Forty-first in a series on the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Madison
The Apostolate to the Handicapped was established by Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell in 1967 with Fr. (later Msgr.) Thomas Campion as the director.
Monsignor Campion died in 2010 after 43 years directing the Apostolate. In 2011, Msgr. Larry Bakke, pastor of St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Monroe, was appointed director of the Apostolate.
In 2016, the Apostolate’s name was changed to the Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities.
Expanding its outreach
The Apostolate builds on the vision of its first director while expanding its outreach to persons with disabilities in the life of the Church in the Diocese of Madison.
The mission statement of the Apostolate says it “works to promote the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in the life of the Church. Every baptized person, regardless of their abilities, has received a special vocation to holiness, and we strive to promote their participation in local parishes and diocesan events.”
In 2013, the Apostolate developed a program to provide financial grants to parishes, schools, and agencies in the Diocese of Madison to help ensure that persons with disabilities are fully included in the life of the Church.
Grants have been used to make buildings more accessible to persons with disabilities and to help fund programs that benefit persons with disabilities and their families.
Hiring full-time staff
In October of 2016, the Apostolate hired the first full-time staff members, Deacon Jim Hoegemeier and Kellie O’Brien, and moved operations from Monroe to the Holy Name Heights campus in Madison, where many diocesan offices are located. The Apostolate works with and assists diocesan offices to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all activities.
In 2019, Kayla Schiesser joined the Apostolate staff to support its work in the diocese.
Apostolate programs
TV Mass — The first work of the Apostolate when it was established in 1967 was developing a weekly television Mass to support and strengthen the spiritual lives of people of all faiths facing challenges related to disabilities.
It is a lasting tribute to the Morgan-Burns family and the staff and management of WISC-TV that this Mass continues to air each Sunday morning.
Special events — From 2011 to 2019, the Apostolate continued the Advent/Christmas Mass and party at Monroe High School and the summer Day in the Dells at the Tommy Bartlett Water Show site, which had been held since 1975. In 2020, the water show closed permanently after 70 years in business.
In 2017, the Apostolate sponsored Blessed Margaret Celebrations at parishes requesting them. These events celebrated the accomplishments and contributions of parishioners with disabilities.
Blessed Margaret was born with severe physical ailments. However, she became a member of the Dominican Third Order, developed a deep prayer life, and devoted her life to performing acts of penance and charity. She was canonized by Pope Francis on April 24, 2021.
Parish Disability Liaisons — In 2018, the Apostolate announced it was developing a Parish Disability Liaison program with the goal of having a liaison for persons with disabilities in every parish in the diocese. The liaisons assist the pastor in his ministry with persons with disabilities and their families and work toward total inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in parish life.
Fall retreats — On September 18, 2020, the Apostolate held its second annual Fall Retreat at Holy Name Heights with safety measures in place. Participants had the opportunity to build new friendships, pray, and have fun together.
Bible study — During Advent 2020 and Lent 2021, the Apostolate offered weekly Bible study groups. The gatherings were held on Zoom and were a time for prayer, discussion, and fellowship. Everyone was welcome, but Catholic adults with special needs or intellectual or developmental disabilities were especially welcome to join in prayer and conversation.
Prayer service and carols — On December 5, 2020, a virtual prayer service was held for people with disabilities, older adults, and their family and caregivers.
Advent deaf retreat — The Apostolate hosted its first Deaf Retreat on December 15, 2018. About 25 people gathered for a day of prayer and reflection. All presentations and conversations were in American Sign Language (ASL). The retreat was led by Fr. Chris Klusman of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and Sue Gudenkauf. Another retreat was held on December 12, 2020, at St. Dennis Parish in Madison both in-person and virtually.
The Apostolate continues to be a resource to parishes and schools in the diocese that wish to support deaf and hard of hearing persons.
Celebration of canonization — Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the Apostolate’s in-person programs were not held during 2020 and 2021. One of the first events was a special Mass and luncheon for people with disabilities, their families and caregivers, to celebrate the canonization of St. Margaret of Castello. It was held on September 12, 2021, in the chapel at Holy Name Heights.
Special needs religious education — Starting on August 14, 2021, the Apostolate is offering weekly special needs religious education opportunities virtually on Saturday mornings. These programs are offered for children (10 and older) and young adults. Parents are welcome to join with their children. There will also be quarterly opportunities to meet in person for Mass and a social to build community.
Mental health ministry — The Apostolate recently became a member of The Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers. The association supports Catholic mental health ministers and is working to bring mental health ministry to every Catholic parish.
The Apostolate hopes to increase support for mental health ministry in the Diocese of Madison. On October 23, 2021, more than 30 people, including laity and clergy, spent a day learning about and discussing how to develop mental health ministry programs in parishes.
Sources: Archives of the Catholic Herald newspaper and website of Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities (https://apdmadisondiocese.com).
Mary C. Uhler served on the staff of the Catholic Herald-Diocese of Madison for almost 47 years, the last 34 years as editor. She retired in July of 2020.
Reflections on the Apostolate
By Msgr. Larry Bakke
For the Catholic Herald
On July 5, 2011, I began new assignments as pastor of St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Monroe and as director of the Apostolate to the Handicapped for the Diocese of Madison. They were both new challenges for me, and I welcomed the opportunity to begin at the parish and to become acquainted with the Apostolate that Msgr. Thomas Campion had initiated in 1967. Needless to say, there was lots to learn!
I recruited Linda Faessler to assist me as administrative assistant, and together we learned about the Apostolate, grateful for the input of some long-time people who had been involved with Monsignor Campion.
Right away in July, I had my first experience taping the weekly TV Mass at Channel 3000 begun on the first Sunday of Advent in 1967. It is a wonderful experience to know that thousands of households are able to worship on Sunday mornings because of the generosity of the owner and management of WISC-TV.
We continued with the Day at the Dells, the Tommy Bartlett Water Show, and the Advent/Christmas celebration in early December at Monroe High School. These were well attended, such joyful gatherings until COVID-19 forced both to discontinue. We are now looking into offering some smaller gatherings in different areas of the diocese.
Because of a large amount of money raised over the years, the Apostolate began a grant program for parishes in 2013. Focusing on enabling the full inclusion of all people in the churches, many grants have been awarded to parishes to enable important additions to parish facilities like accessible restrooms, automatic door openers, hearing loop systems, and much more. Recently, programs for persons with disabilities have been funded.
With the growing needs and possibilities for the Apostolate’s ministry throughout the diocese, Deacon Jim Hoegemeier, Kellie O’Brien, and Kayla Schiesser joined me on staff, and the Apostolate office moved to Holy Name Heights in Madison, joining the other diocesan offices.
The Apostolate name changed to better reflect the ministry we are about. It is now known as the Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities for the Diocese of Madison. We continue to learn and provide resources for the parishes, staff, and people of the diocese.