Following meetings of the SPRED program, participants enjoy a meal together. Photo: Supplied.
For nearly 30 years, Catholic people with intellectual disabilities in Perth have been encouraged in their faith journey by Personal Advocacy Service (PAS), which pairs them up with volunteer support workers and provides special initiatives to facilitate faith engagement.
One of these is a series of fortnightly meetings known as SPRED (Special Religious Development) which bring ‘friends’ together with their volunteer supporters to talk about different spiritual themes, and reflect on the Eucharistic celebration through sharing and song.
PAS Director Ray Ryan said the idea for such meetings came from the organisation’s foundress Sister Eileen Casey, who had encountered a similar initiative during a visit to the United States.
“The program commenced 28 years ago, because parents of people with intellectual disability wanted their children to participate meaningfully in worship and the sacraments,” Mr Ryan said.
“At about the same time Sr Eileen Casey returned from Chicago having witnessed a program which assisted people with intellectual disability to engage more fully in their parish,” he said.
“She brought the idea to Perth and set up the first SPRED groups here. We still connect with the Chicago founders and rely on the programs they develop each year. There are now SPRED groups in many countries around the world.”
The SPRED program (Special Religious Development) brings people with disabilities together on a fortnightly basis, along with their volunteer supporters to talk about different spiritual themes, and reflect on the Eucharistic celebration through sharing and song. Photo: Supplied.
In Perth, there are 16 groups operating in 13 parishes, with people meeting on a fortnightly basis, focusing on a different theme on each occasion.
“Each session has a spiritual theme which is evoked through a symbol to associate with the lived experience of each friend,” Mr Ryan said.
“For example, perhaps a photo of a group of friends is used to remind our ‘friends’ of a similar meeting they may have enjoyed. This leads to a discussion of the friendship we enjoy when we join with other people in celebrating the Eucharist.”
Themes could include the love God has for us, God’s forgiveness, or how worshippers are a family, he added.
“Each session starts with individual welcome, a short period of craft activities, then we move to a sacred space where the spiritual theme is developed, followed by everyone joining in an appropriate hymn,” Mr Ryan said.
“We finish with a shared very light meal where all are encouraged to speak and share their news.”
Meetings usually brought together around 14 people, including both advocates and friends. In between sessions, advocates would meet separately to plan the next meeting.
For more information on SPRED groups, contact Ray Ryan at PAS on 9275 5388 or email admin@paswa.org.au