SPRED is a programme which offers materials and training to parishes to help them welcome their parishioners who have a learning disability.
SPRED’s vision is:
- That all people with a learning disability take their rightful place in the parish community;
- Every person needs an environment of openness, acceptance and love in which to develop as a human being.
The mission of SPRED is:
- To form small communities of faith in parishes to welcome children and adults with learning disabilities;
- To provide an appropriate method of catechesis;
- To foster full inclusion in assemblies of worship.
SPRED is a programme which provides non residential services for children and adults with learning disabilities to enable them to become fully integrated members of the community.
The SPRED programme includes a wide range of activities and support. SPRED encourages confidence in those people who live independently and it provides social opportunity to meet and share with other people. The important aspect of SPRED is that it is a one to one programme.
SPRED is a parish based spiritual programme that exists to nurture and nourish faith in people with learning disabilities. Every person who joins SPRED is called both to learn more about their faith and share with other people the faith they already possess. As SPRED is a journey more can always be learned and shared. Central to SPRED is forming relationships.
As SPRED groups are set up in parishes those with learning disabilities are brought more to the fore in parish life; they are seen as central and integrated parishioners.
How SPRED works
SPRED volunteers undergo specific training in the method and philosophy of SPRED. This is a method of sharing faith with people who have difficulty with the spoken word. Therefore at SPRED sessions words are kept to a minimum. The time spent together is special, sacred and creative. |
