S P R E D

Communities of Faith Welcoming People With Special Needs

S P R E D at St. Roman Parish

A religious education program with a twist is taking
shape at St. Roman’s! SPRED (Special Religious
Development) will teach individuals with special needs
about their faith through play, experience and group
community building. SPRED also gives the typical
parishioner an inviting place and way to connect with
someone who has special needs. We may not always see
people with disabilities because their disability might not
be visible. Parents may leave their children at home or
adults with special needs stay away because they are
unsure of how to fit into the mainstream of parish life.
However, individuals with special needs exist within our
parish community & disabilities knows no cultural, ethnic,
social or economic boundaries. So often people don’t know
how to connect with someone who is different, but this will
give people an opportunity to overcome that barrier.
SPRED Centers welcome persons with special needs
according to chronological age. There are 4 groupings:
Children, 6-10 yrs; Adolescents, 11-16 yrs; Young Adults,
17-21 yrs; and, Adults, 22+ yrs. St. Roman’s SPRED group
will focus on the Adolescents group.
If you are interested in volunteering in the SPRED (Special
Religious Development) program, or would like to enroll a
child or adult in a SPRED group, please contact Angie Fech,
414-483-3176 or anjnkev@sbcglobal.net.

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What is SPRED?

SPRED (Special Religious Education Development) is a small faith community in a parish that includes children or adults with special needs. SPRED integrates people with developmental disabilities more fully into the mainstream of parish life. It offers faith formation, gives parishioners an inviting place and opportunity to connect with persons with disabilities and offers ways to more fully include persons with disabilities into the liturgy.

What is a SPRED community?

Up to 8 volunteers from the parish agree to take SPRED training to learn how to offer appropriate religious education for children or adults with special needs. Three of these volunteers agree to take additional training as team leaders. These volunteers form a small community of faith people who enter into friendship and agree to welcome up to 6 friends with special needs. The volunteers decide on an age group depending on the greatest need of the community: children 6-10; youth 11-16; young adults 17-21; or adults 22+. The group agrees to follow the standards of the SPRED agency.

What is the SPRED process?

The goal of SPRED is to help the children or adults with disabilities develop an awareness of God in their lives; an awareness of themselves as persons of dignity who are loved by God; an awareness of themselves as an integral part of the parish community and of the entire Church. This is accomplished through meaningful one-on-one relationships within a small group. The volunteer sponsor serves as a model for their friend with disabilities throughout a session. The sponsor invites the friend to find meaningful “work,” in a special SPRED environment, such as painting, working with clay, water or sand, etc. as a means of getting focused and ready to hear the word of God. This preparation is followed by symbolic catechesis. Each member tells, or is assisted in telling, stories from everyday life in which the presence of God is discovered. Concrete objects or pictures are used symbolically. The leader catechist leads the group through a liturgical evocation, and a reading from scripture, then presents a message for each session. The celebration time closes with a song accompanied by gestures, silence, and the sharing of food. Sessions are designed to meet a friend at his or her level and invites the fullest participation and sense of belonging. The friends learn to know God.

How many people have special needs?

Although people with disabilities may be hidden at first glance, approximately 12% of the population has special needs.

Is SPRED collaborative?

Yes. SPRED is based on a fully collaborative model. One parish welcomes six people with special needs of one age group only. A SPRED parish chairperson works to identify all persons with special needs in the parish and coordinates placement with other parishes.

Where did SPRED originate?

SPRED began in 1967 in the Archdiocese of Chicago and is now thriving in over 126 parishes there.

What is the time commitment?

After undergoing training, volunteer catechists meet for 24 sessions a year. 12 of those sessions include the friends with disabilities. The sessions last about 3 hours.

Who can be a volunteer?

Anyone who is 21 or older and is willing to share their faith and friendship with others from the parish can volunteer. No prior experience with persons with disabilities is needed. All training is provided.

For more information on the St. Roman SPRED Program :

Visit SPRED online at www.spred.org