This reflection features Associate Fellow Nicholas Morici and his mother, who frequently volunteer at the Assisi House. Their participation in the Therapeutic Horticultural Program offers a unique perspective on family involvement in service and highlights the meaningful connections formed through fellowship with the Sisters.
Dana and Nicholas Morici
As parents, we strive to give our children a strong foundation — passing on the values and lessons we’ve learned in the hope that they’ll carry them forward. Yet there comes a time when we must step back, allowing them to find their own path and create the experiences and memories that will shape who they become. For our family, the Therapeutic Horticultural Program at the Assisi House has been one of those special gifts.
When Nicholas first walked through the doors, he wasn’t sure what to expect. Meeting the Franciscan Sisters for the first time was both heartwarming and a little nerve-racking. Their faces lit up seeing the volunteers walking down the hall. But when he realized that many of them no longer had the ability to walk without assistance, it touched him deeply. He became part of the team and went into the program thinking he was there to make the Sisters’ lives better, but in fact, it is his life that is growing richer. With each visit, he continues to build connections with the Sisters and gains a greater appreciation for the blessings in his own life — understanding how quickly those blessings can be taken away. He enjoys hearing their stories and relates to many of them as they share their backgrounds, religious life, family life, and much much more. Through these relationships, he’s discovered both the intrinsic beauty of meaningful connections and the extrinsic beauty that comes from shared joy and care.
Listening to Nicholas tell about his experiences stirred something in me. When he couldn’t attend one session, I was blessed with the chance to go in his place. Sitting among the Sisters, seeing their smiles, and watching the fellows happily engaging with them was moving beyond words. The hour passed far too quickly. I wished I could have stayed longer to soak in every moment.
However, I felt honored to get a glimpse into what my son had been experiencing with the other fellows and it filled my heart for I knew that this program is part of something bigger than both of us. These activities are more than just a volunteer opportunity. They are a reminder of the importance of gratitude, connection, and the beauty of simple moments spent together.
As a mother and son, being able to share in this journey has brought us closer, and it has given our family a new perspective and deeper sense of purpose. Bringing a smile to someone’s face is most rewarding when it happens together. The Assisi House has truly become a place where we’ve learned not only to pause, but also to cherish life’s blessing, and to literally and figuratively “stop and smell the roses.”