The lights were a bit dimmer, the music a bit softer, and the voices a bit lower during a recent Saturday night Mass in St. Joan of Arc Church – the third low-sensory Mass celebrated in the Marlton parish, designed to offer a calming environment for individuals with sensory needs.
The Mass, the brainchild of the parish’s relatively new Caritas Ministry, is offered once a month and is void of bells and incense.
Photo Gallery: Sensory Sensitive Mass
With his brother Matthew at his side, Timothy Giroux, 20, beamed as he prepared to read the Prayers of the Faithful at the 5:30 p.m. Mass on July 15. In the past, Timothy, who has special needs, could only watch as his brother participated as a reader. But that night, it was Timothy’s turn to enjoy Mass in a whole new way.
“It gave him an opportunity to participate in the Mass and be a part of it,” mom Patty Giroux said. “He’s always loved the predictability of the Mass. Getting up and doing the Reading with his brother gave him a chance to be like everybody else.”
Bringing People In
The idea for the ministry came about during a parish liturgy planning committee meeting, Caritas Ministry co-chair Sue Screnci explained.
“We asked ourselves, ‘Who are we still not reaching out to?’” Screnci said. “Who’s missing in Mass? That really comes from Father Rich [LaVerghetta]; that’s what he wants to do with evangelization, to bring people in.”
Caritas Ministry co-chair Stacy Bouillion also credited Msgr. LaVerghetta, parish pastor, as a tremendous source of support and information for the Caritas Ministry, which serves as an advocate to ensure an environment that promotes full participaton in parish life for all. Msgr. LaVerghetta drew on his previous experience as pastor of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, which has a low-sensory ministry in place.
Bouillion, an occupational therapist, pointed out how the ministry members brought their own unique experiences and knowledge to the Caritas group. Screnci, a retired Marlton elementary school principal, reached out to mothers in her former school’s special-needs program for ideas and support. Elizabeth Donato, ministry member and speech therapist, composed a Picture Exchange Communication System – booklets with simple words and pictures to help those with special needs follow along with the Mass. The ministry also recently received a monetary donation from the parish Knights of Columbus council.
“The Holy Spirit really works in all kinds of ways,” Screnci said. “I believe we were brought together.”
“We are going on faith,” Bouillion said. “It’s really how the blessings come bearing fruit.”
Effie Murphy, parish Liturgy Planning Ministry coordinator, said the Mass is not just helping those with special needs, but anyone who has a sensory sensitivity.
“We thought it would be more for families with young children, but we’ve come to find out there are a lot of people [who benefit from the Mass],” she said.
That inclusion had an obvious effect on other July 15 Mass participants.
Parishioner Paul Donato, whose wife, Elizabeth, is a member of the Caritas Ministry, noted how attentive the faithful were during the Giroux brothers’ readings. “It was different, and it made a difference.”
The low-sensory Masses are simulcast in the parish’s Pedata Hall, as well, for those parishioners who feel the need for a break.
“We wanted to bring everyone in to be an active part of the Mass,” Screnci explained, “but we also wanted them to have a quiet zone and still, as a family, be a part of the Mass.”
Socializing Opportunities
Caritas Ministry has also established a regular social event at the parish for adults with special needs, age 18 and older. TLC, or Totally Lauren’s Crew, is a new initiative named in honor of parishioner Lauren DiOrio, who passed away in April at age 22. TLC’s color theme will be orange, Lauren’s favorite color. The DiOrio family made a generous donation to the Caritas Ministry with funds they received from St. Joan of Arc School families after Lauren’s passing.
Anitra DiOrio, Lauren’s mom, told Bouillon she thought the school community “would feel great knowing the money is being used within our church community to benefit the needs of our special young adults.”
TLC socials will be held the fourth Friday of every month, with the exception of the initial social, which will be held Sept. 23, following the next low-sensory Mass. The parish baking ministry will provide cupcakes for the socials.
The date for the social was chosen so as not to conflict with other special-needs events in the area. Fellowship Alliance Church in Medford has a Snow Den that meets the first and third Fridays, and St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, has a Bear’s Den on the second Fridays of the month. With the addition of the Caritas event, adults with special needs will have the opportunity to socialize every weekend through organized events.
Screnci hopes to see the Caritas Ministry expand to offer support groups for parents of children with special needs or guest speakers.
The Caritas Ministry welcomes other parishes to reach for help on starting a similar ministry or to offer suggestions or to volunteer. If interested, or for more information, contact Sue Screnci at caritas@stjoans.org.