I have some wonderful news to share. St. Helen has been asked to be a pilot parish for the Pastoral Ministry with Persons with Disabilities program, and we are fully committed to leading this effort. Along with two staff members and two parishioners, I recently met with Anne Masters, the Archdiocese of Newark’s director of pastoral ministry with persons with disabilities. The main purpose of the program is to offer concrete guidance on how parishes can accompany people with disabilities and those who love them.
Our focus as a pilot parish will be on inclusivity, the dignity of all persons, and creating a welcoming spiritual environment for individuals with disabilities. The vision is to ensure that all people, regardless of age or disability, feel genuinely welcomed and included at St. Helen.
As part of the pilot program, we’re assessing what St. Helen already has in place from Kids Korner to adult ministries to ensure we foster an inclusive environment. We plan to work closely with staff and volunteers to build on these efforts, ensuring that individuals with disabilities have access to more resources, feel comfortable receiving sacraments, and, most importantly, can fully attend and participate in Mass.
As a pilot parish, we will reach out to parishioners to understand what might be discouraging them from attending Mass and engaging with parish life. We also aim to implement any needed accommodations for ministry registrations so everyone feels welcomed and included in all aspects of our community. This ministry will strengthen our parish and the lives of those it serves.
This program will help us accompany others with disabilities to feel a part of the parish community ultimately sharing the Body of Christ with those who might find it difficult due to a challenge they face. What a beautiful ministry to which we open ourselves!
God Bless You All,
Msgr. Tom