Tyler LaSpada, who is autistic, is pictured with his sister, Bianca, and mother Cheryl. They regularly attend the inclusion and welcoming Mass for the families with children/adults with special needs at the Community of Christ Our Light, Cherry Hill.
In March of 2001, our son, Tyler, was diagnosed with autism at 2 years of age. My husband, Raymond, and I worked at maintaining a “typical” life for our family while pushing to help Tyler live in his not typical world.
Our daughter, Bianca, was attending St. Rose of Lima, Haddon Heights, and had made her first holy Communion in 2005. I was so excited for her but in the back of my mind I worried, “What about Tyler?”
I spoke with Joan Sandell and Cathy Johnson at St. Rose of Lima who both helped me guide Tyler through his first holy Communion in 2008. What a wonderful feeling it was to know that Tyler could receive the Eucharist even though he couldn’t talk.
I believe that Tyler understands his faith as he loves attending Mass and touching the stained glass windows and statues. He always knows when its time to receive Communion.
Fast forward to 2011, Bianca graduates from Resurrection Catholic School, Cherry Hill, and is making her confirmation. I spoke with Ginny Grogan and Ryan O’Connor from The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light and both were very helpful in guiding Tyler with making his confirmation with his sister.
Many times when we attend Mass, we sometimes are not able to stay because Tyler is having a bad day. Sometimes people glare at us when he gets loud. I am thankful and so blessed that Sister Bonnie McMenamin, Father Tom Newton and staff of The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light and parents came together to start an inclusion and welcoming Mass once a month for the families with children/adults with special needs.
Sister Bonnie is working hard to get more of the parishes to have a Mass for the families. Tyler, Bianca and I go to these Masses where Tyler is able to be himself. So I also thank Father Robert Hughes, Father John Picinic and staff of The Church of the Holy Family, Sewell; Father George Seiter and staff of Holy Eucharist Parish, Cherry Hill; and Father Piotr Szamocki and staff of St. Joachim Parish, Bellmawr, for having inclusion/inclusive Masses for all of the families who otherwise would not attend Mass as a family.
The parishioners are so welcoming and understanding when Tyler yells out or runs up the aisle. At one inclusion Mass at Christ Our Light, a lovely woman came to me and said when she hears Tyler yell out she feels he is talking to the angels.
Needless to say, “I believe.”
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