Older parishioners lead the way with a song and prayer
The humble ukulele is bringing people togetherĀ in a parish outreach thatĀ is as good as it sounds.
Every Thursday evening about 20 people gather in the smallĀ hall of Holy Name of Mary ChurchĀ in Hunterās Hill to play and sing an eclectic repertoireĀ fromĀ Amazing Grace to You are My Sunshine, and Show Me the Way to Go Home.
Age and experience are no barrier to the diverse group. ItĀ includes youngest member Archie Seiler, 9, who also plays the piano, violin and trumpet, andĀ more senior membersĀ whoĀ for decadesĀ were convincedĀ they didnāt have a single musical bone in their body.Ā
Ā āItās a marvellous outreach within the parish and the wider community as well and just goes to show that itās possible to do things you never dreamed youād be capable of” -Deirdre O’Dowd Page
The only requisite for joining is having a desire to play theĀ instrument and be willing to learn under the guidance ofĀ assistant parish priest Marist FrĀ AlikiĀ Langi.Ā
Deirdre OāDowdĀ PageĀ cheerfully asserts she is theĀ least musically-gifted in the groupĀ but would not miss aĀ session,Ā which always begins and ends withĀ aĀ prayer.Ā
āThey are a great bunch of people andĀ we have so much fun each week,ā she said.Ā āItās a marvellous outreach within the parish and the wider community as well andĀ just goes to show that itās possible to do things you never dreamed youādĀ be capable of,ā she said.Ā
BarbaraĀ PyeĀ said she was feeling adrift after the death of her mother and looking to reconnect with the Catholic Church. āI was having some issues and recently started coming backĀ to Mass whenĀ [parish priest]Ā Fr Kevin Bates invited me to come to this group.ā
āItās just a happy groupĀ andĀ we get on well, andĀ we have something special with the music.ā
SelonaĀ Forrester,Ā 13,Ā says she loves going each week because it is something she can do together with her grandmother, Susana. āShe got me into it, she gave my brother and me each a ukulele when I was about 10 or 11,ā she said.
āSo I love coming her with her and also it helps me to express my emotions and feelings and it just soothes my mind.āĀ
The musicians have been theĀ star attraction playing in nursing homes, schools and Christmas carols with some members even makingĀ aĀ successfulĀ tour to FatherĀ AlikiāsĀ native Tonga in December 2019.Ā
Older people have “so much to offer”
The former parish priest the Marist parish in Gladstone, Queensland, FatherĀ AlikiĀ said he is inspired by the progress of his students in such a short time as he only arrived in the parish earlier that same year.Ā
āFor me, the main focus of this group is empowering lay people andĀ supporting the dignity of older people,ā he said. āThey are matured spiritually, and have much to offer but can also enjoy the joyĀ of learning something new.
āMost of the people in this room had never held a ukuleleĀ before, and I think thatās very uplifting for them to see what they are capable of as they grow older.āĀ
JanetĀ BolsterĀ said everyone appreciates FrĀ AlikiāsĀ patient andĀ gentle leadership. āThe main prerequisiteĀ for this group was to have no musical ability and no musical brainĀ and thatāsĀ what heās beenĀ workingĀ with in us,ā she said. āHeĀ sets the tone, which is oneĀ of joyful sharing.
āEveryone walks away rejuvenated and with a smile on their face.ā
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