Rockland Legislature Cites Special Needs Religious Ed in West Nyack

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St. Francis of Assisi parish in West Nyack is bustling on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, catechizing children with special needs.

For its outreach to nearly 50 youths ranging from ages 5 to 15, the Rockland County Legislature recently conferred a distinguished service award for the Rockland County parish’s program to its founder, Maureen Zeiss.

Father Robert McKeon, pastor of St. Francis, said the “beautiful honor” is in keeping with the spirit of the parish patron, St. Francis of Assisi, who advocated for those most in need.

The pastor had high praise for Mrs. Zeiss, whom he described as “the backbone of that component of our overall religious education program” and for Nancy Doran, who serves as the parish director of religious education, and the catechists who assist them.

Mrs. Zeiss said the “unexpected honor” of the citation presented Nov. 3 is an acknowledgement by the county “that children with special needs need to know God also.”

The ceremony in the legislative chambers included a representation of special needs students.

In explaining the significance of the citation to the children, she said, “This is ours and it’s because of you.”

The half-hour, weekly classes rooted in the Mass, Scripture and song resonate with the special needs children, many of who are non-verbal and severely disabled, Mrs. Zeiss said.

“Some of them do, yet most of them will never get the doctrine of the Catholic Church,” she said. “So what I try to do is show them that St. Francis is a place that they’re loved, God is here and He welcomes them.”

The specialized catechetical program that began a decade ago this year draws youths from throughout the county. The only requirement is that the special needs attendees are baptized Catholics.

Parents are asked to bring their children to weekly Mass, “which they do,” Mrs. Zeiss said.

“Parents make a promise at the child’s baptism that they will raise their child Catholic and that they will bring their child to the sacraments. They also want what every parent wants for a child at that stage or at that age.”

For special needs children, it’s also about fairness, “especially if they have siblings, if your brother has made his Communion, why can’t you?” Mrs. Zeiss said.

This year, eight special needs children in St. Francis’ program will make their First Holy Communion and 12 will be confirmed.

Mrs. Zeiss also spearheads a special needs youth group which meets monthly at St. Francis of Assisi.

She thanked the archdiocesan Catechetical Office for their support, in particular Sister Joan Curtin, C.N.D., the director, and Linda Sgammato, director of early childhood/special religious education.

Last November, Mrs. Zeiss was conferred the John Cardinal O’Connor Award by the Catechetical Office for creating a community of welcome for children with disabilities and their parents, while raising parish awareness of their right to the finest in catechesis. “I do it for them,” Mrs. Zeiss said of the children. “They’re just my life.”

Triplets Jack, Cole and Matthew Fredericks, 12-year-olds, participate in the catechetical program at St. Francis. Although Cole and Matthew do not have a disability, they accompany Jack, who has cerebral palsy.

“It’s all about being all-inclusive, and that’s what Jesus wants us to be,” said their father, John Fredericks, a Clarkstown police sergeant.

Through a caring and compassionate atmosphere, the program teaches Jack as “a special gift that he is,” his father said. “It really makes him feel like he’s one of the group” and, at the same time, “treats him as an individual. He loves it.”

Fredericks said the specialized catechesis fulfills all that he and his wife Kathleen could ask for their son. “It gives us a lot of gratitude, especially when we’re at Mass and he’s able to do all the wonderful things that he’s able to do,” following along in prayer in particular. “It means the world to us.”