History:
SPRED (Special Religious Development) was created in 1966 by Father James McCarthy, associate director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Its purpose remains two-fold: the inclusion of the
developmentally challenged into the liturgical and community faith life of
the parish and the formation of a small faith community where both special friends and their catechists nurture each other. The SPRED program has
now spread to nineteen dioceses in the United States and to dioceses in seven other countries. Saint George Parish has a special position in the history of SPRED. Its Knights of Columbus Council created the Tootsie Roll drive for the developmentally disabled in 1970. This annual drive is a major supporter of the SPRED program in our parish, in our archdiocese, and in other dioceses through out the country.
12 Lessons a Year:
Each year, the Archdiocese produces an age-specific work book of twelve faith lessons. These lessons take ordinary experiences as a metaphor for the love of Jesus in our lives. The migration of birds, the feel of sunshine on your face, the love of pets, and the comfort you feel with your best friend are examples of experiences that can illustrate the dependability, the availability, and the care and concern of Jesus for each one of us no matter what abilities or disabilities we have. This message is reinforced by the one-on-one pairing of a volunteer to a developmentally disabled member. This lesson discussion is called the holy room time and is the middle third of a meeting. It is led by a catechist who has attended special archdiocesan training workshops. The first third of a typical meeting is doing age-specific diverse projects (for example, puzzles, drawings, polishing furniture, and listening to music). The volunteer and special friend work side by side on separate projects or the same project. This gets everyone settled down and focused, no longer concerned about whatever cares of the day they might have had coming into the meeting. The final third is a small party with fruits, sweets, and drinks where we just talk to one another about what has been happening to us since we last met. Each of these twelve meetings is preceded by a volunteer only meeting with a related structure. The first third discusses how the previous lesson went and prepares for the next lesson. The middle third is a discussion based on a reading (provided in the lesson book) whose author has had an experience similar to what will be discussed in the next holy room. Volunteers will be asked to think about and share, if they care to, any similar experience they have had. The last third will be a small party. This volunteer only meeting creates a community among the volunteers which strengthens the larger community with the disabled.
Extra Events:
Beyond meetings structured around 12 lessons a year, there are special Masses, baseball games, pumpkin carving parties, Christmas cookie decorating parties, movies, etc. We are a community of friends and we enjoy
doing things together.
Two Groups:
Saint George has two SPRED groups, both for disabled adults over 21. Both groups have an age range of something like 25 to 55. The disabled do not have to come but come because they enjoy being with their SPRED friends.
Volunteers who join our SPRED program often start with the idea they want to help the less fortunate. But friendship often expands the relationship to something more equal where both you and your special friend come
to admire each other.
If you are interested in finding out more, contact Liz Paller
(call/text 708-373-6517 or email lizpaller@yahoo.com) or
visit other parts of this website.
