By Marie Mulvenna

At St. Jude’s parish, a unique CCD program for exceptional children is just concluding its fourth year of existence with a present enrollment of 16 students and an equal number of teachers, most of them teenagers. Spearheaded by Mrs. Toni Mirales, whose 10-year-old daughter Felicia is a member of the group, the special program for some very special children has been a total success with the children, their parents and the entire parish community.

Mrs. Mirales explains the beginning of the St. Jude project relating it really began over five years ago when she attended a summer program at Immaculate Heart of Mary conducted by Sister Robert Therese, who now heads the Elaine Clark Center. A special confirmation class was being held at IHM for retarded children and several members of St. Jude’s attended, later deciding they would like just such a personalized program for children in their own parish.

The fledging group at St. Jude’s had five children, all of whom were mentally retarded, either severely or borderline, Toni explains. “We then branched out to cover all those children who had any sort of learning disability or handicap.” Tony said many of these children are under tremendous pressure with various problems, adding that some attended regular classes in school and some were enrolled in special education programs in both private and public schools. She relates that the children enjoy immensely the experience of coming together each Sunday morning and especially like the lack of pressure used in the unique approach to teaching religion.

The entire program is run on a one-to-one basis, with the use of regular CCD texts. “We stress to the teachers to pick the most important facts for the children, not too much, not go into it in too much detail,” Toni says, adding that regular faculty meetings are held at least every two months to study the program and its progress.

Students enrolled in the program range in age from six to 27 and an equal number of teenagers and adults assist the project. All those teaching are qualified because of their experience in other areas of special education, she related, explaining that most of the teenagers are specializing in some manner in the field, with one attending Georgia State as a special education major, several others work with the Elaine Clark Center, and still others have come into the program, later deciding this would later be their profession.

Of course, explains Toni, there are other teens who come to help and find it is just not their “thing.” She described the work and dedication of the teenage volunteers as “marvelous and fantastic.”

Among the pupils each week is a blind child, as well as a young boy who has special audio-perception problems. Using the individualized program “is a great help to them,” Toni comments.

Toni described the parish’s response to the program as “wonderful,” saying that parents, priests and other members of the parish community had backed it 100 percent. “The program has really bridged the gap by helping a child with a problem be accepted,” she said. She explained that many times people are afraid to admit their child had a problem or disability and refused to enter the child in any sort of specialized program or training. “But this really helps tremendously in that area.”

The special CCD meets at the same time as all other CCD groups – Sunday morning at 11:15 – and begins with a group “thing,” as Toni described it. It may be a prayer service, lesson creation, liturgical season, an art project, a film, but something in which they can all participate together. Then they break off into the parish art room, clinic, convent or classroom for the one-to-one lesson portion.

Once each month a special Mass for the students and their parents is celebrated in the parish convent. At the Mass, the students serve as altar servers, take part in the offertory procession, and sing folk songs with the aid and accompaniment of Mrs. Florence Grimes, head of the folk group at the church.

Toni described the Mass as “just beautiful” and said the children also make their own petitions at the Prayer of the Faithful. She added it had also been an excellent opportunity for new parents in the parish to meet others and exchange information on helping agencies etc. concerning their children and their particular problems.

Since the special CCD began at St. Jude’s, they have had three first communion groups and this year will take part in a special archdiocesan confirmation group for exceptional children.

Toni said the program itself is geared around students in the parish, but did not prohibit the participation of students from other parishes. “We’ve tried to encourage children from other parishes to come and join us,” she says.

Toni related two offshoots of the St. Jude program, which has been so well received and supported by the parish. One woman was so enthused about the program at St. Jude’s she told the minister of her church that either he begins a similar one in his church or she would take her child weekly to St. Jude’s. That particular denomination now has a new program. In another case, a woman who was being transferred out of Atlanta got all the particulars on the program because she intended to establish a similar one as soon as she was relocated up north.

Among other outside activities enjoyed by the students is the annual family picnic, a potluck affair held for students, families and volunteers. The group’s Christmas program is a delight to the entire parish and each and every student takes part in it proudly, rehearsing, learning lines and appearing on the stage. Toni added that some of the children were doubly thrilled this past Christmas since some of their teachers in the public schools attended the special show.

Although the current year is winding up for the special CCD at St. Jude’s, Toni is already at work on next year’s program and is especially eager for plays the group can do. She has seen great fruits from her efforts in special education and somehow manages to fit in tutoring of children with learning disabilities for the Chattahoochee Council for the Georgia Association for Children with Learning Disabilities.

“We always tell the parents at the beginning of the year,” Toni says, “that their children are more normal than they are different. We work on that premise and make some minor adjustments along the way. That’s all we actually do.”

“All we actually do” has been a great contribution for the exceptional children at St. Jude’s and a very special tribute to a hardworking lady named Toni Mirales.