The story of the exceptional child in our archdiocese has been one of constant sacrifice. First, there was the vision of an Atlanta priest, Monsignor Cornelius Maloney, who was convinced that the Church had a real mission to these helpless little ones. In 1956, he established Our Lady’s Day School.

There was (and Thank God, still is) a keen minded nun, Sister Venard of the Sisters of Mercy. Through all the struggles she worked with the children in the school, and fought for funds, support, understanding.

There was thirdly the Association for Exception Children, mostly parents of the children and others who grasped the hopeless situation of parents and the deep-seated needs of the children.

There were others. Miss Lorraine Zak, a skillful teacher worked at Sister’s side. Sister Simeon, for two years, took Sister Venard’s place, but Sister Venard has been transferred back to her real love -- the retarded Atlanta children. The archdiocese, pressed with so many other needs could afford only a $10,000 annual budget, a pittance for the work of this magnitude.

So Many, So Few

At first the school was located at Immaculate Conception School, then Drexel High School, and this year, through the splendid cooperation of the Central Presbyterian Church in their quarters across from the capitol.

But the irony was this: The school cared for only about 20 children. It is reasonably estimated that there are at least 400 exceptional children in our parochial schools, some detected, some not. Then there are the many Catholic children not in our schools -- these are not even counted.

For a year this confused situation has been studied by Bishop Bernardin, Father Richard Kieran, chaplain to the children; Father James Scherer, secretary for Social Services; Sister Venard and Father Tony Morris, director of Religious Education. The parents and the association were kept informed, and in many cases added their own suggestions and criticisms.

Weighing heavily over all their deliberation was that number, 400. What were we doing for them? Nothing. What could be done? Plenty.

The new plan was unveiled in The Georgia Bulletin last week. It is only a beginning. The State of Georgia shares the magnitude of our problem, and Dr. Namie Jones, director, says, “It is a mammoth task we have ahead of us.”

Brand New Gospel

One special area we cannot share with the state -- the religious. That is our responsibility and Father Kieran knows this very well.

About six months ago, he asked me for permission to offer Mass for the children in language they can understand. Starting with the epistle and gospel, he told it as he told them other things. Now he does this frequently in other parts of the Mass.

The kids love it. They sit in there, or kneel, or stand, with eyes full of appreciation. Jesus becomes more their friend. They are finding out what he meant when he said: “Let the little children come to me for these are the Kingdom of heaven.”

Now Is The Time

Building on the advances and mistakes of the past, the new plan may be summarized:

1. A new agency, under the Department of Social Services, to counsel parents and teachers; to coordinate handling of exceptional children in parochial schools and schools of religion; to refer the children to the correct agency, and to represent the archdiocese in all matters of the association, the state, the city, etc.

2. Special religious programs for those children who cannot be accommodated in school, and special general programs within our school system for the more common exceptionalities, e.g., the mildly retarded and the gifted.

3. In addition to Sister Venard as director and Father Kieran as chaplain, a caseworker will be added.

4. The day school, that phase of the beginning of the struggle, will be discontinued in view of the larger good to be gained by the new plan.

A Word To The Wise

Parents who find that one of their children is exceptional face at first a severe crisis. Whose fault? What will people think? What should we do?

Wise parents who know that love is a child’s greatest need, put their faith in God and in those who care. God selects his parents, and He must love with a special tenderness those who bear a child who does not normally develop. Whose fault? No one’s fault. This is a saint that God is entrusting to them.

The child is baptized and confirmed, and probably introduced to the Holy Eucharist. But unlike the rest of us the baby will never lose his innocence, he will never know what sin means. As one father told me, “Our child has it made!” Fortunately, a wider understanding and compassion are replacing the old harsh judgments of neighbors and gossips. Even the state feels the problem.

Before the present General Assembly lies the opportunity of a real breakthrough. The new Mental Retardation Center in North Atlanta needs $1,200,000 to continue their excellent work.

The archdiocese fully endorses these needs, stated for us by Dr. Thomas Tidmore, president of the Atlanta Association for Retarded Children. We ask Catholics to write their representative urging full support. This is not the time nor the category to cut back funds and pretend to call it economy.

The new archdiocesan plan deserves the full understanding and support of every Catholic. All of us hope to reach God and possess Him to the full for eternity.

But only the exceptional child has it made!

Paul J. Hallinan

Archbishop of Atlanta