http://mommylife.net/archives/2010/09/parenting_a_chi.html
What a beautiful essay! As I prepare for another year of working with the children and adults with special needs at our parish I am again reminded by how remarkable their parents are. The students in our program are each remarkable and continue to teach all of us who are supposed to be their teachers. But these parents...how do I begin to describe how much our parents in the program inspire me? They are such advocates for their children, but so much more for that...they love their children and see the good in them. It makes me so happy to be able to assure them that all of us catechists and aides in the program see that good, too!
To all the parents in our Children of St. Angela Merici program...thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU! Thank you so much for all you do!
God bless,
Michele
Friday, September 3, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
I can't say enough good things...
...about this wonderful program!
http://www.cgsusa.org/
In my work I find endless inspiration from the beautiful Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program. It is a wonderful program for children with special needs, because it allows them to learn in a hands-on way. In the curriculum that I'm working to develop, I garnish many ideas for lesson materials from this program! (disclaimer: The work that I do is NOT Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. I am, sadly, not trained in the program, but I wish I was!)
This program is found in many parishes throughout the country. It is a beautiful way to mainstream children who may learn in a different way.
As I've said, I draw so much inspiration for the curriculum I'm developing from the methodology of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Some of the lessons and materials I use are simply adaptations of CGS, such as this little gem:
This is Fr. Pius, named after this guy:
St. Pius X was big advocate of children, and he is responsible for allowing small children to receive the Eucharist (prior to that, First Communion was not received until children were must older). He is a special patron for the little ones I work with!
Of course, you may have a saint that is more meaningful to your family, school, or religious education program. A little priest doll like this can easily be re-named after a saint that you find meaningful.
Fr. Pius is, to our students, an aid in learning about priests and priest vestments. (Similar to how such a doll is used in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.) However, he is more than that. He's also a companion to the students that I teach. When one of them may be having difficulty (especially due to a behavioral issue, etc.), Fr. Pius is handed to them and he has a way of soothing most situations. As a special bonus, Fr. Pius also reinforces the fact that priests are friendly people who care about those they serve in the Church (and in our modern day and age in the Church, this message needs to be stated again and again).
He's pretty easy to make. You can buy a plain rag doll from any craft store (Hobby Lobby,Michaels, JoAnn's, etc.) and a face can be embroidered or you can glue on face pieces (the materials are also sold at these stores). Then, all that's left is making an alb and a set of vestments (one for each liturgical color).
If there's an interest in patterns for vestments, I'd be glad to post them!
I mean, come on, he's just plain loveable!
I love this little guy, and I can guarantee that if you make one, you'll love him, too!!
God bless,
Michele
http://www.cgsusa.org/
In my work I find endless inspiration from the beautiful Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program. It is a wonderful program for children with special needs, because it allows them to learn in a hands-on way. In the curriculum that I'm working to develop, I garnish many ideas for lesson materials from this program! (disclaimer: The work that I do is NOT Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. I am, sadly, not trained in the program, but I wish I was!)
This program is found in many parishes throughout the country. It is a beautiful way to mainstream children who may learn in a different way.
As I've said, I draw so much inspiration for the curriculum I'm developing from the methodology of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Some of the lessons and materials I use are simply adaptations of CGS, such as this little gem:
This is Fr. Pius, named after this guy:
St. Pius X was big advocate of children, and he is responsible for allowing small children to receive the Eucharist (prior to that, First Communion was not received until children were must older). He is a special patron for the little ones I work with!
Of course, you may have a saint that is more meaningful to your family, school, or religious education program. A little priest doll like this can easily be re-named after a saint that you find meaningful.
Fr. Pius is, to our students, an aid in learning about priests and priest vestments. (Similar to how such a doll is used in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.) However, he is more than that. He's also a companion to the students that I teach. When one of them may be having difficulty (especially due to a behavioral issue, etc.), Fr. Pius is handed to them and he has a way of soothing most situations. As a special bonus, Fr. Pius also reinforces the fact that priests are friendly people who care about those they serve in the Church (and in our modern day and age in the Church, this message needs to be stated again and again).
He's pretty easy to make. You can buy a plain rag doll from any craft store (Hobby Lobby,Michaels, JoAnn's, etc.) and a face can be embroidered or you can glue on face pieces (the materials are also sold at these stores). Then, all that's left is making an alb and a set of vestments (one for each liturgical color).
If there's an interest in patterns for vestments, I'd be glad to post them!
I mean, come on, he's just plain loveable!
I love this little guy, and I can guarantee that if you make one, you'll love him, too!!
God bless,
Michele
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Happy Feast of St. Angela Merici!
Good morning, everyone! Happy Feast of St. Angela Merici!
For a full life story, check out the one over at St. Anthony Messenger's "Saint of the Day" site:
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.aspx
St. Angela Merici is a special patron saint of those with disabilities. She also was a catechist and religious educator for little ones who would have otherwise gone without!
St. Angela Merici, pray for us!
God bless,
Michele
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Catechesis for all...
The General Directory for Catechesis, states, “All the baptized, because they are called by God to maturity of faith, need and have therefore a right to adequate catechesis. It is thus a primary responsibility of the Church to respond to this in a fitting and satisfactory manner.” By nature of the Sacrament of Baptism, each individual in the Church is called to a deeper faith, and to catechesis in that faith.
Most people take for granted that catechesis will be available for their child. Most (if not all) parishes have catechetical programs of some sort, including a sacramental preparation program (for children and adults in R.C.I.A.). However, such a program is something that the parent of a child or adult with special needs is not permitted to take for granted. In past decades, children with special needs were often not welcome to participate in catechetical programs. They were thought to be either incapable of catechetical development, or else the resources weren’t available to accommodate them.
In more recent decades, however, there is a growing trend to welcome both children and adults alike into catechetical programs in faith communities. However, resources for parishioners with special needs are still lacking in many instances. On the one hand, specialized programs are beginning to be developed for students with special needs (the SPRED program in Chicago’s Archdiocese comes to mind, among others). On the other hand, most catechists are simply not trained to work with students with special needs and often find themselves at a loss as to where to begin. This results in a lack of catechesis (or at least a lack of adequate catechesis) for individuals with disabilities (especially mental disabilities).
There is hope! For several years now, I have done work and research in this area. I hope to share with you some of the opportunities, options, and other resources available for those with special needs seeking catechesis, especially in the Roman Catholic faith tradition.
God bless,
Michele
Most people take for granted that catechesis will be available for their child. Most (if not all) parishes have catechetical programs of some sort, including a sacramental preparation program (for children and adults in R.C.I.A.). However, such a program is something that the parent of a child or adult with special needs is not permitted to take for granted. In past decades, children with special needs were often not welcome to participate in catechetical programs. They were thought to be either incapable of catechetical development, or else the resources weren’t available to accommodate them.
In more recent decades, however, there is a growing trend to welcome both children and adults alike into catechetical programs in faith communities. However, resources for parishioners with special needs are still lacking in many instances. On the one hand, specialized programs are beginning to be developed for students with special needs (the SPRED program in Chicago’s Archdiocese comes to mind, among others). On the other hand, most catechists are simply not trained to work with students with special needs and often find themselves at a loss as to where to begin. This results in a lack of catechesis (or at least a lack of adequate catechesis) for individuals with disabilities (especially mental disabilities).
There is hope! For several years now, I have done work and research in this area. I hope to share with you some of the opportunities, options, and other resources available for those with special needs seeking catechesis, especially in the Roman Catholic faith tradition.
God bless,
Michele
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