PROVIDENCE — Ahead of Holy Week, one Providence parish in particular is offering people of all abilities experience the life and love of Christ.
St. Patrick Church, located at 244 Smith St., inside St. Patrick Academy, has teamed up with the diocesan Apostolate with People with Disabilities to provide stations of the cross and ASL-interpreted Masses.
The ASL interpreted Masses for Holy Week and Easter at St. Patrick’s are as follows: Palm Sunday — 9:15 a.m.; Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper — 7 p.m.; Good Friday — 7:30 p.m.; Easter Vigil —7:30 p.m.; Easter Sunday — 9:15 a.m. The Chrism Mass, on Monday, April 14 at 6 p.m., at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral will also be interpreted.
St. Patrick’s doesn’t stop at Holy Week, though: They offer Stations of the Cross for those with special needs every Tuesday at 5 p.m., followed by a dedicated Mass for the group around 6 p.m. This Mass in particular is available year-round on Tuesdays, and it’s the foundation of St. Patrick’s growing special needs community.
Irma Rodriguez is the director of the apostolate. She explained that the community they run is under the Diocese’s Special Religious Education program, called SPRED.
The verses “I call you friends” (John 15:15) and “I am beautifully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) greet visitors to SPRED’s new website (icallyoufriends.com), a reminder that God created every person equally capable of recognizing and showing love for him, and SPRED helps provide this welcoming opportunity to all. As such, their mission statement reads: “SPRED helps Catholics with special needs to experience the friendship of Jesus Christ, a sense of belonging in his Church, and full participation in liturgical life.”
Following that mission, St. Patrick’s SPRED group guides special needs people of all ages — whether children or adults — through catechesis and beyond. They hold frequent group meetings, and occasionally go on fun outings such as their annual picnic in June.
“We try to accommodate all of our participants by age group,” Rodriguez said. “But at the same time, the SPRED community is not just a community to prepare for a sacrament and then you’re done. It’s a lifelong community. Many have been coming for 40 years.”
Rodriguez shared that reaching out to those with special needs is incredibly important, as Christ never leaves behind or discriminates against anyone who longs for his grace. She’s experienced that reality firsthand thanks to her son, who has disabilities and loves to go to Mass and participate in the group.
“After he made First Communion, he wanted to go to church every day,” Rodriguez said. “He knows that there’s something special about this experience. He knows about the presence of God there. And we see that with a lot of other people with disabilities.”
Rodriguez said countless families like hers are incredibly grateful for the opportunities available at St. Patrick’s, but it can’t be done without the help of their volunteers. Anyone willing to offer their time, love, and care to people who need it most are always encouraged to get involved.
To learn how to volunteer, donate, and for more information on Catechesis through SPRED, visit www.icallyoufriends.com.
