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Priests with Alzheimer's Find Comfort in Rituals | |
By ANYA LOCKERT PHOENIX - Alzheimer's disease has robbed the Rev. Edmond Smyth of his ability to speak and to recognize family and friends. But when Smyth celebrates Mass, he easily remembers the rituals and blessings he has performed as a priest for more than 50 years. "He doesn't know where he is or who he is, but he never misses a word of Mass," said Karmen Lee, director of the Huger Mercy Living Center in Phoenix, where Smyth lives with three other Catholic priests who also have Alzheimer's. "You wouldn't know if you were sitting there he had Alzheimer's," Lee said. Smyth, 78, and his companions live in The House of Michael, a cottage at the Huger center that is designated specifically for priests with Alzheimer's. The cottage is named for the Rev. Michael Weishaar, a Roman Catholic priest who died of the disease early this year. Lee said although the priests are unable to remember much about their lives, they still are able to communicate the best way they know how - through celebrating Mass. "If you can keep God alive for them, they have peace," Lee said. "I can't imagine how many priests are out there and can't communicate what they know." Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, is a progressive, degenerative illness that changes the brain and results in impaired memory thinking and behavior. It cannot be cured or prevented. One in 10 people over age 65 and nearly half of those over 85 have the disease, according to the Phoenix chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. It is not known how many priests in the United States have Alzheimer's, but an estimated 60,000 adults in Arizona and 4 million nationwide suffer from the illness, according to the association. The House of Michael is one of four cottages located on the 5H-acre parcel of land at the Huger center for Alzheimer's patients. Each cottage has a woodburning stove, a small kitchenette, a living room, specially-equipped bathrooms and bedrooms. The center also provides meals, recreational activities and nursing care for about $2,500 a month. Mass is usually celebrated two to five times a week in the chapel. Smyth often helps the visiting priests who officiate at Mass, which is open to the center's 31 residents. Lee said the facility is the only one of its kind that offers a housing area specifically for priests afflicted with the disease. "It's so rewarding every time I see them," Lee said. "That's my gift." The cottage was financed by a special grant from the Frances Moynihan Huger Foundation Inc. Lee said the foundation also has a trust fund to supplement expenses for residents who are unable to afford the full cost. Family members and friends say Alzheimer's is often harder for them to handle than for the actual victims. When "you know them when they are so wonderful, it's hard," said Carole Zacher, a former parishioner and a friend of Smyth. Smyth lives with three other priests: the Rev. Robert Schneider, 66, the Rev. Theophane Robertson, 89, and the Rev. Robert J. Donohoe, 84. Schneider once headed the Catholic school system in Milwaukee. When in the chapel, Schneider will often belt out a favorite Gregorian chant like a seasoned opera singer. Smyth is the former dean of arts and sciences at the University of San Francisco and a former pastor in Phoenix. Robertson, a former priest in Santa Barbara, Calif., spends most of his time quietly reading his Bible. Donohoe, one of the newest residents, is the founder of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Phoenix. He enjoys music and playing the organ. Lee said she's glad the center exists for the Alzheimer's patients. "We just want them to know they are loved," she said. Copyright 1996 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | |