From the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Office for Persons with Disabilities & the Deaf Apostolate

1. Please assist in inviting families and individuals to this annual Mass. Parish groups or individuals who wish to assist with the Mass or reception are asked to contact the Office for Persons with Disabilities.   For more details or to register go to www.opdarchphilly.org or click here.

The Annual Archdiocesan Mass Honoring the Gifts of Persons with Disabilities, The Deaf Community, Family, Friends and Caregivers is Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul at 18^th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia.  Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., will be the principal celebrant and homilist.  There will be a reception immediately following the Mass featuring entertainment by Santino Dragon New Year Brigade.  All are Welcome.  To RSVP go to www.opdarchphilly.org, or call the Office for Persons with Disabilities at 215-587-3530.

2.       Spring Contact Meeting for the Office for Persons with Disabilities, April 28, 2018: The workshop will consider how to foster active participation in worship for children with disabilities and their families.  The disability contact/advocate for each parish is asked to attend. Clergy, parish staff, parents and other parish volunteers are welcome to attend. For more details or to register go to www.opdarchphilly.org or click here.

You Belong - How to Foster Active Participation in Worship:   This workshop will be offered on April 28, 2018 from 9:30 am to noon at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center. Parish Contacts for the Office for Persons with Disabilities and other parish leaders are encouraged to attend. The presenters are: Dr. Geralyn Anderson Arango from Holy Family University and  Gilian Lally, a Behavioral Specialist.  For the flyer or to RSVP go to www.opdarchphilly.org, email: opd@archphila.org or call 215-587-3530.

3.      Mothers of Children with Disabilities Retreat, May 1, 2018:  Click here for the online flyer and registration.

Mothers of Children with Disabilities Retreat:  Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at Malvern Retreat House, Sr. Suzanne Mayer, IHM will direct a retreat for mothers and grandmothers who are raising children with disabilities and also those who have adult children with disabilities.  Fr. Jim Olson will be the celebrant for Mass.  There will be time to pray, reflect, and chat with other mothers.  To register on line go to www.opdarchphilly.com. For more information please contact Malvern Retreat House at 610-644-0400 or the Office for Persons with Disabilities at 215-587-3530. 

Sr. Kathleen Schipani, IHM
Director, Office for Persons with Disabilities & Deaf Apostolate

Archdiocese of Philadelphia

222 N. 17^th Street, Philadelphia PA 19103
215.587.3913 phone /267.507.1215 video phone
sr.kschipani@archphila.org

www.opdarchphilly.org / www.deafcatholicphilly.org / www.religoiusASLapp.com

 

Kevin at the Surrey Center

Here is Kevin of our Emmaus Home family, working at the Surrey Senior Citizen Center as a volunteer for the first time. We are so proud of him!

Holiday Memories

Emmaus Home had a wonderful trip to Philadelphia where we visited the Christmas village at city hall. The holiday season may be over but the joy our men and women bring is something that lasts all year long!

A Death in the Emmaus Home Community

Anne's mother was called home by Our Lord on Christmas Day. Please pray for the repose of her soul and for her grieving family.

Kevin and Martin Receiving Gifts!

Kevin

Kevin and Martin of Emmaus Home are recipients of the Christmas Giving Tree at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Media, PA! We wish to thank Fr. Bell and his parish for this great honor!

To help our work with God's children at Emmaus Home, please donate HERE. May the Lord reward with eternal life all who do good to us in His Name.

Martin

Ribbon-cutting at Emmaus Home

Anne and husband Larry get ready to cut the ribbon!

Our ribbon-cutting ceremony at our new facility was Saturday. It was a happy, festive day and we look forward to a bright future. We thank all of the friends who made it possible! Our new Day Program is located at 2989 Dutton Mill Road, Aston, PA. For more information contact us at 484-490-5623.

We're officially open for business!

To help our work with God's children at Emmaus Home to continue, please donate HERE. May the Lord reward with eternal life all who do good to us in His Name.

The Holidays at Emmaus Home

Nick and Grandmom

Anne at the Polar Express

Anne with State Representative Tom Killian

It's cold and snowing in Pennsylvania but at Emmaus Home there are warm hearts and happy times. And our work for adults with intellectual disabilities goes on. Christmas is coming and we need angels to pray for us at Emmaus Home, and help in any way they can, so that we may continue to offer shelter to God's vulnerable ones. Offerings in the name of the Child Jesus are accepted HERE. May God reward you! And may He reward with Eternal Life all who do good to us in His Name!

Marty Hugs Mrs. Santa

Anne with Emmaus Home treasurer Bob Moore

Christmas Party with the Third Order of St. Francis

Our local community of Third Order Franciscans invited Emmaus Home to their annual Christmas Party. Everyone had a wonderful time.

