HISTORY
The predecessor to iCare, (R.E.A.C.H.) began in 1970 in Topeka, Kansas, when Dolores Lebbert saw the great need for religious education and a meaningful Mass experience for people with developmental disabilities through her work at KNI in Topeka. Through the tireless efforts of volunteers and support of Archbishop Ignatius Strecker, REACH soon expanded from Johnson and Shawnee counties to
47 dioceses, 154 cities, 30 States and several foreign countries. Many children and adults with developmental disabilities received the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation at REACH Masses in the 1970’s. Following the retirement of Archbishop Strecker in 1993 and a push towards mainstreaming or inclusion of people with developmental disabilities at the parish level, an unintended consequence left many people with developmental disabilities without the meaningful participation in the Mass and religious education that they had with REACH. By the year 2000, the REACH program came to an end. PLAN OF ACTION
Since a generation of children and adults with developmental disabilities have not experienced the joy of an adapted liturgy like a REACH Mass, iCare started off with a monthly Mass for children and adults in our Archdiocese with developmental disabilities and their families. The adapted Masses feature developmentally appropriate music and liturgy that were hallmarks of the REACH masses of the 1970’s and 80’s. Father Bill Bruning, pastor of Queen of the Holy Rosary in Overland Park, KS, worked with the REACH program as a young priest in the 1990’s and had rave reviews from parents and participants in Topeka. Bill was asked about reinstating this role and he immediately expressed his interest and passion in doing the same. Father Bill and the parish council of Queen of the Holy Rosary generously agreed to host the iCare Masses and socials on Saturday evenings at 6:00 p.m. beginning September 24, 2016. To foster a sense of community with children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families, a social consisting of refreshments and bingo or a dance are held in the parish hall immediately following our Masses. FUTURE PLANS
In the Fall of 2017, iCare plans to expand to bi-weekly Masses and add a religious education program provided by volunteers during an hour block prior to Mass. We are updating a curriculum used by the REACH program with the help of religious education providers to children and adults with developmental disabilities in our archdiocese as well as other dioceses that have existing programs. Properly trained high school and college students were a good source of volunteers with the REACH program and will be utilized for this program along with trained adult volunteers.
