St. John’s Celebrates Residents and Rochester Pride Month
“You are whole, holy, good and loved,” said St. John’s Director of Spiritual Care Sarah Culp to an audience of residents at a recent concert and Pride celebration. Culp spoke with McKnights Long-Term Care News and local media outlets about this celebratory event that featured a glitter blessing.
“Glitter blessings are a mixture of oil and glitter that staff members sprayed on attendees’ faces,” Culp noted. She told McKnights, “Glitter has been a symbol of pride for a long time.”
“It kind of has to do with the gritty, sparkly hope,” said Culp. “That is the glitter in the face of prejudice and oppression and joy and pride in the face of hatred and bigotry. Glitter is resilient and tenacious, and the briefest beam of sunlight can cause it to shine out even in the dustiest or dirtiest of places.”
Read: Pride celebrations at St. John’s Home honor residents, identities – McKnight’s Long-Term Care News
This nondenominational event was cosponsored by St. John’s Spiritual Care and Therapeutic Recreation Teams. St. John’s Therapeutic Recreation Team brought in musical guest and St. John’s Home-favorite Josh Shapiro.
During his performance, Shapiro spoke about how he “loves visiting St. John’s” and his passion for being unapologetically himself.
The theme of being unapologetically oneself at any age and ability was widely embraced during the event according to Culp.
“I think it’s true that if there are LGBTQIA people in the community, that oftentimes they go back in the closet when they come to their nursing home,” Culp told WROC News 8. “And so, if that’s the case for any of our residents, we want them to know from Spiritual Care that they are loved, they belong, and it’s safe.”
Culp and the rest of the event’s organizers are looking forward to bringing this program back next year for Pride Month. “It is a way to celebrate everyone’s uniqueness,” said Culp.