Disability ministry in the Church is making strides, but needs more widespread adoption in parishes April 25, 2026By Simone Orendain OSV News Filed Under: Disabilities Ministry, Feature, News, World News On Easter in Chicago’s St. James Catholic Church, a congregation made up mostly of people with disabilities and their families attended the Chicago archdiocesan Special Religious Development ministry’s Mass like any other time of year.
With reverence, contagious smile, volunteer with Down syndrome inspires Michigan parish October 24, 2025By Gabriella Patti OSV News Filed Under: Disabilities Ministry, News, Respect Life, World News Where Robby Heil, who has Down syndrome, is perhaps most known and has the biggest impact is at St. James Parish, where he serves as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion three times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Special education funding for students with hearing and vision loss cut in DEI probe September 18, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Disabilities Ministry, News, Schools, World News The U.S. Department of Education has pulled funding for programs in eight states that is aimed at assisting students who are both visually and hearing-impaired, sometimes referred to as deafblind.
When it comes to serving students with disabilities, how are Catholic schools doing? July 19, 2025By Maria Wiering OSV News Filed Under: Disabilities Ministry, News, Schools, World News Catholic experts argue, Catholic schools may be the best place for children with special needs, because they root each child’s identity not in achievement, but in being a child of God. But that attitude alone does not erase real hurdles, they acknowledge.
Many Catholics in autism community see RFK Jr. remarks ‘disrespectful,’ ignorant June 6, 2025By Kimberly Heatherington OSV News Filed Under: Disabilities Ministry, Feature, News, World News For many of those who know and love someone who is neurodiverse — living with autism — the words of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. earlier this spring stung like a slap in the face.
First-of-its-kind sensory room at church welcomes neurodivergent parishioners April 3, 2025By Sean Quinn OSV News Filed Under: Disabilities Ministry, Feature, News, World News St. Joseph Church in Maplewood opened its Still Waters Sensory Room for neurodivergent parishioners last December. Percy now has a calming place he can go to whenever he needs a break during the liturgy.
Daughter’s rare disorder leads Indiana family on faith journey with ‘divine connections’ March 7, 2025By Natalie Hoefer OSV News Filed Under: Disabilities Ministry, News, World News Along the way, the couple has witnessed how God has used Kathryn’s AHC to make a difference in others’ lives.
For 125 years, society has had a mission to produce Catholic resources for the blind February 2, 2025By Kurt Jensen OSV News Filed Under: Disabilities Ministry, Feature, News, World News The Xavier Society for the Blind is celebrating 125 years of helping generations of Catholics, either blind or vision-impaired, participate in worship through braille texts, large-type books and audio books.
Pope: Church must create spaces to give hope to the marginalized January 10, 2025By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Disabilities Ministry, News, Social Justice, Vatican, World News The Catholic Church must create spaces where marginalized individuals — including young people, the elderly and those with disabilities — can engage with one another and find their place in society, Pope Francis said.
‘Don’t limit your challenges, challenge your limits!’ is Paralympics takeaway for all September 9, 2024By Caroline de Sury OSV News Filed Under: Disabilities Ministry, News, Sports, World News With Paralympic Games closing in Paris Sept. 8, more than a monthlong Olympic adventure is over. But the spirit of the Games will resonate in the French Catholic Church for much longer — thanks to the disabled who participated in church initiatives with great enthusiasm.
Camps in Archdiocese of Baltimore offer summer of enrichment August 26, 2024By Catholic Review Staff OSV News Filed Under: Disabilities Ministry, Feature, Local News, News, Vocations, Youth Ministry This summer, the camp scene in the Archdiocese of Baltimore included three offerings that expanded the horizons and spiritual reach for area students and special-needs adults.
Why it’s important to welcome kids with disabilities at Catholic schools July 22, 2024By Katie Yoder OSV News Filed Under: Disabilities Ministry, Feature, News, Schools, World News Today, estimates indicate that only a low percentage of U.S. Catholic schools include students with disabilities and learning differences. Educational leaders and experts are working to change that.
