Catholic Charities Disability and Deaf Services (Formerly the Diocesan Ministry With Person With Disabilities, established in 1982), serves persons who are disabled or Deaf, and their families in the Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri Diocese. We operate as an advocate, seeking help and collaborating with parishes, private and public agencies, as well as service ministries within the Diocese. Our program monitors service of persons with disability or Deafness and their families to ensure fuller participation and inclusion.
We actively seek input from persons with disabilities and Deafness, and their families and those working with them. The primary focus is to facilitate the person with a disability or Deafness in becoming an equal contributor to the Church and to society.
We address the spiritual, catechetical, social, educational and physical needs of persons with disabilities and Deafness and their families. We also provide guidance to staff which work with persons with disabilities and Deafness, sponsor awareness program, liturgies, volunteer opportunities and other similar activities.
We received the 1992 “Opening Doors Award” from the National Catholic Office for Persons with Disabilities. Our Ministry was chosen for this national recognition because of its excellent model for other areas of the country in the breadth and variety of procedures and services, which have been developed to carry on the mission of meaningful inclusion.
OPEN DOOR MASSES are offered three times per year throughout the Diocese in order to bring awareness to our fellow parishioners of the gifts our friends with disabilities and Deafness have to offer to their faith communities. They need only to be invited to do so.
The October 19, 2014 Open Door Mass held at Saint Catherine’s
