The late Augie DeVito was a devout Catholic, so it’s only fitting his enduring legacy is an organization that embraces the value of inclusion so central to the Catholic faith.

That celebration takes place every Thursday from November through May at the Holy Trinity gymnasium in Long Branch. The Holy Trinity Basketball Shoot Around welcomes persons of all ages with mental and physical developmental disabilities to come shoot basketballs, have fun and socialize.

Photo Gallery: Holy Trinity Basketball Shoot Around

The group has been going strong since 1975, when DeVito first formed the Holy Trinity All Stars Basketball Camp. He started it so his young son, Chris, and others like him, would have a recreational activity in addition to attending school.

“At that time there wasn’t much for people with disabilities to participate in,” said Augie’s wife, Marie, of Christ the King Parish, Long Branch. “Now it’s different, schools have the Challenger leagues, they have gym teachers who specialize in people with disabilities. Back then it was nothing. He just thought it would be nice to do something for them. Christopher started doing it and began making friends, and he would bring them home for dinner.”

The first year there were just five participants. It has swollen to as high as 80, and this year has 60 enrolled who are brought in from area group homes for the disabled. Chris still participates at age 52, as do many others his age. Augie passed away on Jan. 11, 2016, and Tom DiClemente took over as league coordinator after nine years of helping out.

“The coaches and I wanted to make sure that this continued, so we worked together to make sure it happened,” said DiClemente, who attends Precious Blood Parish, Monmouth Beach. “We’ve only missed one Thursday, and that was the night of Augie’s viewing.”

The 90-minute sessions are from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and include open shooting before they form lay-up lines “so each player gets an opportunity to make a basket on their own without balls flying around them,” DiClemente said. “They get to actually see their shot go through the basket. That was what makes it great, the happiness they get from doing that.”

The “coaches,” as they are called, organize things, rebound missed shots and pass balls back to the shooters. The final 15 minutes are reserved for donuts, provided at a discount by the local Dunkin Donuts. A Halloween party starts the year, followed by a visit from Santa in December and a season-ending dinner.

In 2014, DeVito received the Governor’s Award for Community Service, and last May, Long Branch Mayor John Pallone presented the organization with a Certificate of Recognition. It is a true group effort, as DiClemente praised the parishes of Christ the King (of which Holy Trinity Church is a worship site), and Precious Blood, as well as the Knights of Columbus, area businesses and the city of Long Branch. It’s all done in the spirit of inclusion.

“You’re looking at giving everybody an opportunity,” DiClemente said. “The coaches and players enjoy interacting. A lot of the coaches feel blessed and want to share that with others. It’s a great group of coaches. We’ve also had some high schoolers come in and help, which is great. It shows that kind of volunteerism and thought process is prevalent in the schools and with others.”

Their help has made such a positive difference in their lives that the sharp shooters don’t ever want to miss a Thursday.

“When we call the homes to tell them we have to cancel for snow,” DiClemente said, “they say ‘We’re not gonna tell them that. We’ll put them on the phone and you tell them.’”