Persons with Disabilities

Families of persons with disabilities update form

The Accessibility Ministries Office of the Diocese of Toledo is updating records on families of persons with disabilities to serve and assist them in the formation of their faith and effectively minister to them. This request is for all families in the Diocese, if there is someone in your household with a permanent disability, please access, complete, and submit the google document below. Thank you for your time and cooperation

Family Update Form

Annual Celebration

The Diocesan celebration honoring persons with disabilities will be on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the 4:30 pm Vigil Mass, at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Norwalk. Bishop Daniel Thomas, celebrant, will present the 2024 Open Arms Awards. American Sign Language interpretation will be provided. All are welcome. We are seeking nominations for individuals who serve the church and community, living with a disability and/or a caregiver/advocate for a person(s) with a disability. Please see your parish for a Nomination form.

Pastoral Services

  • Catechetical resources for adults and children with disabilities

Deaf Ministry

Interpreted Mass Schedule
Contact the Parish Offices for more information

ST. JOHN XXIII, Perrysburg
24250 Dixie Highway, Perrysburg, OH 43551
419-874-6502

GESU
, Toledo
2049 Parkside Blvd, Toledo, OH 43607
419-531-1421

ST. PETER, Mansfield
104 W. First St., Mansfield, OH 44902
419-524-2572

SACRED HEART OF JESUS, Fremont
550 Smith Rd., Fremont, OH 43420
419-332-7339

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, Bellevue
231 East Center Street, Bellevue, OH 44811
419-483-3417

Mass in ASL celebrated by Rev. Michael Depcik, OSFS
St. Francis de Sales High School, Oblates Chapel, 2323 West Bancroft Street, Toledo, OH 43607

Resources

Rev. Michael Depcik, OSFS, Homilies in ASL: Fr. MD’s Kitchen Table

frmd.org

My Church
This is a picture book about a young, deaf girl who shares her faith experience as a member of a bilingual Catholic Church where American Sign Language and English are used. It provides deaf children with a sense of belonging in their faith community and hearing children with insights into the world of deafness.

May purchase from RCL Benzinger (877-275-4725).




Guidelines for the Ministry of Interpreting for the Deaf Community of the Diocese of Toledo.

View PDF

Pastoral Care

Mental Health: A Guide for Faith Leaders
downloadable booklet from the American Psychiatric Association

Quick Reference on Mental Health for Faith Leaders
downloadable 2-page reference from the American Psychiatric Association

Guidelines for the Prevention of Abuse of Vulnerable Adults

National Organizations

National Catholic Partnership on Disability

Learn More

Apostolate of Persons with Chronic Illness and/or Disability

Learn More

Pathways to Promise Ministry and Mental Illness

Learn More

Fact Sheets

Prenatal Diagnoses: A Call for Support Ministry

Learn More

Pastoral Visits with Someone with Dementia

Learn More

Teaching Children about Disability

Friends Who Care, A Disability Awareness Curriculum for Elementary Students

View PDF

Diocese of Toledo Physical Accessibility Assessment Form for Parishes

View PDF

Other websites for disability resources:

Interfaith Disability Advocacy Coalition

AAPD.com

National Organization of Disability

nod.org

Catechesis

A Presentation on the Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments for Persons with Disabilities.

Adaptive Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation Preparation Kits. For learners with limited language, includes picture missal, interactive activities and teaching guide. Available on loan from the Office for Persons with Disabilities (419-244-6711) or for purchase from Loyola Press.

Guidance/Best Practice for the distribution of Holy Eucharist to those with gluten intolerance/Celiac disease:

The recommendation from the Office of Divine Worship, which is pastoral and makes practical sense, is for the Priest to have the low gluten Host in a separate pyx (ideally the person brings his/her own pyx with low gluten Host and places it on the altar prior to Mass) and have it in his hand under the paten. Then, rather than “pouring” the Host onto the person’s hand, he places the open pyx in the person’s hand and says, “The Body of Christ”. The communicant simply takes the Host from the pyx and consumes it. The communicant is not self-communicating because the Body of Christ is presented to them. Distributing in this manner also greatly reduces the chance of cross contamination of the low gluten host, because the Priest is not touching the host. As people may feel self-conscious at the prospect of needing special arrangements for the reception of Holy Communion, pastoral sensitivity in this area is particularly important.

Another recommendation from the Office of Divine Worship: There could also be a separate chalice on the altar. The communicant could simply come up with any Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, receive the Precious Blood, and then return to his/her seat. This way the flow of Communion is not interrupted.


From the Diocese of Wichita, a video on Teaching the Mass.

Links listed on this site are provided for information purposes only and are not necessarily sponsored by the Diocese of Toledo.