Sacramental preparation for People with Special Needs
Council: 10019 - LEWISTON
Project Description:
Our council donated $935.00, to St. Joseph’s SPRED, (SPecial Religious EDucation), which was started in 1991, at St Joseph’s Church in Lewiston. After the church closed, the program had to relocate to the Sacred Heart Church Hall, in Auburn, where the group is now meeting every other week through the year. They are staffed with five to nine very dedicated volunteer members, who serve people with special needs resulting from physical, mental, or cognitive conditions. It can be challenging for these important members of our society to participate in liturgies due to physical and social barriers or even family member anxiety. Celebrating a Mass for People with Special Needs can be the first of many steps toward integrating them into regular weekly Mass and more deeply into all the sacraments and other aspects of parish life. The curriculum includes twelve to twenty planned sessions from September through May. The program offers religious education, as well as sacramental preparation to students from our local area, who have special needs not met by public or private systems.
The program was started by, Irene Chamberlain, who is now their Treasurer. They provide a much-needed service for those ages six years old and older, who so greatly appreciate the care and teaching they receive! The funds received will be used to update their class religious books, music, and many required supplies, most of it has been supplied by the staff members and friends. Irene said, ‘without your support we could not have helped St. Joseph’s SPRED Program all these years. Wishing you our prayers and all of God’s Blessings’.
For more information please contact.
Irene Chamberlain,
23 Scribner Circle, Lewiston, ME 04240,
home 207-782-5539.
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