Catholic diocese in Pennsylvania tries to improve ministry to people with autism

From The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pa.:

Michael Jarman finds his son Patrick (pictured) — and other children with autism — inspiring.

“They’re very hearty people, facing a very challenging situation yet maintaining their poise and showing the cardinal virtues of faith, hope and charity,” he said.

Jarman is among a group of midstate Roman Catholics who want to improve the diocese’s ministry to people with autism.

The Diocese of Harrisburg is inviting Catholic families of children with autism to talk about the successes and challenges the disability presents in practicing their faith. The diocese wants to better welcome and include people with autism into the sacraments and in all aspects of parish life, officials said.

They’ll hold a listening session to hear the families’ concerns from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Cardinal Keeler Center, 4800 Union Deposit Road, Lower Paxton Twp.

“This is really about parents trying to reach out to the diocese who’s trying to find out anything and everything they need in order for their children to be fully part of parish life,” said Jarman, who teaches a special needs Sunday school class.

Patrick, 15, likes to walk around at Holy Name of Jesus, but he’s still listening, Jarman said.

“He can recite the Nicene creed better than many lifelong Catholics. If you ask him what any part of the Mass means, he can pretty much explain to you that he understands what’s going on,” Jarman said.

But Jarman knows what works for his son might not work for others.

After hearing what families need, the diocese can evaluate how best to proceed, said Ginny Duncan, director of the diocese’s Office of Ministry With People With Disabilities.

“It might be a task force, it might be training in parishes, but whatever it is, I want either persons with autism or family members of persons with autism to be involved, as the experts,” Duncan said.

Some parishes have done a better job of including people with disabilities and specifically children with behavioral problems, Duncan said.

Some churches have no instructors with specialized training in autism, Jarman said.

“In the same way the public schools have been caught off guard with the incredible number of kids with diagnoses, the religious education departments also have been caught off guard with the same phenomenon,” he said.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in 150 U.S. children has an autism spectrum disorder.

“I’ve been struck by how many parents say, ‘I don’t want to put my kids through the rigors of sitting through an hourlong Catholic Mass, or putting other people through it,’” Jarman said. “I think a lot of parents simply look at religious education as yet another hurdle when they’re already tired from going through the basic hurdles of getting their kid into school and getting their kid in the right program at school.”

At the same time, parents want their children to be full participants in the religious life of the family and church, he said.

“I want these kids to be part of our family and religious observance,” Jarman said.