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| Members of MDREO (Madison Diocese Religious Educators’ Organization) participate in a videoconference with Michele Chronister, the co-chair of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability’s Council on Intellectual and Development Disabilities, during a recent session at Holy Name Heights in Madison. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash) |
MADISON — “The only real disability is rejecting the Holy Spirit.”
Those powerful and profound words were some of many heard at a recent session of MDREO — the Madison Diocese Religious Educators’ Organization.
Their January 26 session at Holy Name Heights was all about the importance of adaptive catechesis — catechesis for those with disabilities, especially intellectual and developmental.
The presenter was Michele Chronister, the co-chair of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability’s Council on Intellectual and Development Disabilities.
Chronister has written books and articles on adaptive catechesis.
She was originally scheduled to travel to Madison for the program, but was unable to, and instead pre-recorded some videos, specially for the Madison audience. She also participated in a live videoconference later in the day.
The program was made possible with help from a grant from the Diocese of Madison Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities.
The theology of vocation
Chronister’s first pre-recorded talk was on the theology of vocation.
She said when one hears “vocation,” they usually think of marriage, the priesthood, or the Religious Life and added there are people with disabilities who are living out all of those vocations.