The Malta Circus was back in town! On Saturday, April 5th, the NYC Area hosted its annual Circus for the children and young adults of ArchCare at Mother Cabrini Hospital, located at Terence Cardinal Cooke HealthCare Center in East Harlem. A short video of the Circus, as reported by the Archdiocese of New York’s The Good Newsroom, is available when you click here.
The TCC Auditorium was transformed into the Big Top, with festive circus animal balloons and inflatables, banners galore and a myriad of other circus decorations. Live entertainment included Mother Cabrini favorite The Squeaky Clean Band and the juggling antics of Watson the Clown. Our volunteers transported the children and young adults from their rooms to the Big Top, where the residents (partnered with family members, Mother Cabrini staff, and our volunteers) paraded, danced and played with bubble guns, jazz ribbons and more.
Our veteran Ringmaster of Games, Maggie Ludwiczak, DM led fun group games such as Musical Wheelchairs and Beach Ball Hot Potato. A new Limbo contest proved to be a big hit. We also had a Photo Wall, where the residents and family members could don silly circus props and be photographed with Cookie the Elephant and Rainbow the Unicorn (thank you, James Palazza and Mercedes de Guardiola for being the “handlers” for these animal inflatables!). At the conclusion of the Circus, each resident received a circus animal plush toy and our volunteers transported the residents back to their floors. It was a day filled with smiles, joy, and love. Thank you to the St. John Committee, whose Spring Knights event donated the funding for the plush toys and some Circus decorations.
ArchCare at Mother Cabrini Hospital is home to children and young adults who have serious neurological impairments and other extraordinary medical needs. The wonderful, dedicated Recreational Therapists of MCH try to bring as many childhood experiences as possible to the MCH residents. It is a blessing for the NYC Area to share this Circus experience with these beautiful children of God. Come join the NYC Area for our First Saturday Singalongs at MCH (next is Saturday May 3). For more information about our work with Mother Cabrini Hospital, please click here to contact Steve Bujno, KM.
