LET'S CHAT UPCOMING EVENTS COME VISIT US AT LABDARA THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

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1 5 Resurrection Rd., Toronto, ON M9A 5G1 5 Resurrection Rd., Toronto, ON M9A 5G1 LET'S CHAT WINTER 2018 Labdara residents news is published quarterly by the Activation Department UPCOMING EVENTS COME VISIT US AT LABDARA Wednesday,December 5th/2018 at 2:30 pm. - Volunteer Christmas Party Saturday, December 15th/2018 at 2:00 pm. - "Holy Family Angels" concert Saturday, December 8th/2018 from 9:00 am - 12 pm - Maironis school childrens 'Kūčios' at Labdara LITHUANIA s Independence Day to mark February 16th will be comemmorated at Labdara on Friday, February 15th at 2:00PM with a brief talk and concert. THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING Every month of the year a very special man shares his musical talents with Labdara s residents. And, several times during the year a group of singers, together with their inspiring leader, bring joy to our residents. Their gift of music is a gift that keeps on giving. Here is their story. The Holy Family Angels found their genesis in volunteer work done over the years by Douglas Peck, a retired public relations manager. Douglas Peck, an amateur pianist and former small dance bandleader originally from Vancouver, began forming ad hoc Christmas carolling groups in Toronto to entertain the elderly and disabled after he retired in l991. 1

2 Labdara residents news is published quarterly by the Activation Department THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING (cont'd) This work became something more than a private passion when Douglas was entertaining at the Westpark Healthcare Centre in North York. What really triggered Douglas' desire to volunteer as an entertainer was when a thalidomide patient approached him with thanks at Westpark. "She had no arms or nose, Douglas recalls, "but she told me something I've never forgotten. She said it wasn't the music that had touched her, but the simple fact that I had taken the time to come out month after month to give her some pleasure." Douglas and a few friends performed monthly at Westpark until the Centre changed its entertainment format. But the desire to volunteer never died and Douglas sent out letters offering his services to nursing homes in his neighborhood. Labdara was the first to respond when Elena Lelis (Labdara s Activity Department staff) called to say that the Lithuanian nursing home would be pleased to have monthly volunteer entertainment. "That was in late Early the next year I called David Ellis, a singer and law office administrator, and his daughter Jennifer, a talented violinist and vocalist who had helped me at Westpark, and we formed the nucleus of what became the "Holy Family Angels", named after the Catholic church my family and I belong to, recalls Douglas. 2

3 THE GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING (cont'd) Labdara residents news is published quarterly by the Activation Department Douglas and David now visit Labdara monthly; and three times a year-- at times parallel to the Church seasons of Christmas, Easter and Ordinary Time-- they hold a "singsong" with a larger group including a fine soprano, Ivony Ahat, a construction engineer, and Hirotaka Kogure, a Reuter's translator and talented amateur violinist. Nerijus Augutis, Labdara s Media/Volunteer Coordinator and Activation Department staff, recalls: "As I came to work at Labdara in February/2016, I found Douglas and his group already here. They perform for our residents every month. Mr. Douglas Peck is always here with either his solo performances or performing with his group. He is an inspiration to all because of his generosity of time and the gift of music he gives that brightens up the lives of our elderly, especially those who are sick or lonely or depressed. He "softens their hearts", brings back a fond memory, provides a momentary escape from the everyday and lets folks relax." We look forward to seeing you month after month and appreciate the pleasure you bring to all of our hearts! Thank-you Mr. Peck and Holy Family Angels for the gift you keep on giving! 3

4 Labdara residents news is published quarterly by the Activation Department OUR FAMILY COUNCIL MEETING took place on Sunday, November 4th at Labdara at 1:00PM. The meeting was very informative and of great interest to the resident family members who attended. The nursing home s Administrator, Michael Bausch, presented the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care s recently completed report on Quality Care Performance indicators across nursing homes in Ontario. He then presented Labdara s performance across these indicators and compared us to the provincial standards or benchmarks for each one as well as to the provincial average across Ontario s nursing homes. Indicators such as: pain management, frequency of resident falls, nursing care, etc. were measured. In all, Labdara s performance is above average. We can be proud of this accomplishment. Our Family Council coordinator, Laima Underys, indicated that the next Family Council meeting will take place at Labdara in the Spring of Our Council meets twice a year. OUR FAMILY COUNCIL coordinators: (from Left to Right) Liucija Kaminskas, Rasa Buksaitis-Wilkinson and Laima Underys. All resident family members are automatically members of the Family Council and are welcome to attend meetings twice a year. 4

