By Jim & Mary Kate Hamilton
Four years ago, our family moved back to the Kansas City area. Our primary objective, when looking for a house, was to live in the boundaries of a parish that fit our family’s needs. Having both been raised Catholic, Jim and I are devoted to sharing our faith with our children. By God’s grace we found Ascension. Thanks to our active parish and school staff, it was easy for us to jump into activities in the community.
After two years, we met with Father Gary to discuss ways to more fully integrate our family and families like ours in the parish. Our oldest son, John, has a rare genetic disorder that presents with Autism. We knew in the coming years we would be faced with challenges as we continued to seek Catholic education and the receiving of sacraments. Specifically, we wanted to start a support group for special needs families in the parish and beyond. Serendipitously, Fr. Gary was also called to the broader mission of inclusion and had already begun work to welcome all members of the Church. Our special needs support group fit well into the many other programs he was already cultivating.
The group, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, was named after Psalm 139: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
We are blessed to be in a parish where our children, John, Cece, James and Rand can all grow in their faith together. Families who are touched by special needs in any form are invited to join us the third Sunday of each month to pray, share practical advice and hear from a variety of speakers on topics including: EMBRACE’s mission to foster inclusion in Catholic Schools, Special Needs Trusts, How/When to sign up for the Medicaid Waiver, etc. A full list can be found on the website: https://kcascension.org/wonderfully-made/
Please join us!