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 California Parish and Archdiocese of Louisville Win

2002 Opening Doors Award

 Washington, D.C, December 20, 2002 —The National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) [formerly the National Catholic Office for Persons with Disabilities] has awarded its 2002 Opening Doors Award to two exemplary programs: First Prize of $750.00 to St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Capitola, CA and the Second Prize of $250.00 to the Archdiocese of Louisville Committee on Accessibility.  NCPD Executive Director Mary Jane Owen announced, “The judges unanimously concurred that these two programs, while very different in their scope, exemplify the goals of our Opening Doors Award.  Each promotes the active participation of Catholics with disabilities in their parish communities, working with rather than for them.”

The Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors program of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, directed by Gay Pollock, has worked for the past four years to eliminate barriers to participation for parishioners with disabilities.  After establishing an advisory committee of parishioners with and without disabilities, it set out to define and carry out myriad goals.   Accomplishments include: physical alterations to the parish plant, sponsoring an interfaith workshop on inclusion, performance of “On Earth As It Is In Heaven,” “Kids on the Block” presentations for school children, ASL signed liturgies each Sunday, yearly caregiver retreat, and workshops on mental health concerns.  Most importantly, parishioners with disabilities are encouraged to share their gifts through the various ministries of the parish. Tim Collins, Deputy Director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, who assisted in judging the competition explained, “We were impressed with the creative approaches carried out, particularly with the involvement of parishioners with disabilities.  Ms. Pollack demonstrated how this involvement led to increased awareness and cost savings.  We were also pleased to note the initiative of St. Joseph's in identifying problems and moving forward with solutions not only for itself but for the entire diocese.  An example of this is a series of diocesan‑wide workshops at which nationally known speakers were invited to speak on inclusive Catholic education.” 

A second prize of $250.00 was awarded to the Archdiocese of Louisville Committee on Accessibility for their production and distribution of an Accessible Construction video and handbook.   The goal of the Committee, founded in 1995, is “to educate, advocate and to resource the people of the Archdiocese as we grow into a vision of our Church community as: a welcoming people, an accessible space and a mutually interdependent expression of gifts and needs.”  Lisa Tarker, Executive Director of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, who also assisted in the judging, explains “We were particularly impressed with the innovative approach of this entry.  This Committee on Accessibility identified a major problem to full participation in parish life and created a valuable resource to assist parishes in creating the access to facilitate involvement on a variety of levels.   Lack of access is a major impediment in many parishes, and Accessible Construction provides practical assistance in alleviating barriers.”  Committee members include representatives from the Archdiocesan offices of Lifelong Formation and Education, Evangelization, Catholic Charities, Respect Life, and the Catholic Deaf Office, as well as two pastors and two lay parishioners, one of whom has a disability.  Representatives from two secular agencies, Developmental Services and the Council for Retarded Citizens also serve on the Committee.  Ms. Owen praised this model as “a comprehensive approach to identifying and meeting the needs of parishioners with disabilities and their family members.”

Additional information on either project can be obtained by contacting NCPD at (202) 529-2933 (v) and (202) 529-2934 (tty); 415 Michigan Avenue, NE   Suite 240, Washington, D.C. 20017-4501; e-mail ncpd@ncpd.org.  NCPD was established in 1982 to foster implementation of the Pastoral Statement of U.S. Catholic Bishops on People with Disabilities, passed unanimously on November 16, 1978.  That document calls for welcome of the now over ten million Catholics who are disabled to participate in the celebrations and obligations of their Faith and advocates for their inclusion "within the total fabric of society."  This mission moves forward through a national network of diocesan level leaders called by their bishops to address access and inclusion within parishes.  NCPD provides upon request resources on access and awareness. 

The Opening Doors Award is funded by Aetna and administered through the National Organization on Disability.

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