Ministry for Catholics with DisAbilities Committee

MISSION 

Often families are not prepared for the birth of a child with a disability or the development of impairments. Our pastoral response is to become informed about disabilities and to offer ongoing support to the family, and welcome to the child. _{Welcome and Justice for Persons with disabilities 1998, 9}

GOALS

Assisted by this same principle, the Ministry for Catholics with disAbilities derives three main guiding key words for our mission in serving Catholics with disAbilities: information, support, and welcome. These, in return, have given us a strong base for our general goals and objectives:

1. We will strive to create ways to inform ourselves and those we serve on persons with disabilities by using social media and training opportunities.

2. We will support parents and caregivers of persons with disabilities by creating online resources of available and existing services.

3. We will identify opportunities to welcome persons with disabilities to the Body of Christ through awareness and advocacy.

SENSORY FRIENDLY MASS

Sunday, November 17, 2024, at 3:00 pm  

St. Lawrence the Martyr, 4325 Don Julio, North Highlands

The Diocese of Sacramento Office of Family and Faith Formation and the Ministry for Catholics with DisAbilities (MCdA) will be hosting a Sensory Friendly Mass at St. Lawrence Parish in North Highlands on Sunday, November 17 at 3:00 pm.  All are welcome to attend, especially those with sensory issues.  The Mass will be in a stigma-free environment with special accommodations to help reduce instances of overstimulation.  

For more information, contact Martha Haig at mhaig@scd.org or 916-733-0132.

SUPPORT & TRAINING

Support/Resource Meeting for DRE/CREs

Support group for those providing faith formation & sacramental preparation to Catholic Children with disAbilities   2nd Thursday of every month on TEAMS at 10am - Click Here To Join

ADAPTIVE CATECHESIS / ADAPTIVE FAITH FORMATION

What? 

“Parish catechetical and sacramental preparation programs may need to be adapted for some parishioners with disabilities, though, as much as possible, persons with disabilities should be integrated into the ordinary programs.” Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities, General Principle 5

 Who?

“Catholics with disabilities have a right to participate in the sacraments as fully as other members of the local ecclesial community.” ibid, 2

“All members of the faith community have a role to play in the invitation, welcome, and inclusion of people with disabilities.” ibid, 7

Where?

“Since the parish is the center of the Christian experience for most Catholics, pastors, and other parish ministers should make every effort to provide for all Catholics with disabilities who reside within a parish’s boundaries.” ibid, 4

When?

“Sacred ministers cannot deny the sacraments to those who seek them at appropriate times, are properly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them.” Codex Iuris Canonici, 843, §1

Why?

“All persons with disabilities have gifts to contribute to the whole Church. When persons with disabilities are embraced and welcomed and invited to participate fully in all aspects of parish community life, the Body of Christ is more complete.” ibid, Conclusion.

DIOCESAN PARISHES w/ ADAPTIVE PROGRAM

RESOURCES

Faith Formation At Home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6GijTPZkcI&list=PLQry1jGzLxp-wy08QzeQ2pFf5GgtbQrIl&index=3 

Calming Individuals in Distress
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdSyLuf0pv8&list=PLQry1jGzLxp-wy08QzeQ2pFf5GgtbQrIl&index=1

Supporting Persons with Mental Illness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuJe_iDqEhk&feature=youtu.be

Apoyando a estudiantes con necesidades de procesamiento sensorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E0GlK-gT2s&feature=youtu.be

Recognizing the Body of Christ (8 videos)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQry1jGzLxp_V5hnKfGESSPAsT_iOohl-

Understanding Autism (Workshops 6 videos)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQry1jGzLxp90T3GBSNSIxRy78ni9_yHT

Autism Strategies, Resources, and Models (Workshops 6 videos)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQry1jGzLxp9WWmv13OKGKkMVLIYdkhkU