'She Is a Beautiful Woman of Faith'

At 85, Chester resident proves you’re never too old to become a Catholic

CHESTER  It was 20 years ago when Dorothy Branham began attending Masses that started to be offered at her place of residence: the Chester Area Senior Housing Robert E. Cole Apartments here. This seasoned African-American woman loved to participate in the liturgies, singing the hymns and folding her hands in prayer — like a typical Catholic — except that Branham wasn’t Catholic. But she is now.

This lively senior has been getting gradually closer to the Catholic faith over the past two decades — helped through Masses and visits by priests from nearby St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish here — which finally led to her full initiation into the Church at the age of 85. Father Nicholas Bozza, St. Lawrence’s pastor, and Father Edgar Rivera, parochial vicar, celebrated Mass on Aug. 18 at the Cole Apartments and gave Branham the Sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation.

Branham’s late-in-life Catholic conversion demonstrates that “You Are Never Too Old to Receive Sacraments,” as a bold headline about the momentous occasion had declared in a recent edition of St. Lawrence’s bulletin. Now, she can participate fully in Catholic Masses and the Sacraments.

“I’m so happy in my heart that I’m now part of the Church. I’m happy that, when I die, I will have a home with God,” said Branham, a widow with a son and granddaughter, who has been a 50-year resident of the Chester area and a 20-year resident of the Cole Apartments.

Most of the facility’s 39 residents — many of them raised Catholic — attended the Mass, which was assisted at by Deacon Duberney Villamizar, a diocesan seminarian. Standing with Branham was her sponsor, Bill Thompson, a younger resident, who became Catholic a few years ago, said Mary Ellen Potucek, manager of the Cole Apartments and coordinator of lectors at St. Lawrence.

“God had a way to touch the heart of Dorothy for her to tell Father Edgar, ‘I want to become Catholic,’ ” said Father Bozza, who credited the many priests of St. Lawrence, who have ministered to the Cole Apartments over the years, including two former pastors: Msgr. Kevin Flanagan, who initiated the Masses, and Msgr. Paul Knauer. “On that day [of Branham’s initiation], the Mass was beautiful. Dorothy was beaming. She was a good advertisement for being Catholic,” the pastor said.

It’s clear that Branham’s increasing familiarity with the Catholic faith stirred in her a greater love of the Church. Branham would “take pride in setting the altar and caring for the altar linens” at the Cole Apartments, starting with the tenure of Msgr. Flanagan, Potucek said.

“The residents formed their own Christian community and welcomed Dorothy into the group for Masses. Even though she was not Catholic, she was a faithful participant and, in my recollection, never missed a Mass. Dorothy joined in the responses and became very familiar with the liturgy,” said Msgr. Flanagan, now serving St. Philip the Apostle Parish, Clifton, who noted that Branham had never indicated that she wanted to become Catholic, during their conversations. “It now makes me very happy that Dorothy has finally embraced the faith. The Holy Spirit has given her the direction and inspiration to make that final decision. My prayer is that she will be truly blessed in her new-found faith and that it may bring her hope, peace and fulfillment. She is a beautiful woman of faith,” the priest said.

Throughout the years, Branham also practiced Christian compassion, extending her friendship to all residents. She had befriended Potucek’s mother, Haroldine Eckert, a former resident who died a few years ago, and the rest of her family. They include Potucek’s daughters —Emily, who studies at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, and Morgan at Loyola University in Maryland — who returned to Chester to attend the Aug. 18 liturgy.

A few years ago, St. Lawrence discontinued regular Masses at the Cole Apartments, as attendance declined. Today, Father Rivera ministers to the senior facility each week, visiting one-on-one with many residents. Also each week, an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion from the parish distributes the Eucharist at the non-denominational residence, which also offers Protestant services, Potucek said.

“Dorothy told me that she wanted to be baptized in the Church, because she wants a Catholic funeral. I told her, ‘We can work with that,’ ” Father Rivera said.

Father Rivera started to talk to Branham about the faith, during weekly visits as a simple way of teaching her the basics of the Catholicism. He taught her prayers, such as the “Our Father” and the “Hail Mary” and the Apostles’ Creed. Also, the priest gave the faith-filled senior some homework, such as practicing the Sign of the Cross, and answered her many questions about the faith. Early on, Branham got help with her lessons from Shirl McElwee, her friend and a fellow resident — a challenge, because of her hearing loss, Potucek said.

Due of Branham’s advanced age, Father Rivera obtained emergency permission from Bishop Serratelli for her to receive the Sacraments with the help of Father Kevin Corcoran, priest-secretary to the Bishop and diocesan vice chancellor, the priest said.

“Dorothy’s becoming Catholic has been a good thing. Now that most of the residents came to the Mass, they know me. I am not a stranger. Also, she loves to talk about her Baptism with residents and share her faith and what happened to her — and the people listen,” Father Rivera said. “Dorothy was always Catholic in her heart; she just needed a blessing.”