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

Annual Celebration (Open Arms Awards)

Since 1999, the Diocese of Toledo has recognized people with disabilities and/or advocates who minister to their parishes and communities in outstanding ways. These include people with a wide range of disabilities. The individuals honored yearly with an Open Arms Award are much more than Sunday Catholics. They are active in their parishes and communities ministering to others despite their personal challenges or advocating for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the life of the Church and community.

Nominees must be practicing Catholics, living with a significant disability, which can be a physical, emotional, or developmental disability, vision or hearing impairment, chronic illness, paralysis, or mental illness who also goes above and beyond in modeling admirable Christian service to their family, parish, and community at large. Additionally, those who are a caregiver or advocate for persons with disabilities can also be nominated for their witness to the faith in how they care for and uphold the dignity of persons with disabilities through their role.

Pastoral Services

• Liturgical minister training
• Braille or audio taped materials
• Large Print Sacramentary
• Portable assistive listening system
• Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities

• 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. Ken McKenna, OSFS
St. Francis de Sales High School, Oblates Chapel, 2323 West Bancroft Street, Toledo, OH 43607

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

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.