As the crowd of 20 sits rapt in attention, Brother Tom Osorio explains the Catholic faith to them, a puppet on each hand representing Jesus and Mary.
Just before the teaching, at the beginning of the evening, Brother Tom, of the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God, extends the Bible for the participants to hold, or to simply just touch for a few seconds.
So it goes every third Wednesday of the month in the chapel at St. John of God School in Westville Grove, where an ecumenical prayer service is held for adults with special needs, who struggle with Downs syndrome, cerebral palsy, or who are deaf. Family, friends and caretakers are also invited.
The prayer service at St. John of God Community Services, which provides special education, vocational and habilitative services to South Jersey children and adults with disabilities, is provided for a group of Catholics who don’t often get to church regularly. Thus the evenings are “extremely important. It’s one of the only chances they get to express themselves, in worship,” said Brother Tom, who is director of religious education at St. John of God.
Going on for the past five years, the Wednesday services have also become a place for adults with special needs to socialize.
“There are a lot of regulars who come out,” said Brother Tom. “There are never any strangers.”
After the lesson with puppets, there is time for Scripture reading and personal sharing.
The next Wednesday service is March 21. As usual, the service will run from 5:30-6:15 p.m. Afterward, pizza and refreshments follow. For more information, contact Sister Bonnie McMenamin, SSJ: bmcmenamin@camdendiocese.org or 856-583-6111.
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