Feature Issue on Faith Communities and Persons with ... - NCRTM

Profile
19
the New Bedford area. Funded by the
Massachusetts Department of Mental
Retardation, a part-time network coordinator
begins the process by receiving a
referral and meeting with the individual
to discuss his or her worship preferences.
In most instances, people have an
identified faith community or denomination
in which they wish to participate.
For those who are exploring their spirituality
or faith, it is not the role of the
coordinator to identify a particular denomination
of faith for a person. However,
the coordinator is available to discuss
information about the variety of
denominations that are in the community
and offer suggestions on ways to assist
someone to choose what would be
best for them. Once that decision has
been made, contact with the chosen
faith community is made. Clergy leaders
are asked to think of members from the
congregation who would like to become
Faith Companions. Sometimes, certain
members of a community come to mind
right away, but other times it takes a
little more persistence. Each congregation
has its own way of going about
identifying members who wish to participate.
Again, if the congregation
needs assistance, the coordinator is
available, along with other committee
members, to do presentations for
groups in the congregation, provide
written information for bulletins, or
speak directly to potential Faith Companions.
To help congregations and
members to better understand what being
a Faith Companion entails, Bridges
to Faith produced a video describing the
effort and the profound impact it has
had on people’s lives. Copies of the
video have been distributed throughout
the New Bedford area.
After a Faith Companion has said
they would like to attend services with a
new member, the coordinator introduces
them and maintains contact with
the individuals to help to facilitate the
relationship that forms between them.
Maintaining communication between
the Faith Companions, provider staff,
and members of the faith community to
ensure that the companionship has
enough support increases the opportunity
for the relationship to grow. A key
component to facilitating long-lasting
faith companionships is ensuring that
Faith Companions feel supported in the
beginning of their relationship. Faith
Companions from the congregations
need to feel comfortable seeking assistance
should a situation arise that they
may not understand. Building an open
line of communication between the network
coordinator and the Faith Companion
allows the companion to begin
to understand the new member and
facts about the disability in a non-threatening
way. Once misunderstanding and
fear are replaced by understanding and
ease, inevitably friendship and respect
grow. The Faith Companion acts as a
bridge between the new member and
other members of the congregation, expanding
friendships, membership, and
understanding in a natural way. Many
of the companionships mature into
friendships with people doing more
than just attending worship services together.
The Faith Companions often
share participation in other activities
within the congregation and outside of
it. Many of the people connected to
communities of faith this way have said
they feel like they belong to a family.
Bridges to Faith is the second of four
similar committees active in Massachusetts.
The first committee was Spiritual
Connections in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Its success led to its replication in
New Bedford’s Bridges to Faith. The
same resources can be found in most cities
to establish this type of committee,
and facilitate greater connection between
individuals with developmental
disabilities and local faith communities.
Colleen Perkins is Coordinator of Educational
Support, Massachusetts Department
of Mental Retardation, and Chair of the
Bridges to Faith Committee, New Bedford.
She may be reached at 508/992-1848 x334
or by e-mail at colleen.perkins@dmr.state.
ma.us. To obtain a copy of the Bridges to
Faith video describing the committee’s
work, call the number above or visit their
Web site at www.Bridgestofaith.org.
David’s Story
David, 47, has been attending St. Francis
Xavier Church for three years with his
Faith Companion, Bob, and Bob’s family.
They attend Mass every Sunday where
David says, they “pray to God. It makes
me feel good to talk to God.” He receives
communion regularly, and likes to sing.
Whenever he goes anywhere and they
pass by the church, David announces
proudly, “That’s my church.”
For Bob, who was recruited through the
St. Vincent DePaul Society of the church,
being a Faith Companion has been a
deep learning experience. He and his wife
have three children and they all consider
David to be very much a part of their
family. David has accompanied them to
church suppers and to family activities
such as Bob’s daughter’s school play.
The members of St. Francis consider
David part of the church family and he is
missed when he is not there. Bob says,
“He’s happy to be there and we’re happy
to take him. From that, friendship just
flows.”
Not long ago David assisted at the
wake and funeral of one of his long-time
roommates. David declared to all,
“Charlie’s dead. He’s an angel now.”
Contributed by Richard C. Malmquist, Coordinator, Bridges to
Faith committee, New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Published on the Web site of the Institute on Community Integration (http://ici.umn.edu/products/impact/143/). —