Posted March 10, 2022

Arcadia at Limerick Pointe, a unique senior living community in the Philadelphia suburbs with a groundbreaking Catholic affiliation, is proud to welcome its first Priest in Residency, Father John Gibbons.

Arcadia is the only full-service retirement community the greater Philadelphia area that has such a program.

Father John was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown in 2010 and for the past six years has served as the Administrator of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Philipsburg, Pa., located about 30 miles west of State College.

He recently moved to Limerick to help take care of an ailing relative.

His call to service now places him at Arcadia to serve as the community’s Priest in Residence. In this role, Father Gibbons works closely with the community team to ensure the spiritual needs of residents, as well as their families and loved ones, are being met.

In addition to celebrating Masses, hearing confessions and leading devotions and other group activities, he also offers pastoral care to residents.

This program is meant to foster a resident’s sense of spiritual wellness while offering guidance and support throughout their daily lives.

At Arcadia, pastoral care is evident throughout daily life. Whether it’s sharing a cup of coffee with Father Gibbons, participating in an activity or just chatting, pastoral care honors our residents’ concerns, celebrates their joys and shares their tears.

Spiritual life at Arcadia plays a crucial role in our commitment to wellness. “Through our affiliation with St. Teresa of Calcutta and our Priest in Residency Program, our goal is to keep residents emotionally strong, intellectually sharp and spiritually engaged so they can enjoy the opportunities life continues to provide,” says Karen Garland, Executive Director of Arcadia.

The community partners with St. Teresa’s to develop religious services designed to meet the special needs of residents, including church services in the community chapel as well as other religious programs and activities like prayer groups, Bible studies, apartment blessings, transportation to outside church services, and bereavement support.

Father Gibbons says, “As the resident priest, I most often hear that the residents have a greater sense of joy and peace knowing that a priest is living at Arcadia, as opposed to just visiting. I try to make myself as available as possible to all the residents, Catholics and non-Catholics. My goal is to be present for them and help them grow in their relationship with Christ. Although the program is new, I am very excited about how the residents have responded to the many spiritual offerings available to them.”

For more information about this one-of-a-kind program and the spiritual programs available at Arcadia at Limerick Pointe, visit www.arcadialife.com or call 610-981-1904.