History | Disabilities

History of the Ministry with Persons with Disabilities in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend

2011

MINISTRY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IS ESTABLISHED
COLLABORATION WITH THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC PARTNERSHIP ON DISABILITY (NCPD)

2012

PARISH SURVEY is sent to all pastors to evaluate the priority of serving people with disabilities in their parish regarding physical accessibility, financial commitment, and providing training for teachers and catechists
MASS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES is celebrated by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades at St. Matthew Cathedral, South Bend
DIOCESAN DISABILITIES ADVISORY BOARD consisting of parents, educators, professionals, diocesan staff, and a pastor is formed

2013

MASS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES is celebrated by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades at St. Jude Catholic Church, Fort Wayne
EUCHARISTIC HOLY HOUR sponsored by Dr. Jerome Lejeune Medical Guild and the Ministry for People with Disabilities at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Fort Wayne

2014

MEET & GREETS held in Fort Wayne and South Bend
MINISTRY FAIR participant at Our Lady of Good Hope Parish, Fort Wayne

2015

RETREAT FOR TEENS WITH DOWN SYNDROME support at Our Lady of the Angels Oratory with the Franciscan Sisters Minor
BUILDING INCLUSIVE PARISHES (BIP) is formed in the Fort Wayne area. It is a volunteer grassroots effort of individuals from various Fort Wayne area parishes dedicated to assist diocesan staff in serving individuals with disabilities
ZEAL MISSIONARY DISCIPLESHIP FAIR participant at Bishop Dwenger High School, Fort Wayne
CATHOLIC SCHOOL MISSION DAY information table in Fort Wayne and South Bend
ADVENT PENANCE SERVICE provides accessibility to people in wheelchairs to attend penance services

2016

BIP (BUILDING INCLUSIVE PARISHES) CORE MEMBERS MEET WITH BISHOP KEVIN C. RHOADES to share experiences of individuals in parish communities who have made a positive influence in the life of their loved one with a disability
BIP (BUILDING INCLUSIVE PARISHES) CORE MEMBERS SPEAK TO PRIESTS AT FALL PRESBYTERATE MEETING
MIRIAM’S BLESSING IS ESTABLISHED by a former disability advisory board member in our diocese. It is a chapter of the National Apostolate “Be Not Afraid”, a ministry devoted to supporting couples who receive a catastrophic pre-natal diagnosis
CATHOLIC SCHOOL MISSION DAY information table in Fort Wayne and South Bend
PARENT WORKSHOP offered for parents with children with disabilities in Fort Wayne
DRE WORKSHOP offered in Fort Wayne
LOOP (ASSISTED LISTENING SERVICE) is installed at Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church after a BIP core member raises the $6000+ needed in one week
BIP MONTHLY MEETINGS begin at the Archbishop Noll Center, Fort Wayne

2017

MASS & MINGLE offered at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church, South Bend
PARISH ASSESSMENT conducted at St. Anthony Catholic Parish, South Bend
BIP GROUP FORMS in South Bend
NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (NCPD) GREAT LAKES REGIONAL MEETING participant in Michigan
CATHOLIC SCHOOL MISSION DAY informational table in Fort Wayne and South Bend

2018

“BUILDING INCLUSIVE PARISHES” IS CHANGED TO “BELONGING” and "MINISTRY FOR ... " IS CHANGED TO "MINISTRY WITH PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES"
MONTHLY BELONGING MEETINGS ARE HELD AT VARIOUS FW PARISHES as core members from St. Vincent de Paul, Most Precious Blood, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton ask their pastor to host
disAbilities EXPO participant at the Fort Wayne Memorial Coliseum
NCPD GREAT LAKES REGIONAL MEETING participant in Michigan
CATHOLIC SCHOOL MISSION DAY information table in Fort Wayne and South Bend
COVERAGE FOR APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA) FOR DIOCESAN STAFF AND TEACHERS is offered when diocesan staff work together to support parent/teacher of child with autism

