Toledo’s Equal Access Ministry leader honored nationally |
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Thursday, 20 May 2010 00:00 |
The leader of the Diocese of Toledo’s Equal Access Ministry was one of three people earning a Member Appreciation Award from the National Apostolate for Inclusion Ministry (NAfIM).
Marsha Rivas of Equal Access Ministry is honored with the award, along with Susan Feider Kelly of the A.R.I.S.E. program at St. Gregory Church in Milwaukee and Theodore Sunder of Christ the King Parish in Springfield.
For the past eight years, Mrs. Rivas has served as head of Equal Access Ministry. She manages the diocesan office that provides pastoral services, catechetical resources and spiritual development opportunities for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, educational services, activities and advocacy for all people with disabilities.
In addition, she coordinates the annual Open Door Liturgy, which recognizes all persons with disabilities. This year, she is initiating an annual overnight retreat and camp for families and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also serves on the NAfIM e-journal editorial board and was a committee planner for the 2008 NAfIM Conference at Saw Mill Creek.
Ms. Feider Kelly has devoted the past 30 years to developing and implementing religious education programming for a consortium of parishes in the Milwaukee area. She is employed as a full-time special education teacher and over and above the effort that is involved in her professional life, she  administers A.R.I.S.E. (association for religious instruction, special education) in which trained volunteers provide one-on-one catechesis and sacramental preparation for children and teens. Under her leadership, A.R.I.S.E. grew from a single-parish program to a multi-parish collaboration.
Dr. Sunder is a professor of Neurology, Pediatrics and Psychiatry at Southern Illinois University and the parent of Nick, a person with developmental disabilities. He is active in his parish church Christ the King in Springfield and in his community promoting inclusion. His involvement with NAfIM has grown out of his concern that people need to be included in their faith community. His desire is that persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities are not only sitting in the pews, but participating as full members of the faith community.
The National Apostolate envisions a completed Body of Christ welcoming and including every person with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Catholic communities. To make this vision a reality NAfIM provides networking opportunities, conferences, publications, a website, e-journal and blog. NAfIM also offers information and referrals regarding faith formation, faith sharing and parental concerns.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 20 May 2010 00:00 |
