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Parish Welcome

Featured Resources

Mental Illness support group

Pastoral Response to Persons with Mental Illness

Woman smiling with dementia, inside of a church

What Does a Dementia-Friendly Parish Look Like?

Stone Church

Five Beneficial Things to Know about Hearing Access

Woman pushes person in wheelchair toward church

Hospitality Ministers: Disability Etiquette

Four people working at a table during a conference

A good host is a good planner

Young woman signing for a Mass

Principles for Understanding Deaf Ministry and Guidelines for Hiring Pastoral Ministers for the Deaf Catholic Community

Woman smiling with dementia, inside of a church

What Does a Dementia-Friendly Parish Look Like?

Meet Mr. J, who was very active in ministry at his Catholic parish. He can be very loud and repeats the same three phrases when you meet him, but is joyful as he sings all of the right words to each hymn in Mass. When Mr J, who is living with dementia, had issues performing his ministry duties, he was left off of the schedule without any notice.
Stone Church

Five Beneficial Things to Know about Hearing Access

There is a common misconception that people with hearing loss only need things to be louder, so the amplification from hearing aids or cochlear implants is considered the sole solution. Unfortunately, even when things are loud enough, many still struggle with clarity. Damaged inner ear hair cells, lost synapses to the auditory nerve and several other reasons can make speech recognition difficult.
Young woman signing for a Mass

Principles for Understanding Deaf Ministry and Guidelines for Hiring Pastoral Ministers for the Deaf Catholic Community

"The Church in the United States in enriched by its deaf and hard of hearing brothers and sisters. 'The men and women of our own day –often perhaps unconsciously–ask believers not only to speak of Christ, but in a certain sense to show Him to them.' That is the human heart’s deepest longing. That is the yearning of the deaf and hard of hearing people in America. That is the impetus and goal of the Church’s ministry with the deaf and hard of hearing. 'Together we are the Church' (CCC)."
Sensory-friendly room

Parish Sensory Room

People walking out of Mass

Access Questions for Ministry Teams

The importance of thoughtful and careful planning for any ministry cannot be overemphasized. Planning should likewise be approached with creativity and openness. The following questions can initiate the planning process toward a universally designed ministry: What does it mean to create a church community open to all?  
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National Catholic
Partnership on Disability

Advancing the Meaningful Participation
of Persons with Disabilities in Church and Society

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