2019

STAFF FROM THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE AND OFFICE OF CATECHESIS attend the Fort Wayne Belonging meeting in March
STAFF FROM THE OFFICE OF CATECHESIS, HISPANIC MINISTRY, & MINISTRY WITH PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES meet to discuss how to work together to provide sacramental prep and provide support and resources to parish DREs
ADULT MALE WITH COGNITIVE DISABILITIES RECEIVES SACRAMENTS with support from pastor, parish and diocesan staff
ADDITIONAL ACCESSIBLE PARKING SPACES are designated after a request is made by a parishioner at St. John the Baptist, Fort Wayne to the pastor. Collaboration by parish staff, diocesan staff, and city officials results in three additional spots along a street bordering one side of the church
DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (DRE) SPRING MEETING at St. Pius, Granger focuses on how to make the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) 2017 Revised Guidelines for the Celebration of Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities known to parents, pastors, and parish staffs
disAbilities EXPO participant at the FW Memorial Coliseum for the second consecutive year
DIOCESE OF FORT WAYNE-SOUTH BEND HOST THE 2019 NCPD GREAT LAKES REGIONAL MEETING AT LINDENWOOD RETREAT CENTER Staff representing 10 dioceses from Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio learn of the grassroots efforts from the FW Belonging core members and the successful collaborative efforts of staff from several offices and ministries in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. Miguel Romero, a Moreau Postdoctoral Research & Fellow with the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame and current Assistant Professor at Salve Regina University is the Keynote Speaker
BISHOP KEVIN C. RHOADES CELEBRATES A LOW-SENSORY BI-LINGUAL CONFIRMATION MASS at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church for ten youths from Fort Wayne, Plymouth, South Bend, and Warsaw parishes. Several pastors of the youth concelebrate
CATHOLIC SCHOOL MISSION DAY informational tables in Fort Wayne and South Bend

2020

SENSORY-FRIENDLY MASSES BEGIN AT ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON, FORT WAYNE the first five Sundays of Lent at the request of a parishioner/belonging member. Masses are suspended after the third Sunday due to Covid and resume in September. Sensory-Friendly Masses are moved temporarily to a regularly scheduled weeknight Mass
MONTHLY “BELONGING” MEETINGS ARE MOVED FROM IN-PERSON TO ZOOM
COVID CHALLENGES: LOW-GLUTEN HOSTS AND FACE MASKS Ministry with Persons with Disabilities and the Office of Worship collaborate on directives to parishes regarding the offering of low-gluten hosts and the Blood of Christ for individuals unable to receive the Host with gluten. Advocacy on behalf of individuals who experience anxiety issues when wearing face masks at Mass are offered to pastors on a case-by-case basis
THE “FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS” (FAQ DOCUMENT) IS REVISED TO INCLUDE THE “PASTORAL PREROGATIVE OF THE CELEBRATION OF A SACRAMENT” IN ADDITION TO THE GUIDELINES REGARDING PREPARATION OF THE SACRAMENT for individuals with special needs as stated in the 2017 document “Celebration of Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities” by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

2021

ZOOM WORKSHOPS are offered on “Sensory-Friendly Masses” and “How to Create a Sense of Belonging in Parishes” in the spring
MEETING WITH HISPANIC MINISTRY STAFF AND BI-LINGUAL DRE’S
SENSORY-FRIENDLY MASS BEGINS AT ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH, FORT WAYNE on the second Friday of the month at 5:45pm
SENSORY-FRIENDLY MASS AT ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON CATHOLIC CHURCH, FORT WAYNE moves to the first Tuesday of the month at 6:00pm
CATHOLIC SCHOOL MISSION DAY WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS "Supporting Students with Disabilities in the Classroom: A discussion of special education within private schools and practical strategies for the classroom from a faith-based perspective" & "Bridging Parent/Teacher Perspectives on Students with Disabilities” in Fort Wayne and South Bend
SENSORY-FRIENDLY MASS AT ST. VINCENT de PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, FORT WAYNE begins on Sunday, November 7 and is scheduled for every Sunday at 1:30pm