Our parishes must be sensitive to the needs of persons with disabilities, as well as learn to identify the gifts they offer as fully participating members of the Body of Christ.

Ministry with the Deaf The Office for Parish Life - Ministry with the Deaf works to provide pastoral care for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. We do this through:

· Religious education classes for children

· Sacramental preparation

· RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults)

· Religious Information Sessions for Deaf adults

· Interpreted liturgies ( weekly and monthly )

· Interpreters for diocesan and parish events

· Parent meetings for sacramental preparation sessions
  interpreted

· Seasonal liturgical and social events

· Retreats

· Visiting the sick and the aged Deaf

· Training of Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist

Northeastern Pennsylvania Catholic Deaf Association
Interpreted Mass Schedule 2007

The following services are made available:

· Workshops for religious educators upon request

· Special religious education resource materials

· In-service of “The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Program to
  Improve Religious Education for Adults and Children with
  Intellectual Disabilities”

· SPRED ( Special Religious Education ) for persons with
  developmental disabilities

· “Opening Doors” – Disabilities awareness program

· Training of Parish Advocates for Persons with Disabilities

· In-servicing parish catechists

SPRED (Special Religious Education) SPRED is a process of religious education for persons with developmental disabilities (children – adults) who come together in small communities for catechesis, faith sharing and celebration. The groups engage in activities that are quieting and calming in preparation for the catechesis.

SPRED helps to integrate persons with developmental disabilities into the life of their parishes through this process of religious education.

"OPENING DOORS” The “OPENING DOORS” is a disabilities awareness program which seeks to educate our Catholic school students to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of every person, and to realize that persons with disabilities are persons, first!

God has created a world of unique human beings. We have strengths and weaknesses, gifts and talents. How do we use the gifts God has given to us? How do we see others? Do we judge others by their appearances? Are we willing to learn about people who seem to be different? Do we strive to be the BEST person that God has created us to be?

The “OPENING DOORS” team consists of presenters who have various disabilities who will share their stories and help the students to realize that our differences (our gifts, talents, appearances etc.) only add beauty and variety to God’s wonderful world.