Dance Party
News flashes circulating around the globe showed hundreds of couples dancing in the streets of Vatican City. It was December 17, 2014, the 78th birthday of Pope Francis and the year after his election as Pope.
Why this phenomenon? It was because Pope Francis, the reporters related, had loved dancing as a young man, and this was the people’s spirited way of wishing him a happy birthday.
On the same date this year, December 17, our Residents here at St. Joseph’s enjoyed a “Christmas Fox Trot Party”, celebrating Jesus’ upcoming birthday and also Pope Francis’ special day. Animated by Christine Kiellquist and her friends from Ballroom Fever and CK Movement, and by “Young and Catholic” (the Catholic young adult group from the Springfield diocese), this lively event brought Residents to their feet and joy to their hearts.
In savoring the happy memory of this day, Resident Dot Snyder told of how very moved she was at the kindness of the dance team and also of the wonderful young men from Young and Catholic who steadied the Residents on their feet and helped them relive the joys of their younger years. With a twinkle in her eye, Dot told of how she loves to dance, and shared on behalf of all of our Residents that “This was truly a bright spot in our Christmastime celebrations, and we hope they’ll come back again soon!”
Dance Party