By Mary Lackie

“Michael, Row the Boat Ashore” was a good theme song during the storm Saturday when children and seminarians from St. Paul of the Cross parish visited Happy Haven and Pineview nursing homes.

In the dim light of the rooms at Happy Haven, children visited with patients and distributed candy. “Where have you been?” one woman asked. “I’ve been waiting two weeks for you to come back.”

“Do Lord, Oh, do Lord, oh do remember me!” the children sang, accompanied by the guitars and strumming to “gut bucket”. The patients nodded their heads and smiled as the rain poured down outside the old building.

At Pineview nursing home, two girls danced to the song, “Hello, Dolly!” One patient said to Father Leary, “These children know it’s right to do right—you’re a preacher, aren’t you?”

These are some of the scenes repeated by children of St. Paul of the Cross parishes and seven Passionist seminarians who work together to brighten the lives of the sick and shut-in in the Atlanta area.

“This summer has given us new insight,’ said Father Thomas Brislin, deacon. And the schedule has kept both deacons and seminarians busy, said Father Leary.

The “summer apostolate” for the seminarian is in its second year. Their daily schedule begins with work in tutorial programs at elementary schools, Headstart, and projects of Pitts School and Gun Club Road recreation center.

The seminarians spend their afternoons working in recreation programs at Wesley Avenue Day Camp, Perry and Bolan Homes, and “Operation Champ.’

Home visits are a regular part of the evening’s schedule. “The hospitality is outstanding,’ said Brice Edwards, seminarian. Some of the group attended ‘The Church and Change’ programs and meetings of SWAP.

The seven seminarians alternate Saturday visits to the nursing homes and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home and Camilla St. Nursing Home, Father Leary said.

“Informal Bible services” are held on Sundays at the nursing homes. “The patients make up their own prayers; sing hymns, and the seminarians give a sermon,” Father Leary said.

Seminarians found time to plan folk Masses at St. Paul of the Cross on Sunday mornings. This Saturday marks the end of the “summer apostolate”. The men will pack up their guitars and return to St. Michael’s Monastery, Union City, N.J., to continue their studies. “I hope we can come back next summer,” a seminarian said, “I know some of us will.”