When Parents First Encounter Disability; Mental Illness & Alzheimer's Awareness

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Anne Masters, Ph.D., FAAIDD

Director

Anne.Masters@rcan.org

973-497-4309

Vol. 3, Issue 3, October 15, 2021

Dear Friends and Co-Workers in the Vineyard,

I know you have much to think about as you work for the re-engagement of your parish community as we move (slowly) toward life beyond COVID. We initiate this with excitement and trepidation as an archdiocese this month by launching Vine & Branches and celebrating the Archdiocesan Opening Mass of the Synod. Both of these initiatives emphasize the importance of reaching out to people who aren't engaged in the parish community.

Many individuals with disabilities and those who love them often don't feel engaged or a true sense of belonging in the Church. As many as 32% of parents change their congregation because of how their son or daughter is treated and another 38% have reported considering this.

This edition of One Body in Christ Together offeres ways to counter these experiences. It includes A Story of Pastoral Accompaniment with a child who has a mental health condition and the mother that provides a wonderful counter example. There are also links to information and pastoral resources that can be helpful including When Parents First Encounter Disability, that can help at other stages on the journey. October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month that emphasizes appreciation and celebration and it is also a month that calls for compassion with Mental Illness Awareness Week. Looking ahead, November is Alzheimer's Awareness Month. See also about English and Spanish recorded and live sessions at this year's Catechist Convocation. Please share with all you think may be interested.

Thank you for all you do for ALL of God's people!

Yours in Christ,

Anne

Can A Child Have a Mental Illness? A Story of Pastoral Accompaniment

Can a child have a mental illness? YES!

This is a story about obsessive-compulsive disorder and the Eucharist (based on a true situation in one of our parishes but will be shared without any names): How to respond?

Just this week a Parish Catechetical Leader (PCL) reached out to me from one of our parishes about a child in the parish program. The child has OCD and ADHD. The vigilance about germs required during COVID have significantly exacerbated the child's OCD symptoms to the point of not being able to eat in public spaces and is afraid to receive communion. This doesn’t help their ADHD symptoms either, making it more difficult to be still. With all of this, the child can't attend the parish catechetical program and certainly doesn’t want to prepare for first celebration of Eucharist. What would you do? Click here to read the story .

Click here for template to guide development of a pastoral support plan .

Image from NAMI Facebook page: click here to access NAMI FB page

Deacon Ed Shoener is founder of Catholic Mental Health Ministers. Here is an excerpt from his homily on mental illness. "And then the realization will sink in that there is no real cure. If you are lucky there may be medicines and therapy that will allow you to live with the mental illness - but not everyone is so lucky. If you have never experienced a serious illness it is hard to understand what such illnesses can do. How the illness can totally disrupt a person's life." Click here to read the rest of Deacon Ed's homily.

When Parents First Encounter Disability ... and At Other Times

This presentation will help pastoral leaders, both clergy and lay, to understand parents' experiences and feel better equipped to respond pastorally to parents’ concerns and questions. This recorded presentation is geared for parents at all points along the journey, but particularly for early stages, such as a prenatal diagnosis, a new born with a disability or newly diagnosed at a young age. Pictured here are the three families and a behavioral developmental pediatrician who share insights and lessons learned with me in a collection of short videos. It will be available for

by Anne Masters, Ph.D., FAAIDD the entire month of November online in the Lighting Hearts on Fire Family Life Conference sponsored by the Diocese of Metuchen. This is a FREE event. Click here for the registration page.

Click here for information on appreciating the gift of life in October through National Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

Catechist Convocation for New Jersey dioceses: October 21-24.

Recorded presentations with live sessions for questions and answers in English and Spanish:

A Catechist's Task: Accompanying Individuals with Disabilities Part 1 & Part 2, Anne Masters in English. Part 1 focuses on the first step of accompaniment: encountering learners with different disabilities. It draws on the new Directory for Catechesis and Pope Francis' Apostolic Letter on the ministry of the catechist, "Antiquum Ministerium." Based on this information, Part 2 shares evidence-based practices to accompany diverse learners within the catechetical program and parish life, which the new Directory for Catechesis says is a womb-like environment that feeds the catechetical process.

Live session is Saturday, October 23, 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

There are also additional presentations available from the Southeast Catechist Conference on different aspects of ministry with individuals with disabilities in English or Spanish and one on ministry with individuals who are Deaf.

Y¡Incluyenos! Taller para el Ministerio con Personas con Discapacidades y sus Familias.

Las personas con discapacidades y sus familias buscan ser incluidas en la vida plena de la Iglesia. La visión del amor de Dios llama a la Iglesia a ayudar a lograr esta realidad. ¡Venga a aprender consejos y herramientas para hacer que su ministerio sea más efectivo para que el Cuerpo de Cristo esté completo!

La sesión en vivo es el sábado, Octubre 23, 9:00 - 10:00 AM en Español

Esther Garcia, Directora de Extensión Comunitaria y Relaciones Diocesanas

Alianza Nacional Católica Sobre la Discapacidad (NCPD)

Click here to register for the NJ Catechetical Convocation.

Upcoming Events

Renewing Our Spirit: healing and resiliency in ourselves and our loved ones

Fr. Anthony Randazzo, pastor of Church of The Holy Trinity in Westfield will celebrate Mass for our moms' group on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception,

When: December 8th at 7:30 PM

Where: Chapel in the Parish Life Center

St. John the Evangelist Church in Bergenfield.

Fr. Anthony's homily will reflect on the above title, the theme this year for the group, And A Child Shall Lead Us (see below for more about the group). RSVPs required for this. For more information contact me either by email at Anne.Masters@rcan.org or phone at 973-497-4309.

November is Alzheimer's Awareness Month

Dementia vs Normal Aging

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe over 100 different conditions that impair memory, behavior and thinking. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. While people who are aging normally may forget things as well, they will typically remember them later. Click here to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and supports.

There are a number of ways we, as a Church and individually, can reach out to individuals and families living with Alzheimer's, many of which are very simple. An hour of respite for the caregiver/spouse/son/daughter to take a walk or go shopping can provide true renewal. Time sitting with the individual with Alzheimer's, praying the rosary, reading to him/her, or in silence can diminish isolation.

My own mother died from complications with Alzheimer's many years ago, so I know the pain of loved ones, but also experienced my mother's fear and sense of isolation as the disease developed. There were also times though, once in a while, when she was 'far along' the Alzheimer's path, that she knew who I was and that I was there. Never underestimate the power of your personal presence. Below is a simple prayer.

Dear God, we ask that you bring strength, courage and comfort to those who suffer from Alzheimer's, and for their family, friends and caregivers. Amen.

For an interesting article with insights about God and religious practice for people who have Alzheimer’s in US Catholic, click here to read the article online.

Click here for an overview of Alzheimer's Disease in NJ.

Inclusive Family Masses

Very often, individuals who have intellectual, developmental and/or other disabilities, and those who love them, do not feel comfortable attending their local parish liturgy, although they ARE very welcome. Inclusive Family Masses address this concern and invite them in particular to come and enjoy celebrating the Eucharist with other members of the surrounding community. All are welcome.

Click here for Inclusive Family Mass schedule.

Accompanying Families

We currently have two groups for parents of individuals with disabilities that have been meeting for many years at St. John the Evangelist in Bergenfield. One is for moms and one is for dads. The groups' schedules are a mixture of in person and virtual gatherings at this time. For more information about support and connection, contact info below.