Sister Catherine Verbeten was honored on April 11 by the Volunteer Center of Racine County for her dedicated work with the Racine Dominican Senior Companion Program. She has been a volunteer visitor for homebound elderly and disabled people for the past 15 years.

When she retired from teaching and home care responsibilities in 1993, S. Catherine came to live at Siena Center, motherhouse of the Racine Dominicans. "She immediately became involved as a volunteer," noted Gloria Brown, director of the Senior Companion Program. "She is so conscientious — a wonderful role model for younger people who may think they’re too old to volunteer anymore."

Every week S. Catherine visits people in the Senior Companion Program wherever they live — homes, apartments, assisted living or nursing home facilities. For many of them, she is the only person who takes time to talk with them. As one of her Seniors said, "She is one of the few contacts I have. She is someone who will listen and someone to talk to; I’m not so lonely anymore."

S. Catherine feels the greatest impact she has as a volunteer is "to be a friend and listener," giving her full attention to those she visits. And of course, she continually prays for them as well.

In one case, S. Catherine is the connector for three elderly family members, all of whom are disabled. They live in separate facilities and cannot keep in touch with one another directly. S. Catherine visits each regularly and passes news back and forth among the siblings.