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May 3, 2019
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Catholic Advance
www.CatholicAdvance.com Michael Mayans says the Holy Family Special Needs Founda- tion may have the smallest budget of any ministry of the Diocese of Wichita, but it has the longest acronym - HFSNF. Mayans, president of the foun- dation, talked about the history of the ministry to those at the Annual Di- ocesan Board Appreciation Dinner, March 5 at the Spiri- tual Life Cen- ter in Wichita. He fondly remembers Sr. Veronice Born, the first director of the ministry who was called in 1960 by Bishop Mark K. Car- roll to start a school for children with disabilities. The Sister of St. Joseph was not a special educa- tion expert when the call came, Mayans said, but she simply said yes to God and made it her life's work. Ministry began in 1960s The ministry developed through the 1960s from loca- tions at St. Anthony Parish, to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, to a new building on Maize Road in Wichita. Be- cause of changes in the law that restricted religious education in a public setting, the Ministry with Persons with Disabilities was cre- ated, he said. There are two components to the foundation's work, Mayans said: the diocesan disabilities ministry office, and the Catholic schools program. Include all in parish life The diocesan disabilities ministry office is dedicated to ensuring that individuals can ac- tively participate in parish life no matter what condition they may have. Having a disability, or being a caregiver for a person with a disability, can be hard," he said. There are many potential barriers that can keep individuals from feeling like they are wel- come in our diocese including financial barriers, physical barri- ers, or programming and activities that are not geared towards their needs. The diocesan ministry's role is to help parishes bridge those gaps." He said the ministry frequently uses the word "inclusion" but hopes the faithful understand it better as "belonging." We want to make our parishes places of belonging for everyone - where the parish family does not feel complete if everyone is not there at the table," Mayans said. The ministry offers many programs for persons with special needs, he said, but one program, the Holy Family Camp, stands out. I can't say enough good things about Holy Family Camp - it is truly a joy-filled experi- ence, and a gift to many families who don't get a lot of breaks from being caregivers. We have enjoyed great support from the diocese for this program, from those who vol- unteer to be camp buddies for the week, to our various Knights of Columbus groups. This year is the 30 year anniversary of the Holy Family Camp, and we are very proud of that program and what it reflects about our diocese." 28 schools benefit Mayans said programs in 28 Catholic schools benefit from the foundation's endowment to "in- crease the level of services avail- able for students with disabilities, working within the framework parish-based stewardship." The needs for special educa- tion services outstrips available funding, Mayans said, but the financial outlay is important because "it is our obligation to provide adequate education and formation for every member of our parish family." Jesus said: "'Let the little chil- dren come to me.' He didn't say, Let the college-bound children come unto me," or 'Let the athletic kids come to me,'" Mayans said. There are heroic people who work in special education in the public school system, but there are certain things that can only be provided in a Catholic setting." He said he hopes the faith- ful can focus not on the price of providing special education services but on the value of hav- ing children with special needs in the schools. Those children are not a Michael Mayans
Mayans: Foundation focuses on those in whom God's glory is shining
burden, Mayans added, they are a gift. "These are people you ought to know - they have their own personalities and talents to share, and when we send them elsewhere, everyone in the school loses." Catholic schools teach that a person's value doesn't come from their abilities, he said, but that each person has an inherent dignity and worth. But it is one thing to know something, and another to experi- ence it. At its heart, our faith is about our personal relation- ship with Jesus Christ, and our relationship with others. When we exclude a group from our schools, we don't allow the opportunity for life-changing relationships to form. This ministry is not primar- ily about money or programs, it is about relationships." Challenges are numerous There are many challenges involved, he said, but the families involved in the ministry are the most life-affirming group he has ever seen in the church. "Through this ministry, I have seen that no matter what your difficulties may be in life, there will always be people in the church who will love and care for you, reflecting God's love and concern for us all." That is a powerful message to have in Catholic schools, he said. Most of us may not have an apparent, visible, disability - but frailty, vulnerabilities, and limitations are part of the human condition for all of us. With the advent of social media, there is so much pressure today to always put forth the right appearance - to look like we have it all together in life. These individuals with dis- abilities can set a great example for us with their lives, demonstrat- ing that everything in life doesn't have to be Instagram-perfect to be good and meaningful." Mayans said he didn't have children with special needs but that his children have benefitted from being a part of ministry activities. I mention these little anec- dotes not to bring up how great my kids are - although they are - but to say that we need to create these formation opportunities for all of the kids in our schools while they are still young so they can form and learn from these relationships." So Gods glory will shine The Gospels reflect Jesus' ministry to those with disabilities, how they were not examples of sin but that God allowed their dis- abilities so that God's glory may shine all the brighter. The works of God continue to be made manifest today, in this diocese, through our brothers and sisters with disabilities," he said. It is only a question of whether we have the eyes to see it. We may not witness dramatic miracles like what is described in the Gospel, but we can see and experience the love of God in a million little ways through our relationships with individuals with disabilities."
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