Techny Olympics for Retired Missionaries

By Theresa Carson

A fun, competitive spirit is in the air.

Once every two years, there’s a buzz going around the Divine Word Residence at Techny, followed by a competitive spirit in the air.

The Techny Community is home to 42 Divine Word Missionaries, many of whom are retired and semi-retired missionary priests and brothers — men who have spent their lives serving others. Eight years ago, Activities Director Bridgette Gilchrist began organizing games in which the Techny retired residents can compete while they watch the actual Olympics on television.

“I thought it would develop a deeper comradery between the confreres and that they would have a lot of fun competing,” she said.

That goal has been accomplished tenfold.

“I’ve been at Techny for a year and a half, so I’d heard about [the Techny Olympics],” said Brother Gerard Raker SVD, who competed for the first time this year. “It was exciting. I enjoyed it and looked forward to it each day.”

Brother Gerard, who professed vows in 1964 and served in education and administration, took home four medals and the Mr. Olympia Award.

No matter who takes home the medals, they are all winners.

“They laugh a lot,” Gilchrist said. “That’s the biggest benefit. It’s so much fun to start the day with an Olympic game that creates big belly laughs.”

"They also encourage each other as they compete," she said. "And the men feel a sense of pride when they win games and races that they didn’t think they were capable of winning."

This year marked the fifth Techny Olympics and featured an opening ceremony and six events.

Participants, mostly age 65 and up, competed in frisbee throwing, seated volleyball, walking and wheelchair races, miniature golf, a batting competition and a shooting range with a Nerf gun.

"Many have played these games in their youth and want to try out their skills again," said Gilchrist, who prints t-shirts with each registered participant's name.

When asked what has surprised her about the games, she said "The most surprising thing is how competitive they are. It's all fun and games until the competition starts, and then they get serious and are out to win."

That desire to compete is infectious.

“Every year the list of participants starts out small, but once they see how much fun we have at the first game, everyone comes down from their room and decides they want to play as well,” Gilchrist said. “Some of the men, even while in wheelchairs, surprise us all by winning certain games that I thought they might not be able to play. Weeks after it’s over, the men are still talking about who won what.”