Exciting activities impart faith to persons with developmental disabilities

Sean brought something personal to the role of one of the Three Wise Men this week for the Solemnity of the Epiphany: his boundless enthusiasm — plus a crown from home he wore for his performance. The crown was God’s idea.

That’s because Sean, who has Down syndrome, didn’t know he would volunteer to play a Wise Man for a lesson about the Epiphany when he walked in wearing his crown to the Jan. 6 meeting of Catholic Adult Religious Education (CARE) at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in the Oak Ridge neighborhood of Jefferson Township. By God’s providence, Sean ended up having fun playing the Magi with two women, who also have developmental disabilities, in front of 53 CARE participants, holding their gifts for Baby Jesus in a vase and two boxes.

These “Wise Men” belong to the CARE program, which brings to life the Church’s liturgical seasons and faith for people with developmental disabilities through engaging lessons, games or crafts, and fellowship. For more than 30 years, the Department for Persons with Disabilities (DPD) of Catholic Charities of the Paterson Diocese has sponsored CARE, held on the first Monday of the month in St. Thomas’ spacious social hall.

The two female Magi, including Jaclyn, received their crowns for the performance at the Jan. 6 meeting. Jaclyn attends the Gruenert Center, DPD’s day habilitation program for men and women in Lake Hopatcong, five days a week. She came to CARE with her parents, Terry and Frank, retired DPD employees.

“I love the arts and crafts, games, songs, and prayers to God and Jesus,” said Jaclyn during song and snack time at the end of the meeting.

Jaclyn’s mother, Terry, called CARE a “beautiful Christian experience, where she can praise God. We talk about the lessons and apply them.”

On Jan. 6 night, participants listened to Corinne Kilkeary, DPD’s pastoral care director, read the Epiphany story from Scripture to participants. Through Christ’s birth, she then reminded them that “God came down from heaven to earth to save us from our sins.” She challenged them, “Live your life as an offering to God in prayer.” They comprehended the lesson to the best of their developmental abilities.

Then, participants put the lesson into action. At several folding tables, people with developmental disabilities took turns donning a shower cap, throwing the balls onto the cap, and then taking them off to see which words they displayed. For example, some filled in a sheet bearing “Please help me to…” with words to complete the sentence on the balls, such as “be happy” and “love God.” They took home the lists as reminders to live out their faith.

CARE participants include people with developmental disabilities with DPD staff, volunteers, caregivers, and parents. Most of those with developmental disabilities come from many of DPD’s 10 group homes and supervised apartments in the diocese or the agency’s programs, but everyone is welcome. Meetings start at 7 p.m. The next meeting is Monday, Feb. 3.

“Through the program, we try to increase people’s awareness of Jesus, the Church’s liturgical seasons, and their faith and the role they can play while learning as a community,” Kilkeary said.

For more information about CARE, call Corinne Kilkeary at (973) 406-1103.