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Young seminarian takes on kitchen work to continue volunteering

September 23rd, 2020

Isaac Nibourg is a familiar presence at Points West Living Stettler. In the summer of 2019, he volunteered at mealtimes to help residents who needed assistance. His plan was to do the same in 2020, but then COVID 19 closed doors to all but employee care partners and essential visitors.

No volunteering, but there is work

“Isaac came back to assist again this year but due to COVID-19 we were unable to have volunteers in the community,” says General Manager, Carol Dyck. “However, our kitchen required a Hospitality Aide to serve and assist in the main kitchen to cover vacation time, and Isaac was a great fit for this. After his shifts and on days off Isaac was able to come in and he continued to visit with some of the Catholic parishioners who reside at Points West Living.”

St. Joseph Seminary

Isaac, who grew up in Stettler, lives at St. Joseph Seminary in Edmonton during the school year. He is in his second year of a four-year philosophy degree at the seminary’s Newman Theological College. That degree will be followed by another four years completing a degree in Theology. Bookending the degree years are a Propaedeutic year (a contemplative year of discernment that Isaac has already completed), and a one-year internship. By then Isaac's path to priesthood will have been 10 years long.

Doctor of souls

That’s quite a commitment for a young man who is just 20 years old. Isaac acknowledges that it would take the same amount of study to become a medical doctor, saying that he is content to put his preparation into becoming “a doctor of souls.”

Building relationships

“When I talked to the recreation team at PWL Stettler about volunteering,” says Isaac, “they thought it would be better to build relationships rather than spread myself too thinly.” So he has spent the summer taking time with a handful of residents, including Maurice Dupont, Clara Olsen, and his own grandmother, resident Min Nibourg.

A wonderful thing for residents

“Outside of work, I would visit with my grandmother for an hour, then go and visit one or two others, for anywhere from half an hour to an hour.” Isaac says he has really enjoyed the experience and hopes to return again next summer.

“This was a wonderful thing for our residents,” says GM Carol, “as even the ministry personnel were not able to attend to their flock during this time.”

Photo: Kitchen care partner and seminarian Isaac Nibourg bakes up some muffins (left), and visits with residents Maurice Dupont (top right), and Clara Olsen (lower right).

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