Inspiration 
This is an outgrowth of the successful experience of “Masses for differently-abled people,” that has been offered by Church of the Nativity in Midland Park once a month from October through June for over two years.  The first addition to this series took place Sunday, February 24, at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Mountainside, and take place each month on the last Sunday of the month.  They are the cooperative effort of the New Energies Cluster parishes, Our Lady of Lourdes in Mountainside and St. James the Apostle in Springfield.  St. John the Evangelist in Bergenfield joined the series on June 1.

Purpose
The purpose of this series is not to suggest a separate Church for people with developmental disabilities.  However, very often families living with developmental disabilities do not feel welcome attending their local parish liturgy.  They have either been told directly that their son or daughter does not belong, or they have experienced the quiet stares which speak volumes of inhospitality.  As you know, as Catholics we profess that the Mass is the source which fuels the life of the Church and all her people, as well as the summit toward which we journey.  So they stay away from the very thing which we believe will strengthen us for the road and provide a foretaste of the heavenly banquet.

Desired Outcome
People and families living with developmental disabilities take great comfort in having the opportunity to celebrate God's presence in their lives, without worrying about feeling embarrassed or being stared at by fellow worshipers for the "different" or "distracting" behaviors of themselves, their son or daughter, sister, or brother.  Also, experience of liturgies such as these has already given confidence to some families to attend their local parish’s regular Mass.  

A Request
Please help spread the word about these Masses to interested families by announcing the series in your bulletin, posting the Inclusive Family Mass flyer on your parish bulletin board, and sharing it with any families you think would be interested.  If you would like to know how your parish may host Inclusive Family Masses, either alone or in collaboration with other parishes, please contact Anne Masters, director for the office of Pastoral Ministry with Persons with Disabilities for the Newark Archdiocese at 973-497-4309 or masteran@rcan.org. 

Summer Schedule
People should verify with each parish if it's summer schedule.

INCLUSION IN YOUR PARISH:  TIPS TO PARENTS FROM A PARENT

1. Introduce yourself and your child to the pastor before you attend, if possible. Ask if there are other children or adults with autism in the congregation. Explain what autism is, and your child’s limitations and potential. But first, let them know how important participation in a religious community is to your family, and that this is an area of concern for many families.
2. Offer to help provide information, educational opportunities, or people who can assist religious educators to include your child. Professionals may be quite willing to give guidance to religious educators and to help figure out how to adapt a curriculum. There may be other ways that you as a parent can volunteer in the religious education program to help overall teaching and staffing resources. There are also on-line resources and materials. (SEE BELOW)
3. Find a family oriented parish where a little noise is not uncommon.
4. If your child is too young to pay attention to the service, bring books or other engaging toys to occupy the child.
5. If the expectations are for children to sit for 45-60 minutes or more, make sure the child is able to do this at home first, or has an opportunity to practice. 
6. Figure out a way to come to the sanctuary with your child and go through the steps of the liturgy so it is familiar space. Practice can happen outside the Mass and at home. Video modeling, a video of what happens in it and what people do, can be a way of helping a child learn visually. 
7. Use concrete language and visual aides when instructing your child. 
8. Use a digital camera to make a picture book of the Mass and church, important parts of the liturgy key people, etc. You can use the pictures to help a child learn the names of the places, actions, and people. Practice at home; reward the child when he/she labels them in public. 
9. Find something in the liturgy that your child enjoys and can participate in and succeed at to make attending it fun for your child.
10. Learn how to use a motivational system and then make it as discrete as possible.

There are already good resources available.  They include:

• Helping Kids Include Kids with Disabilities.  Barbara Newman.  Friendship Ministries.  www.friendship.org.
• Exceptional Teaching.  Jim Pierson.  Standard Publishing.
• A website, Community Connections, from the University of Maryland, with a section on Spiritual Connections with Tip Sheets for Clergy, Congregations, and Religious Educators.  www.communityconnections.umd.edu.