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Working with Persons with Disabilities
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"The Church continues to affirm the dignity of every human being, and to grow in knowledge and understanding of the gifts and needs of her members who live with disabilities. Likewise, the Church recognizes that every parish community includes members with disabilities, and earnestly desires their active participation. All members of the Body of Christ are uniquely called by God by virtue of their Baptism. In light of this call, the Church seeks to support all in their growth in holiness, and to encourage all in their vocations. Participating in, and being nourished by, the grace of the sacraments is essential to this growth in holiness. Catholic adults and children with disabilities, and their families, earnestly desire full and meaningful participation in the sacramental life of the Church."-- Taken from the Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities (Revised Edition),
developed by the Committee on Divine Worship of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
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WorkshopS for Clergy, Leaders & Catechists
Friday, March 27 - Saturday, March 28, 2026
Embracing God’s Vision of Love
In Baptism, we become equal in dignity as necessary members of the Body of Christ. Persons with disabilities, and their families, seek to be included in the full life of the Church. God’s vision of love calls us to bring about this reality.
Los talleres para líderes y catequistas estarán disponibles simultáneamente en español para quienes lo necesitan.
These workshops will be led by Charleen Katra and Kelsey Bell from the National Catholic Partnership on Disability.
Registration deadline: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 11:59 PM
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For Leaders
(Priests, Deacons & PCLS)
Friday, March 27, 2026
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Resurrection, Alamo
From Inclusion to Belonging- Welcome and Opening Prayer
- Disabilities, diagnoses and differences: know your "flock"
- Removing barriers from foundation to formation
- Sensory-friendly Mass & Sensory-friendly Adoration
- The Art of Accompaniment
- Q&A
- Go in Peace
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For Clergy (Priests & Deacons)
Friday, March 27, 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: TBD
When Did We See You?- Welcome and Opening Prayer
- Person-first Language
- Invisible Disabilities
- Sacraments
- Sensory-friendly Mass
- Q&A
- Closing Prayer
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For Catechists & Parents
Saturday, March 28, 2026
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Resurrection, Alamo
What’s in Your Backpack?- Welcome and Opening Prayer
- Who Do You Say that I Am?
- The Art of Hospitality
- Strategies for Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
- Resources
- Q&A
- Go in Peace
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Charleen Katra
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Charleen Katra is the Executive Director of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD). She previously served in the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston for over twenty years, where she directed the Ministry with Persons with Disabilities and Early Childhood Ministries. Katra is the co-author of The Adaptive Teacher: Faith-Based Strategies to Reach and Teach Learners with Disabilities (Loyola Press). She has extensive experience in systematic and sacramental catechesis and has served as a national consultant, author, and speaker on the topic of belonging for various Catholic publishers. Katra has been a member of the Loyola Press Speaker Corp since 2019. She served on the Board of Directors for the National Community of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL) from 2023-2025. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Special and Elementary Education and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from the University of St. Thomas in Houston.
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Kelsey Bell
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Kelsey Bell joined the NCPD staff following her service as a consultant with the Secretariat of Justice and Peace at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Previously, she served as the Coordinator of the Office for People with Disabilities and Interim Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry at the Archdiocese of Portland where she strived to help parishes become places of belonging where all could actively participate. Bell earned a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Spanish from the University of Portland. She served on NCPD's Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for several years. One of the biggest influences in her life is her younger sister Gina, who has Down syndrome.
Kelsey Bell se unió al equipo de NCPD (la Alianza Nacional Católica sobre la Discapacidad, por sus siglas en inglés) después de su servicio como consultora con el Secretariado de Justicia y Paz en la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos. Anteriormente, sirvió como Coordinadora de la Oficina para Personas con Discapacidades y Coordinadora Interina del Ministerio Hispano en la Arquidiócesis de Portland, donde se esforzó para ayudar a que las parroquias fueran lugares de pertenencia donde todos pudieran participar de manera activa. Bell tiene una Maestría en Ministerio Pastoral y un Bachillerato en Trabajo Social y Español de la Universidad de Portland. Servía en el comité de Discapacidades del Desarrollo e Intelectuales de NCPD durante varios años. Una de las mayores influencias en su vida es su hermana menor, Gina, quien tiene síndrome de Down.
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