Good neighbors tied together by Rosary Society

They may be profoundly mentally retarded and unable to speak, but residents of a Schenectady area group home have managed to convey their thanks to the Altar Rosary Society of Our Lady of Fatima parish in Delanson.

"Their faces light up like Christmas trees when the ladies come to visit," explains Janet Kelly, program director of the residence run by the Schenectady Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC). "Their smiles and the sparkle in their eyes say it all!"

So significant has been the contribution of the Rosary Society members over the past year that the organization was recently selected to receive ARC's "Good Neighbor Award" for 1996. The plaque now hangs inside Our Lady of Fatima Church as a reminder to parishioners of what it means to truly care for one's neighbors.

Commitment

Ms. Kelly, who has worked with mentally retarded individuals for more than a decade, said that singling out the Delanson Altar Rosary Society to receive the special award was an easy choice.

"In all my years in this field, I have never before seen the level of commitment demonstrated by these ladies," she explained. "A lot of people do things for residents of our group homes on a one-time basis, but the Rosary Society ladies have demonstrated what it is to be good neighbors all year through. The residents and staff just love them, and we are all very grateful for their ongoing caring and concern."

Jane Aman, director of special services for Schenectady ARC, echoed many of those sentiments.

"From ARC's point of view," she said, "it is simply marvelous to have outsiders take an interest in our residents. New faces are always welcome, and some bonding friendships have obviously been formed between the Rosary Society ladies and the individuals living in our home. The majority of residents living there have previously resided in state institutions and never received much personal attention."

Like a family

Being able to experience life in a home-like setting is a wonderful change for the residents, she continued. Because most of them receive few (if any) visits from their own family members, staff and visitors often become "like a family" to the mentally retarded residents.

There are currently six adults, ranging in age from their 20s to their 70s, living at the ARC's Delanson home. All are classified as having "severe mental retardation and developmental disabilities." They are non-verbal, communicating primarily through eye contact, gestures and other forms of "body language."

The six, who moved into the group home just before Christmas last year, were "adopted" by Our Lady of Fatima's Altar Rosary Society after Bella Stuart suggested the members do something to bring some holiday cheer their way.

Surprising support

"I really didn't anticipate a great response," recalls Mrs. Stuart, who sits on ARC's board of directors as well as being a Rosary Society member. "I thought I'd be lucky to get two or three ladies to go with me."

To her surprise and delight, all six Rosary Society "bands," comprising 35 women, asked if they could each take a resident under their wings.

"At first, we were going to fill some small Christmas stockings to give the residents, but the ladies quickly decided that wasn't enough," said Mrs. Stuart. "Before long, we were looking at gifts like sweaters, mittens, slipper socks, CDs, tapes -- you name it!"

Staying in touch

The Christmas giving and visitation project was followed by a desire to remember each resident's birthday with cards and a gift. The Rosary Society ladies also found time to enjoy dinner at the house with residents and even arranged for one resident to attend Mass with them on Sundays.

Mrs. Stuart, a mother of three grown children (including a 38-year-old son who was diagnosed as being mentally retarded as a child) has been deeply moved by the commitment of her parish's Rosary Society.

"It means so much to see how the residents and the Altar Rosary Society members have taken to one another," she reflects. "I think we've all gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of what it is to have, and to be, good neighbors."

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