The Gospel is always calling us to do a little bit more," Lustig said.