December 2017 Newsletter

Our new Day Program is located at 2989 Dutton Mill Road, Aston, PA. It is the perfect location and a beautiful space for our participants. After waiting for its completion and meeting in parks, libraries and nature centers for several months,we are very excited and proud to be in our new program’s home. It features professional administrative offices, reception area and conference room. The ABA compliant facility has a computer lab, kitchen and ADL training area. A bright and spacious creativity area facilitates our Art, Music, Crafts and other group activities.

We now have two residences: one at 601 Vernon Street in Media, PA, and another at 1519 Black Rock Road in Swarthmore PA. They are beautiful, well-appointed homes in safe and welcoming communities. The Media home can house 3 residents with our wonderful house parent, RoseAnna Yap, who has a master's degree in special education from the Philippines, and the Swarthmore home is the residence of two adults and our newest houseparent, Dr. Rafe Martinez Arrue, with a PhD in psychology. The Franciscan Sisters have welcomed the participants of our Day Program to their Tuesday Afternoon Bingo. Every week our guys gleefully yell out their number or “bingo” and the regulars lovingly cheer them on.

Our Advent Season began with the generous gift of Christmas trees from Schmidt's Nursery and Linvilla Orchards. The Christmas trees were duly erected and decorated in Marty and Kevin’s home, the Day Program, and in our Media home. All of our men love Christmas, but Kevin goes crazy over Christmas trees. And the trees were particularly beautiful.

We are having an open house ribbon cutting ceremony on December 15th. We invite everyone to come and join us for beverages and snacks. And join us for our Wednesday Morning Coffee House from 10:00 to 11:00 beginning on December 13, with fresh coffee, donuts and pastries.

In Thanksgiving

I wish to thank Schmidt's Christmas tree farm for their generous donation of two beautiful Christmas trees for our homes.  They really make the homes of our men with disabilities shine and look so festive for the Holy season of Advent which begins on Sunday! I also wish to thank Linvilla Orchards for their generous donation of three lovely Christmas trees ! And an anonymous donor who continues to bless us during lean times of transition to our new sites! God is very good to Emmaus Home!! May God reward with eternal life all who do good to us in His Name!

Ribbon Cutting, December 15, 2017

Emmaus Home at Malvern

Today was the annual Marian Day at Philadelphia Archdiocese Malvern Retreat House featuring Monsignor John Esseff and Fr. Bill Gaffney!

Emmaus Home took resident Albert there.  He enjoyed the beautiful liturgy and delicious pasta and meatball dinner following!

It was a blessed day on this great feast of Christ the King!  So much to be grateful for!

Interviews with Anne

For those interested in learning more about the story of Emmaus Home, here is the 2015 interview with Peg DeGrassa of the Delco Times:

When I first met Anne Bradley, the first adjective that popped into my mind was “joyful.” The mother of eight greeted me at the door of what is the former rectory of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in Essington, wearing a smile that seemed to radiate straight from her heart.

I promised Anne I’d drop by to hear more about her mission, her passion, which is taking root and beginning to blossom more with every passing day. Her “miraculous story,” as Anne herself phrases it, both intrigued me and inspired me. She is a mom who loves her son with intellectual disabilities (ID) so deeply that she developed the means, not only to help him thrive, but, she hopes, to help other individuals with ID in the community thrive too.

When Anne couldn’t find the right program for her 23-year-old son Kevin, who has autism, long story short, she took a leap of faith and leased the former St. Margaret Mary school, rectory and convent from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and created “Emmaus Home.” The former rectory serves as a residence for Kevin and one other man who lives there part-time, along with Anne’s other son, Michael, who is currently serving as live-in staff. There is room for eight residents and three live-in house parents, eventually, but Kevin and his housemate are the inaugural residents. (Read more.)

Much has changed since then and the purpose of this new blog is to keep everyone updated. Here is a recent interview at EWTN.

Outings and Adventures

Art at Chanticleer Gardens

On a Hayride!

Playing Bingo!

At Cape May Point Lighthouse

Art Therapy at Emmaus Home Day Program!

Emmaus Home at Franklin Square Chinese Festival!

At the Brandywine Zoo!

Fishing!

The purpose of Emmaus Home is to provide an alternative living experience for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. By offering a family-like environment, Adults with Intellectual and Developmental disabilities feel loved and spiritually safe enough to explore their own gifts, personality, and possibilities.

 Everyday is an adventure at Emmaus Home. The unexpected is expected. We encourage our Adults to engage the world in loving, supportive and safe surroundings.

Our model of mission-oriented team living in community with our Adults offers a growth opportunity for both as they learn from each other how to become more human. 

 By including local faith and community involvement and activities, our members are not only exposed to more people and experiences, but our local community is becoming friends with our members who for too long were hidden in large institutions or in their own homes.