SPRED (Special Religious Development)

SPRED’s mission is to form parish-based small faith communities where catechists and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities accompany one another as they deepen their awareness of God in their everyday lives and cultivate a sense of belonging within local parish communities and the universal Catholic Church.

SPRED is a parish-based, lifelong ministry that provides faith formation and spiritual nourishment to catechists and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

This is accomplished through one-on-one partnerships within a small community of faith. The carefully designed and peaceful setting, the bonds of friendship, respectful attitudes, and the sharing of sacramental celebrations help each person discover the gifts and the needs of every person in the community. God is discovered time and again in the midst of the life experiences of every person and in the gift of shared friendships.

SPRED welcomes people with a broad spectrum of intellectual and developmental disabilities (from low needs to high needs).

A SPRED community will welcome people with disabilities from one of the following age groupings:

• 6 to 10 years old
• 11 to 16 years old
• 17 to 21 years old
• 22 years and older

We are an agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago with 110 SPRED communities in Chicagoland, 19 dioceses in the US, and 7 countries worldwide - and growing!