5 3 Word Puzzles PUZZLE #1 He stood in the yard all winter long, And watched us with his eyes of coal, But when the warm days came, He turned into a puddle. PUZZLE #2 It flies in the air, but lies on the ground, It sits in a tree, but melts on the hand, It drowns in water and melts on the stove. (a snowflake) (a snowman) PUZZLE #3 Without hands or feet It knocks on the windows Asking to be let in. (the wind) 5

6 CHRISTMAS POEMS JOY OF CHRISTMAS (John Greenleaf Whittier) LIGHT, PEACE AND LOVE (Laurence Housman) Light looked down and beheld Darkness. "Thither will I go," said Light. Peace looked down and beheld War. "Thither will I go," said Peace. Love looked down and beheld Hatred. "Thither will I go," said Love. So came Light and shone. So came Peace and gave rest. So came Love and brought Life. Somehow, not only for Christmas, But all the long year through, The joy that you give to others, Is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing, The poor and lonely and sad, The more of your heart's possessing, Returns to you glad. CHRISTMAS IS FOREVER (Norman W. Brooks) Christmas is forever, Not for just one day. For loving, sharing, giving, Are not to put away Like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others, Is good you do yourself. 6

7 MORE ABOUT KŪČIOS It is believed that greetings and wishes passed along on Christmas Eve have special powers and that they will eventually be fulfilled. So be very careful what you wish for on Christmas Eve! Oh, and what a wealth of symbolic wishes are found in the traditional Christmas Eve Kūčių meal!! Take the apple. It symbolizes luck and happiness. It is often consumed immediately after eating of the Kūčia host (plotkelė). Peas symbolise tears. Hence it is advisable during the Kūčia meal to eat as many of them as possible so that there will be less tears to shed in the coming year. Wheat, from the times of Christ, is the source of people s daily bread and symbolizes the brotherhood of mankind breaking of bread together. And then there is honey sharing honey is sharing light and good health for the year to come. Bowls full of fish symbolize the fish caught by the apostles fisher s of men. Having partaken of cranberry pudding, one is armed against enemies and those wishing him ill his enemies will not cheat or harm him. Partaking of bread gives us strength, intelligence, loyalty, self discipline and goodness. The Kūčių meal should be consumed slowly with wishes for a long life. But there should be no snacking once the meal is finished as this symbolizes a fracturing of the family bond and unity. On this eve, the table is not cleared away, but is left to share with ancestors souls. 7

8 FOOD FOR THOUGHT AROS Gyventoju zinios spa AND THE LORD WILL FILL US WITH JOY (diakonas Dr. Kazys Ambrozaitis) We all strive to find moments of joy amongst the monotony of the ordinary days of our lives, regardless of whether we are in the twilight years or just beginning to live our lives. It is natural for us to seek moments of joy. We all yearn for it. In our search for joy, most of us are guided by the dictates of the current world. Our world defines what is joy and what should make us joyful. Current society suggests that we will find joy in the delights this world offers to us in its pleasures, in material goods, in wealth. Our younger generation is being influenced to believe that materialism and minimalism will give a person joy. Materialism accumulation of things. Minimalism is expending the least amount of effort for maximum benefit or gain to you and to you alone. And so, it is not surprising that often those guided by this philosophy are disillusioned that these things have not brought them joy. Instead of finding real and long-lasting joy, they have found only sadness and disappointment. The search for joy must then start anew, since the person experiences a spiritual void and is not satisfied. And so, we live our lives agitated and full of discontent. But God gave us His Word and through His Word he showed us the way towards finding peace and joy. And when the time came, the WORD took human form from the Virgin Mary and became man so that we would be saved through Jesus sacrifice on the Cross and His glorious resurrection. And so now, Jesus Himself comes to us through Holy Mass and offers Himself up for us every day. Jesus said: Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them (Mt. 18,20). Let us meditate on the following words so that they become a prayer that leads each of us to true joy, hope and love: To the poor Jesus promised salvation To captives freedom To the sorrowful joy. May the Lord protect and bless us May His face bring light to ours May He give us His peace, joy and His love. AND THE LORD WILL FILL US WITH JOY With sincere thanks to the sponsor of this issue