Sensory Friendly – Inclusive Family Masses Schedule

Preliminary Schedule

Everyone is welcome in the liturgies of the Archdiocese of Newark. However, some individuals with disabilities and their families don’t feel comfortable attending their local parish masses. This can be for different reasons. Some people have increased sensitivity to sounds and smells, some people need to move around more than other people, and some people make more vocalizations than others. So, either people stay away because attending mass is too uncomfortable and/or because of experiences in which they felt unwelcome and that they didn’t belong. This may include individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities such as autism, sensory processing disorder, Down Syndrome, and cerebral palsy.

Inclusive Family Masses – Sensory Friendly Masses offer some modifications to help individuals with disabilities and their families who have struggled because of such experiences to feel comfortable and welcome attending mass. For some people these masses offer the opportunity to become familiar with the flow of mass and then feel comfortable attending their regular parish mass. For many, even if they do develop this comfort, it is great to gather periodically with people who have similar experiences. They share their experiences of life, disability, and the Church with each other. For parishes interested in learning more about hosting SF-IFM, click here for more information.

Parishes hosting Sensory Friendly – Inclusive Family Masses (SF-IFM) are going “the extra mile” to ensure that individuals with disabilities feel welcome, valued, appreciated, and supported. Such masses may include:

• dimmed lights
• softer music or no music
• readings that are shorter and in simpler language
• simpler homily
• a shorter mass
• lower sound system volume
• a quiet area
• no incense
• additional noises and movements possibly as people participate in the mass. This is totally fine, because the reason we gather for Eucharist to celebrate God in our lives and to draw strength from this, together. We are always stronger and more complete together.
• People from the larger community are encouraged to attend.