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A Real Senior Class

Theology's John McDargh a favorite at lifelong learning program for elderly Newton residents

By Reid Oslin | Staff Writer

So what does an Episcopalian professor from the theology department of a Jesuit university talk about with a group of Jewish senior citizens?

Buddhism, of course.

That was the topic earlier this month as Assoc. Prof. John McDargh (Theology) delivered a lively lecture on "Buddhism from a Jewish Angle" to more than 50 residents at the Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly's Golda Meir House in Newton.

McDargh's presentation – his fifth to the group – is part of a life-long learning program dubbed "Golda University" at the senior citizen residence, where the average age of tenants is 81 and nearly a third of residents are age 85 or older.

This class of "senior" students is every bit as interested and responsive as the undergrads that he teaches at BC, according to McDargh. "In some ways, they are even less inhibited in asking questions. They are there because they want to learn something new. That's what makes them so alive. These people have not stopped thinking and growing and challenging themselves," he says. "They are life-long learners. I wish our [BC] students would see what it looks like to be a learner for all of your life. That's what they have."

He began the 90-minute presentation to his "Golda U." students by distributing a lecture outline to attendees and sprinkled his breezy presentation with personal anecdotes and humor while touching on the key tenets of Buddhist philosophy.

"I have huge respect for these folks," says McDargh, "and I think they feel that. They are not getting 'Theology Lite.' In a very short period of time, what I gave them is what I would give to an Intro course here at BC. It wasn't watered down at all."

"Our minds create our realities," he told the group as he prepared them for a 10-minute meditation period near the end of the class. "The first step toward getting free is listening to your mind."

McDargh, who was selected as 2008 Teacher of the Year by Boston College's Phi Beta Kappa Chapter, is a also a particular favorite of the "Golda U." student body, say JCHE administrators. "It's easy to understand the positive response when top-quality professors like John make time in their hectic schedules to share their gift for the art of teaching with our tenants," says Laura Isenberg, resident service coordinator at the Golda Meir residence. "It is incredibly important for people – especially those who may not have ever had the chance to go to college. People continue to want to learn."

McDargh learned about the "Golda University" program from BC colleague Prof. Paul Lewis (English), who also has made presentations to the group. Over the past three years, McDargh has lectured to residents on such topics as poetry and spirituality and the book Man's Search for Meaning, written by Viktor Frankl, a Jewish psychologist who survived the Nazi death camps.

"Each one was a wonderful experience," McDargh says.

"He was awesome," exclaimed 98-year-old resident Phyllis Chomiuk after McDargh's recent lecture. "We love him. Send him back to us again."

Reid Oslin can be reached at reid.oslin.1@bc.edu