Enabled by His love…
disAbled No Longer!

By: Sister Rita Wenzlick, OP

Director
Office of Pastoral Planning, Diocese of Lansing

 

"The greatest suffering of the developmentally disabled is to feel 'different' and 'useless'.  He or she needs friends who will help them discover their own personality and place in society, friends who love and respect them.  But most of all, the developmentally disabled need the Love of God which he or she may discover through their friends.  If, through faith and especially by experiencing the presence of Divine Love in themselves, they can discover how much Jesus really loves them, I venture to say they are no longer disabled!"

 

That is the philosophy that drove Jean Vanier to found the L'Arche Community Homes of Developmentally disAbled and it is the philosophy that underpins the work of the Diocese of Lansing in its support for special religious education programs for adults with developmental disAbilities — programs which have been making a difference in the lives of these people for nearly 40 years.

 

The first of these local efforts was introduced in 1969 with the formation of the Jackson Area Catholic Special Religious Education Program (JACSRE).  The second, the Special Religious Education Class of St. Paul Catholic Church, Owosso, celebrated its 35^th Anniversary on May 7, 2008.

 

The success of programs like these certainly figured into the thinking of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops when, in November, 1978, it issued a pastoral statement on persons with disabilities.  The bishops called for "…broader integration of persons with disabilities into the full life of the Church, through increased evangelization and catechesis and by participation in the Church's sacramental life."  The statement was reaffirmed by the bishops on its 10^th anniversary.

 

JACSRE is a collaborative effort of eight Jackson-area parishes with an enrollment of about 25 students.  The program is offered in the facilities of Queen of the Miraculous Medal Parish, Jackson, under the direction of Jeannette Lienhart who is assisted by a staff of 20 volunteers.  Those volunteers include: parents, teachers, siblings, advocates from the area parishes and youth fulfilling Christian Service hours.  Funding for the program comes from the involved parishes and their Councils of the Knights of Columbus through their Palm Sunday "Tootsie Roll Drive."

 

"The staff and I receive much more out of the experience than the students," says Jeanette.  "These students bring us all closer to God."

 

As Jeanette describes the program, "It began out of a belief that God calls all of us to serve Him with a unique plan for our lives.  This calling and plan touch all fibers of being human.  The quality of that Christian life in the Catholic Church encompasses the needs of the disAbled and challenges the ministry to encourage an individual relationship with the Lord."

 

JACSRE is a very structured educational effort offering small group instruction for adults who are developmentally, physically and/or socially challenged.  It employs a variety of media including Bible study, prayer, comprehension, videos, music, arts and crafts, dance, drama, socialization, yearly retreats and summer activity.  It seeks to bring the Catholic Faith home to its students through areas of sacramental preparation, spiritual development, scripture study, liturgy, stewardship and prayer.

 

In the main, the program operates on Monday evenings from October through April.  The staff begins each evening with prayer and an informational meeting.  The students and staff then divide into three small groups to reflect for about 30 minutes on the gospel for the coming Sunday.  Instructional materials include Celebrating the Lectionary and The Good News Weekly of Ligouri Press.  This is followed by a large group activity which may include a skit about the gospel, an arts and crafts project or something to do with the students' patron saints.  The students' involvement is always heightened when they can present something to the group.   

 

At the parents' option, some younger students receive small group instruction for the sacraments of First Eucharist, First Reconciliation and Confirmation.

 

Holidays provide the opportunity for special activities and in the summertime, the students journey a trip to Lansing for a Lugnuts baseball game.  Stewardship is an important component of the program.  The students have sent care packages to the troops in Iraq and last year, they sent them to Iraqi school children.  Each season concludes with a closing Mass and celebratory dinner.

 

This past April, a wedding of two students took place.  The students were appropriately prepared for the sacrament of marriage and it was a celebration of a lifetime for all who knew the couple.  The newlyweds are self-sufficient, working and living in an apartment under the watchful guidance of a family living nearby.

 

Over its nearly 40 years, JACSRE has become a model program.  Guidelines for setting up similar programs have been developed and are available through the Diocese of Lansing's Ministry with Persons with disAbilities.

 

Junior to JACSRE by only a few years, the special religious education class of St. Paul Catholic Church in Owosso was also a pioneer in this important work on behalf of the developmentally disAbled.  It was launched by the late Rosemary Ryan, the Sisters of Charity, and Vicki Isaacson.  These visionary women were succeeded by Mary Hughes who taught in the program for 22 years and served as its director for 13 of those years.  Currently at the helm is Rosemary Bocek.

 

Also the product of area-wide collaboration, the program currently has enrolled about 15 students from St. Joseph and from St. Paul Parishes.  Its seven staff members come together with the students each Wednesday evening October through April.  The program includes:  prayer, Bible study, singing, crafts, bingo and snacks. 

 

Instructional materials for this effort come from the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Foundation and are titled:  "Improve Catholic Education for Children and Adults with Mental Retardation."  These materials are also utilized by the Diocese of Pittsburgh in its work with the developmentally disAbled and are made widely available to others through the foundation.

 

The special activities that have proven popular with the Owosso students are a fall picnic, a holiday shopping trip, a Christmas party, Diocese of Lansing Family Day With the Bishop and a special Mass and dinner to conclude the year's program.

 

"If the folks in your area are thinking of establishing a program like this," says Rosemary Bocek, "do not be afraid to get started.  It is a very rewarding experience.  Families get to know each other as well as each others' needs.  Children have been baptized, received first Eucharist, have been confirmed and have experienced a reflection on the sacrament of reconciliation.  It is an indescribable feeling when one sees all that can be accomplished because they were willing to get involved!"

 

Joann Davis, who directed JACSRE for 12 years before becoming Director of the Diocesan Ministry with Persons with disAbilities, strongly supports the area parish program as the best approach to bringing the love of Jesus to persons with disAbilities.

           
"One of my favorite quotes," Joann says, "comes from the National Directory of Catechesis: 'All persons with disAbilities have the capacity to proclaim the Gospel to be living witnesses to its truth within the community of faith and offer valuable gifts.  Their involvement enriches every aspect of Church life.  They are not just the recipients of catechesis—they are also its agents.'"

 

Joann goes on to say, "In our parish community today most children with disAbilities are included in the regular religious education programs.  When these children leave the school settings many are still in need of that community, a place where they can connect with their friends and make new friends while sharing the 'Good News' of the gospel.  These religious education programs for adults with disAbilities are a gathering of faith filled people wanting to continue to share their faith life with others."

 

"Working with this program as a volunteer can be a life changing experience; it was for me.  I was proud to direct the Jackson program for 12 years, never thinking that I would be considered to be director of ministry with persons with disAbilities for the Diocese of Lansing.  It is a ministry about welcoming all to the table of the Lord by opening doors, minds and most importantly hearts.  If you are interested in starting a religious education program for adults with disAbilities, give my office a call," urges Joann.

 

(Note:  No, the upper case "A" in disAbility throughout this report is not a typo.  Think of it as a "hype-o."  Wherever Joann Davis uses that word, the "A" is in upper case to emphasize the positives of Ability over the negatives of disability. Given the nature of this article, STW is happy to adopt that style to support Joann's efforts.  No matter how you spell it, if you are interested in helping in this important work, Joann will gladly show you the way.)

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Ms. Joann Davis

Director, Ministry with Persons with disAbilities

Diocese of Lansing

jdavis@dioceseoflansing.org

517-342-2497

 

Ms. Jeanette Lienhart

Director,

Jackson Area Catholic Special Religious Education Program

517-783-5566

 

Ms. Rosemary Bocek

Director

Owosso Special Religious Education

989-743-4287