Families with Special Needs Ministry
The Families with Special Needs ministry at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church builds a coalition of social and spiritual support within the Cary/Apex faith community to help families with special needs children of all ages grow in holiness to love and serve the Lord. All area parishes are welcome to participate.
The ministry serves families who have been blessed by God in a special way to raise His children with physical/intellectual disabilities and developmental delays. The ministry’s key service areas focus on helping families with special needs children:
- Worship Together as a family at Mass and other liturgical celebrations.
- Grow in Faith through religious education and faith formation activities that accommodate their children’s unique learning styles.
- Socialize with the Faith Community in an environment that is always prepared to receive their children in a loving way.
- Strengthen the Family unit through parent support groups, prayer networks, and respite care providers.
- Reach Out to other parishes, diocesan groups, and related apostolates to foster awareness, exchange information, share resources, and encourage collaborations and partnerships that support the mission of the ministry.
Because this is a family-oriented ministry, we especially invoke the patronage of Saint Joseph, foster father of Jesus and loving spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We ask that St. Joseph will watch over this ministry, protect its families, and lead us humbly into the perfect holiness of the Blessed Trinity, as we seek to model the Holy Family in all that we say and do within our own families.
Special Needs Summer 2010 Movie Series
Our summer movie series for teens and young adults with special needs kicks off in June. Popcorn and soft drinks are provided (alternate food/beverage available upon request). All movies are shown in Room 212 of St. Andrew’s Care Center from 3 – 5 p.m. The titles listed are subject to change if you have other suggestions your child might enjoy more. We look forward to a fun summer!
- JUNE 26 – High School Musical (2006)
- JULY 10 – Flipper (1996)
- JULY 24 – Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)
- AUGUST 7 – Shrek the Third (2007)
Special Needs Ministry Resources
Membership
The ministry is open to families with small children, teens, and young adults with special needs, as well as to others within the faith community who wish to offer their time and talent to this ministry by volunteering as respite care providers, special education teachers and teacher aides, social activities coordinators, etc.
A moderated Yahoo! group facilitates communication among the ministry’s members. For more information, please visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cfsn_apex/
Meetings
Friends and families of this ministry currently meet quarterly (February, May, August, November). Please check the bulletin for announcements regarding upcoming meetings and events.
Contacts
Linda Cappola, phone: 919-363-3490, or e-mail: lcappola@bellsouth.net
Julia Haskett Simmons, phone: 919-469-9678, or e-mail: juliahsimmons@gmail.com
Katie McDermott, phone: 919-362-4078, or e-mail: ktmcd@nc.rr.com