updated 18-Feb-12

Sacred Heart Parish - Belfast - 2012

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The mission is:-

to form small faith communities in parishes
to welcome children and adults with special needs.
to provide an appropriate method of catechesis
to foster full inclusion in assemblies of worship
What is SPRED?
SPRED stands for SPecial Religious EDucation. Spred consists of small groups of people in parishes who come together to form little communities of faith and friendship with people who have learning disabilities. The groups grow together by following an appropriate method of catechesis designed and arranged to meet their needs. Our aim is to prepare the way for our friends for full participation in the liturgical life of parish community.
The Spred group has been working in the parish for twenty years.  We meet on alternate Monday nights from 7-9 pm in Sacred Heart Parochial Hall.  Our group is a mixed age group.  We cater for people with special needs from our parish.  The ages range from ten years of age to mature adults.  We try to work on a one-to-one basis, a leader and a special friend.
Spred meets about thirty weeks of the year.  One week is a preparation meeting for helpers and the next week we meet with our friends.  The meeting lasts about two hours.  It starts with 30-40 minutes of activity (in silence as much as possible), to allow everyone to gain their inner quiet, we then proceed to the special area round the Bible having been invited by the Leader(s), and after that we have our agape (a sharing of a small supper) and songs.
The aim of Spred is to allow our friends with special needs to become a part of the parish family, to let them share their faith together in a way that suits them, and to learn from them the purpose God has for us all.  We have prepared members of our group to receive First Confession, First Communion and Confirmation through Spred.  All our helpers would say they receive more than they give.
All that is needed is a desire to share your faith and love with each other and a commitment for two hours on a Monday night.  We welcome anyone who would like to know more about Spred, and we invite any parishioners with special needs to come along and find out more about us.  If at any time you feel you could commit yourself as a helper, please contact Sr. Carmel 9075 6664.