International bilingual speaker, certified Special Education teacher, and Master Catechist with certifications in Digital Evangelization and Catholic Digital Entrepreneurship. Ana has been in various ministries for more than 30 years.
“Mrs. Ana, I don’t feel well. I don’t feel well,” one of the candidates with autism told me anxiously during the general Confirmation session. After thinking quickly while praying to the Holy Spirit, I took my one-decade rosary out of my bag and offered it to “John.”
I remembered that his mother told me that when they go for a walk, they pray the rosary. John insistently asked me to pray with him while holding the decenary between his fingers. Together we began to quietly pray the Hail Mary while the coordinator continued with the teaching. I subtly encouraged Juan to continue praying. When he finished the last bead of the decade, he handed it back to me, now thanking me calmly. With my experience in disAbility and as an adaptive catechetical leader at my parish, I developed a plan for John with his mother. Our goal: to provide support and to embrace him with his gifts and needs through meaningful faith experiences.
As a youth ministry leader, you don’t need to be an expert in disAbilities to begin or continue welcoming young people with autism and other developmental disAbilities into your program. Here are four practical things you can implement, together with those involved in your ministry, that will lead to meaningful faith experiences:
Develop a concrete plan. At the beginning of the year, when your program begins, have an in-person or virtual interview with each youth and their parent(s) or guardian(s). First, focus on learning about their prayer life. Then, ask them about the school program they attend.
Greet them wherever you see them. By the way, when you see the young person in the parish or out in public, recognize their dignity as human beings and greet them. Constantly greeting Juan has helped him recognize me and establish the trust necessary for us to be able to talk to each other.
Get to know their families. Intentionally take the time to talk with each young person’s parents or guardians throughout the year. Ask them how they are doing in school and when they pray. That’s how I found out that Juan prayed the rosary often.
Offer them your prayers. Ministry with disAbilities requires constant guidance from God. Let every young person know that you pray for him or her because prayer is a tangible form of God’s love. I’m sure Juan was able to experience God’s love in that calm moment after praying.
Looking for more content like this? View all the latest articles here.
In this spirit of hope, we invite you to join us in commemorating the significant milestone of 43 years of our organization’s history and service. Whether it’s $4, $43, or even $300, every gift makes a difference!
Join the celebration and help continue inspiring the next generation of Catholic leaders.
Pastoral Juvenil Hispana Coordinator,
Diocese of Austin
Diocesan Member
"NFCYM has accompanied me in reaching out to like minded professionals to better provide service (ministry) to adolescents. NFCYM has allowed me to network and grow professionally.
'Youth as Protagonists' has been essential to Pastoral Juvenil Hispana in the Diocese of Austin."
Youth Minister, St. Christopher Church
Associate Member
"The various resources have helped me keep our program exciting and vibrant. NFCYM has provided me with shared information via webinars, workshops, conferences, outreach, and opportunities that are very informative to help make my ministry successful.
NFCYM is an open forum for me to seek material, guidance and support in keeping the youth ministry program successful."
