Call to Action - The St Raphael Special Needs Ministry

Posted by Molly

In life we have the opportunity to lift people up or tear them down.  I was very lucky early in life to have had two teachers who knew how to lift up someone whose sensitivities could have buried her.  My 5th and 6th grade teachers noticed things in me that I had not realized were there and encouraged me to believe in myself.  They were so convincing that at times my self confidence borders on bravado.  It was an amazing gift that these women gave me because during my later more difficult years I thought of them and I found strength in their belief in me.  My whole life I have been searching for a way to give that gift back to someone.  And now I have finally found it.

The St. Raphael Special Needs Ministry is a new ministry spearheaded by some fantastic mothers who wanted their children with special needs to feel included in the church community and to have the opportunity to learn about God and grow spiritually.


This fall the first Special Needs Religious Education class will premiere at St Raphaels.  I am going to be the teacher and could not be more grateful for the opportunity.  I'm supposed to be the one teaching these three adorable first graders but I know they are going to be the ones teaching me.  I already feel blessed and inspired just being in the presence of their moms.  God, help me when the class gets started at the end of September, I may not be able to handle the joy.

And I would love to share that joy with you.

The Special Needs Religious Education class will take place Monday afternoons beginning September 17, 2012 from 4:30pm to 5:15pm in the Duffy Center.  It's just going to be me and the three students but I would like to have an aide for each child who can work with them on special projects and help out if someone needs special help.  I think this will be such a rewarding job and I will be so grateful to anyone who volunteers.  For this role adults or young people with some maturity of middle school or older age would be welcome.  If you're interested in volunteering and would like to learn more please contact me (Molly Crismond) at bobmolls@aol.com or 301.947.9422.

Also, on Saturday September 8, 2012, St. Raphaels will be holding our first Special Needs Mass.  So many of us have been touched by friends or family members with special needs and this is a time to celebrate those people and show them how inclusive our church family wants to be.  Sandy Shamburek is looking for parishioners with special needs who may want to participate in the mass or parishioners in general who want to help.  If this is something that interests you, please contact Sandy at sshamburek@straphaels.org or 240-864-2514.

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