National Catholic News Service and Staff Reports

Citing his "sense of presence, sense of trust," and "consistency," the National Apostolate with Mentally Retarded Persons honored Bishop Kohn J. Snyder of St. Augustine, FL, for his work with the mentally retarded.

Bishop Snyder became the first bishop to receive an award in the organization's 12-year history. The NAMRP held its annual conference in Atlanta Aug. 10-13.

Sister Jacqueline Marie Kielsch, president of the NAMRP, said "What impresses us most about Bishop Snyder is that he left a retreat with the handicapped in Florida to come here tonight. He is truly with the retarded and among them."

The award was one of four presented at the conference. The purpose of the conference was to encourage and facilitate the full participation of all persons, regardless of disability, in church life and ministry.

The National Youth Award was presented to a St. Jude's parishioner, Grace Yrizarry, in recognition of her service to the handicapped. A pre-med student at the University of Georgia, Grace has attended and assisted with camping retreats for the handicapped, which are conducted annually through St. Jude's Religious Education handicapped program. She has also taught for five years in the program. As an eighth-grader at St. Jude's she was the youngest lector ever selected in the parish. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Yrizarry of St. Jude's.

Others to receive awards were Father Patrick Cullen of Birmingham, Alabama, and Sister Leona Tucker of Philadelphia.

The conference's presence in Atlanta at Oglethorpe University represented the fruition of much hard work, particularly by St. Jude's whose handicapped program has been developed by Toni Miralles, a member of the national board of NAMRP and conference chairperson. Many in the parish were involved in preparation for the conference and assisted during its duration.

The conference had a "special spirit" and provided a "real coming together of the organization," Mrs. Miralles said. Those who have written to her since the conference have particularly mentioned its spirit of prayer and moving liturgies, she said.

Monsignor John F. McDonough, vicar general of the archdiocese, was principal celebrant at the opening liturgy and gave the conference's opening address. Father John Kelley, liaison for the handicapped in the archdiocese, celebrated the children's liturgy on Aug. 12. Among the music performed during the conference was "Light in the Darkness," written and composed by Father Paul Berny, and commissioned by Mrs. Miralles for the conference.