SPRED
Meeting the Needs of the Community….
NEW! SPRED Ministry at St. Brigid Parish
Last fall when the director of SPRED for the Archdiocese spoke at our Masses, dozens of people expressed interest. Fast forward to 2024, and we are working to establish a SPRED Center at St. Brigid Parish, which will be located in one room of the Holy Child Center at OLH. We will get started with an adult group for ages 22 and over in April. Watch for an “Open House” for the parish in the summer.
“Special Religious Development,” or “SPRED,” is a ministry designed to meet the spiritual needs of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through the experience of friendship in one-to-one relationships, our friends with special needs discover a place where they belong and can enjoy meaningful relationships which help them realize their own giftedness and dignity.
Different groups serve ages ranging from 6 through adult. Younger age groups are currently served at other nearby parishes. There is an established network of teams across the parishes to fit participants into the right age group at the right time.
A SPRED group is a small faith community of adult helpers working one on one with special friends to help them experience God's presence and love in their daily lives. Because of their challenges, our friends understand God's words differently than others. We use objects, pictures, animation and song to bring awareness of God. The helpers also meet regularly as their own small faith community to prepare to be companions for their special friends.
Adult helpers do not need any prior experience, as there is a comprehensive set of training classes to prepare you to serve this special community.
If you have a loved one who would benefit from SPRED, or would like to learn more about being an adult helper companion, please contact Donna Ianson or myself through the parish office at
847-244-4161.
Valerie Walker, vwalker@stpatrickwadsworth.org
Updated 2/26/24