St. Barnabas 50 Plus Club celebrates golden anniversary

by Emily Canning-Dean

For five decades, the 50 Plus Club at St. Barnabas Catholic Church has served as an outreach to bring fellowship, friendship and fun to older adults in the community.

Still going strong, the group celebrated its 50th anniversary on Aug. 14 with a picnic at Sagamore Hills Park that included chicken, a potluck of dishes from members and an anniversary cake.

“It’s hard and exciting at the same time to celebrate so many years. Time marches on, changes occur and looking to the future is always a challenge and a mystery as well,” said Marie Mikovsky, a longtime member of the 50 Plus Club.

Mikovsky said the inspiration to start the 50 Plus Club began in the 1970s when newly ordained priest Rev. Norm Douglas was first assigned to St. Barnabas.

“He was excited to get to know people in the parish and bring many people together,” she said. “One of the ways he got to know people was to form different groups, thus the beginning of the 50 Plus Club.”

Mikovsky said Douglas was outgoing, welcoming and worked with older people.

“His mother was around the age of 50 so he knew it would be a good age for people to get involved in parish life and with one another,” she said.

Mikovsky said the 50 Plus Club meets the second Friday of each month from 1-3 p.m. in the Bedell Commons of the parish.

Monthly meetings start with prayer and a reading of the previous month’s meeting minutes before attendees enjoy dessert, bingo and a drawing for $5.

“We have other activities as they become available,” said Mikovsky. “We also give scholarships of $500 to two St. Barnabas school students going to a Catholic high school. We have a Christmas luncheon each year at a nearby restaurant, the annual picnic at Sagamore Hills Park, some bus trips and sometimes we have exercises and guest speakers.”

Mikovsky said roughly 40 people attend each monthly gathering.

“There are no specific requirements to join the group,” she said. “Just come and be welcomed by the group. We ask for $20 per year to take up the cost of desserts at each meeting along with miscellaneous costs for celebrations throughout the year.”

Mikovsky said the club has seen some changes over the years as the lifestyle for many 50-plus folks has evolved over the last five decades.

“Many people are still working at this age,” she said. “Aging as well as grandparents taking care of their grandchildren during the day has cut into our numbers.”

For more information about the club, call St. Barnabas at 330-467-7959.

Photo caption: Members of the St. Barnabas 50-Plus Club enjoyed an anniversary celebration in Sagamore Hills Park this summer. Photo submitted.