Mission

We seek to meet the religious needs of persons with disabilities by:

• Advocating for and with persons with disabilities for their rights within the Diocesan Church.
• Assisting and enabling persons with disabilities to participate in the life and in the ministry of the church as fully as possible.
• Organizing, implementing and/or supporting programs of religious education and Christian fellowship for persons with disabilities and their families, catechists and caregivers.
• Offering professional services and resource material pertaining to our mission to individuals, groups and parishes of the Archdiocese of Hartford.

• Encourage and support parishes to welcome individuals with disabilities into full participation into all aspects of parish life.
• Promote awareness of the gifts and talents of people with disabilities.
• Network on the diocesan level in providing necessary information to ensure that new or renovated parish facilities are architecturally accessible.
• Sponsor annual Faith and Sharing Retreat for people with and without disabilities to grow spiritually with God.
• Co-sponsor ecumenical day and weekend retreats with various groups.
• Ministry for Mental Wellness - a bimonthly support group for people with psychiatric disabilities.
• Broadcast bimonthly radio program on WJMJ sharing the stories with people with disabilities and their achievements and contributions to parish life.
• Co-sponsor the Aledor J. Gengras Lecture with St. Joseph College to heighten the awareness to social justice needs.
• Sponsor various fund raising events to further the ministries of our office.

Staff

Director: George Ducharme
Staff: Mary McGrath, Colleen Scott
Spiritual Advisor: Reverend John E. Cockayne
Volunteers: David Scott, WJMJ Producer; Deb Deptula, Ministry of Wellness; Kay Maloney, Representative from New Haven