A place for all: disability ministry to start diocese-wide

By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger

“Every baptized person has a place in the life of the Church,” says Trevor Pullinger, Director of the Office of Faith Formation and Coordinator of Catechesis for the diocese. “Many families and individuals have experienced barriers to full participation in parish life, whether physical, social, or simply because parishes have not always known what support would be most helpful. At the same time, we have accompanied pastors and parish leaders who genuinely want to serve individuals and families with disabilities well, but often don’t know where to begin.”

The diocese is responding by hosting a Belonging: Disability Ministry event Aug. 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Patrick Parish in Iowa City. Each parish is being asked to identify a parish disability advocate or contact person for ongoing support and communication, Pullinger said. This person does not need to attend this initial workshop, but parishes are asked to send someone whether it’s a priest, parish staff member, volunteer or appointed person.

“This gathering is an opportunity to learn from lived experience, practical ministry and one another, while also connecting participants with resources from the National Catholic Partnership on Disability. Ultimately, our hope is to help every parish foster a deeper culture of belonging so that every person can encounter Christ and participate fully in the life of the Church,” he said.

There are many parishes in the diocese who have ministries in place, according to Pullinger, but this is the first time a diocesan-wide initiative has been offered.

“There are parishes across the diocese that have, over the years, generously offered accommodations, programming, and support for individuals and families with disabilities,” he said. “It is important to recognize the good work that has already been taking place in these communities. This diocesan effort seeks to encourage a broader conversation while offering additional support, awareness, and practical resources to parish leaders.”

Lynne Chapman, with the Archdiocese of Dubuque’s disability ministry, will facilitate the workshop. “Lynne brings significant experience and expertise in this area. The dioceses in Iowa have been sharing ideas and learning from one another about ways to foster greater awareness and support for both parishes and persons with disabilities. In the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Lynne has helped develop and pilot a parish disability advocate model that has been particularly fruitful. In addition to raising awareness and connecting parish leaders with practical tools and training, we hope participants will leave with practical ideas that can be adapted within their own parish communities,” Pullinger said.

The workshop is to help parish leaders better accompany individuals with disabilities and their families by listening to their experiences, learning practical approaches, and fostering a culture of belonging in every parish.

“We are always focused on people over programming. The goal is not to require every parish to establish a separate disability ministry. Every parish is different in size, resources and needs,” he said.

The goal is for every parish to become more attentive to welcoming, accompanying and including people with disabilities in the ordinary life of the Church.

“One practical approach we will discuss is identifying a parish advocate; someone who can intentionally build relationships with and accompany individuals and families with disabilities while helping the parish recognize opportunities for greater inclusion and belonging,” he said.

“This workshop isn’t simply about programs or policies. It’s about people. Our hope is that participants leave not simply with more information, but with a renewed commitment to helping every person know they belong in the life of the Church.”

To register, sign up at https://www.davenportdiocese.org/belonging-disability-ministry with a deadline of July 24.