The service of first-year college seminarians focuses on learning and honing basic communication skills in the context of visiting the elderly. The seminarian is successively introduced to those living independently, elders residing in a retirement apartment complex needing assistance, and the chronically ill and acutely ill residing in a nursing home.
The following objectives are suggested as means of achieving the goal of the first-year program:
- To develop the basic ability to have a simple conversation and develop a rapport with someone initially unknown
- To identify and acquire effective interpersonal behaviors in dealing with the elderly
- To provide a loving and comforting presence to the aged in society
- To gain pastoral experience in visiting the elderly
- With the help of supervisors, to identify significant aspects of suffering
- To be responsible for assigned visitations
- To share experiences and insights with other seminarians in reflection meetings
- To integrate the experience which will be reflected in his personal growth
