Caldwell College and Archdiocese of Newark host Inclusive Family Mass for World Autism Awareness Day

 

Some 200 children and individuals affected by autism, as well as Caldwell College administration and faculty and Archdiocese of Newark employees came together for an Inclusive Family Mass to celebrate God’s love and World Autism Awareness Day on April 2.

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D. presided and Monsignor Richard Arnhols, M.Div. and Caldwell College Chaplain Reverend Albert Berner concelebrated in a packed chapel on Caldwell’s campus.

The Caldwell College Applied Behavior Analysis graduate program has teamed up with the Archdiocese Office for Pastoral Ministry for Persons with Disabilities to implement the “Attends Mass” program which is aimed at teaching children and adults on the autism spectrum how to attend Mass.

During the liturgy, Caldwell College graduate and undergraduate students –known as Mass Mentors and Mass Buddys -- were commissioned and given a blessing by Bishop da Cunha for their work in helping people with autism attend Mass. The bishop also invited families to attach pictures of their loved ones to an altar cloth banner as a concrete sign of offering one’s self to God during the liturgy. An adapted mass book was provided for the Mass.

Ann Masters, Director of the Archdiocese program said the Mass was a wonderful experience. “It truly felt like a celebration of God with us in which families felt welcomed, affirmed and renewed in a new way! I am grateful for all that has been achieved so far with the contributions of our Mass Mentors from Caldwell College, as well as for how many more students and faculty wish to share their talents to open the door to the Mass for more individuals and families affected by autism.”

Palma Wasilenko has a 10 year old son who was has autism. She said the Mass was such a positive experience that she hopes there will be more of them in the future. Her son went through the Attends Mass program with the Archdiocese of Newark and she said “it was one of the best experiences we have ever had yet.” After a rocky start in the program, she said, “he took off” and after a couple of months of training “was able to attend Mass alone with me.”

Dr. Sharon Reeve, Executive Director of the Caldwell College Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis, led song with Elena Garcia-Albea, a doctoral student in the Caldwell ABA program. Dr. Reeve said she was moved by the love and acceptance that the families and friends shared at mass. “What made the day so special is that many people came together at the Mass to share the joy of being welcomed members of a community that has opened its arms to people with autism and their families.”