Article by Phoenix writer Keira Quigley ’26:
Kellenberg’s Junior CROSS went to the Queen of Peace Residence on March 10th to participate in a “Rockathon.”
Queen of Peace is an assisted living facility that is run by the Little Sisters of the Poor, a French religious order who aid the elderly throughout the world.
The students worked with Sister Beatrice and many other sisters to raise money to send four young women to National Youth Day.
During the “Rockathon,” CROSS members, ranging from freshman to juniors, spent time with the elderly on rocking chairs. They played games, sang songs, played Bingo, and played guitar.
There was one game called the CakeWalk, similar to musical chairs, where the elderly residents walked around chairs and when the music stopped they won prizes.
This was Kellenberg’s first time venturing back into the Queen of Peace residence since the pandemic. There have been outdoor events such as the Christmas Carolling, and the Junior CROSS also has a pen-pal initiative with the residents. But this event was the first time CROSS was welcomed back inside the Queen of Peace.
Mrs. Page, a moderator of Junior CROSS reflects that, “It’s not so much about us going to help them, but it’s what the young people are gaining from being with the elderly. There’s a great saying, ‘the greatest education is at the foot of an elderly person,’ and we saw such beauty and diversity of culture and talents that the elderly have.”
This was a great opportunity for the students at Kellenberg to get to spend time with the elderly.