SPRED: Serving the Most Vulnerable

It was about mid September 2008 when I found myself in a bit of a spiritual rut. I was in the middle of my job search and had recently moved back into the area where I grew up. I began attending mass at the local parish, which was a big change to the atmosphere I was used to in college. It was at that point where I began to struggle with my faith. My only involvement seemed to be showing up for 45 minutes a week and in most cases I found that although my body was physically there my mind was not. So I began to ponder different ways to improve my spiritual life. I felt that I needed to get involved in something, but I had no idea on what exactly I should get involved in. Oddly enough I read in my parish bulletin that they were trying to start a new ministry called SPRED (Special Religious Development) so I thought I would give it a try especially since the article said no experience was necessary. It was the first time I had even heard of SPRED or any ministry like it. I heard of Misericordia and other homes for the disabled, but never of a religious development program geared towards those with special needs at the parish level. I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into and I had no idea how much SPRED would actually enhance my own spiritual life.

Of course I was not totally sold on joining SPRED at first. My first concern was my complete lack of knowledge and experience working with people with developmental disabilities. I was also a little apprehensive because I was the youngest person by more than 20 years to express interest in joining SPRED at our parish. I guess you can say I felt a little out of place. I also worried about the time commitment. At first 24 weeks for 2-3 hours a week seemed like a huge commitment and I really was not sure if I was willing to make it. I was also a little skeptical about the need for SPRED in our area. I never really saw people with special needs at Church and was not aware of special needs people in the neighborhood. I also pondered if those with developmental disabilities really benefitted from this particular ministry.

I was not really sold on SPRED until I attended an observation session. It is hard to really understand a SPRED session with out seeing it, but I figure I point a few things that really struck me about the experience. The friends and catechists started the session doing an individual activity such as constructing puzzles, painting, and shaping clay while soothing music played in the background. The activity time, which lasted almost an hour, was designed to calm and clear the minds of both the catechists and friends. They were preparing themselves to enter into a prayerful experience. Before SPRED I do not think I ever took the time to clear my mind before prayer or took any time to prepare for prayer. For the most part my prayer life always seems rushed and I always seem distracted with other things, which is one of the reasons I probably struggled with my prayer life. Once everyone seemed relatively ready for prayer they moved to the celebration room and gathered in a circle for prayer. Using a symbol, which in this case was a plant, the leader tried to evoke God’s presence in everyday life. SPRED does not focus on teaching prayers or scripture, but on finding ways in which we encounter God in our everyday lives. So often I find myself thinking that we can only understand God through intellectual means when in fact He is present to us in our everyday lives and we simply do not always take the time to notice. The prayer ends with a song of praise which included spiritual gestures to help everyone get involved with the prayer. I was amazed on how much simple gestures really added to the experience. After prayer everyone gathered around an elegant table to share a meal and socialize. I could feel God’s loving presence in this small community of prayer. I was struck with awe as I left that evening.

When we began the process of starting up SPRED at our parish I began to realize the importance of the ministry. Before we even had enough volunteers to open our doors we had a full list of special friends for our adult group of 22 years and older. I even learned about different group homes around the area which house those with developmental disabilities who were wards of the state. One of these homes was right across the street from the train station I wait at every morning and I never knew it existed. It is amazing what you find when you begin to look. The community needed SPRED.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to speak with some parents who were so grateful for SPRED. For the longest time they felt abandoned by the Catholic Church, but now they were grateful for a ministry designed to nourish their children’s spiritual needs. I began to realize that those with developmental disabilities needed the opportunity for spiritual nourishment at their level and in an environment that was suitable to their needs. Our special friends are valued members of the Body of Christ and deserve the opportunity to worship God. Just like any individual, they have different capacities and talents, but they still contribute to the one Body of Christ. Recently our group celebrated a SPRED mass with the larger parish community. At the mass, one of our friends made her confirmation. It was truly a moving experience for her and everyone in attendance. Here was a woman who is ward of the state and has faced nothing but abandonment throughout her life and was now being accepted as a full member of the Catholic Church. It was a day she looked forward to with anticipation and continues to talk about to this day. It made me appreciate my own confirmation that I kind of took for granted 12 years ago, and made me grateful to be part of the Body of Christ that is accepting of everyone.

There is no doubt that my group and I faced some challenges throughout our time with SPRED. There have been times when we all felt overwhelmed, but with the support of each other, we managed to get though the challenges. It took some time to build our community, but eventually our catechists and special friends all became comfortable with each other and we were able to build a strong community of faith among our small group. All our special friends and catechists look forward to our time together where we can seek God’s loving presence in our lives together as one community.

When I joined SPRED I never thought it would have such an impact on my own spiritual life. SPRED gave me a new perspective on my faith and has helped me develop a stronger prayer life. SPRED has taught me to take time and reflect how God has been present in my life whether it is through the beauty of nature or reconciliation with a friend. Although there have been struggles and bumps along the roads I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of SPRED and for the opportunity to share my faith with some of the most vulnerable members of society.

To learn more about SPRED check out their website at www.SPRED.org