Ministry with Persons with Disabilities

Mission and Goals

The Committee for Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities promotes maximum participation of all persons in the life of the Church. 

Goals:
  • Work to provide a deeper understanding of disabilities and promote belonging in parish communities.
  • Create a partnership with parish leadership and parishes through the role of a parish liaison.
  • Develop and maintain a diocesan webpage that will be populated with varied information (resources, agency contacts, best practices) in response to the needs surfaced in the parish communities.
  • Provide opportunities for education and training.

Current Committee Members
Renee Berg, Catechetical Leader Divine Mercy Catholic Parish-  rberg@evdio.org
Jeremy Goebel, Director of Youth and Young Adult- jgoebel@evdio.org
Mary Kaye Falcony, Assistant Director Office of Catechesis- mkfalcony@evdio.org
Carol Ann Gaddis, Parish Catechetical Leader Holy Rosary Parish- cagaddis@evdio.org
Joel Padgett, Director Office of Catechesis- jpadgett@evdio.org 
Andie Gunter, Administrative Assistant Office of Catechesis- agunter@evdio.org
Matt Miller, Director of Worship- mmiller@evdio.org
Martha Pitt, mpittcrew1@gmail.com
Cinda Sanderson, Parishioner Holy Rosary- cindasanderson@gmail.com
Emily Schnapf, Director of Marian Educational Outreach- eschnapf@evdio.org

Our History

Parish Liaisons
In January of 2019, individuals from various interest groups in the diocese were invited to an informational meeting.  At this meeting, it was explained that this committee would assist parish
leadership in serving parishioners with special needs and their families.  In January 2020, after a diocesan survey,  a mission statement and goals for this committee were submitted to the Bishop. With his approval, we are excited to announce that the Committee for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities which operates through the Office of Catechesis is now in place and anxious to begin our service to parish leadership.  

​
  • ​Parish liaisons are the point of contact for their parishes with the Diocesan Inclusion Committee
  • Liaisons are asked to serve for a three year period 
  • They attend quarterly meetings hosted by the committee to provide an opportunity for . . .
    • Updates, education and distribution of materials
    • Listening sessions where liaisons share the needs of their parish communities
    • Sharing of successes in meeting the needs of their disabled parishioners  

​Parish Liaisons Resources

​A list of Parish Liaisons is available here