The Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet in Illinois

Below is the information we have about how parishes around the diocese serve children and youth with special needs/disabilities in religious education and sacrament preparation. While we do have some separate programs around the diocese, the local parish is always the first place to begin, as many young people may be mainstreamed (included) in regular programs, with appropriate accommodations. (If a child has a public school IEP, it is helpful if that can be shared with the parish, so the staff can know how the child learns best.)

ALL children/youth are welcome to participate, to the best of their abilities, in learning about their faith and being prepared for and receiving sacraments, even the most profoundly disabled. The USCCB Guidelines for Sacraments with Persons With Disabilities clearly state that no matter how serious the disability, and even if there is no verbal ability, all persons have the right to sacraments. The difference is how we recognize and honor "readiness" in these individuals. For more information, contact a parish in your area (information below) or call Joyce Donahue 815-221-6146 jdonahue@dioceseofjoliet.org

Has your program changed in any way?
Contact the Office of Youth Formation (815) 221-6147

Parish	Location	Generally: Mainstreamed or Separate?	Contact
St. Joseph	Addison	Mainstreamed Alternative program available at need	Carlo Zeffiro (630) 279-6553 x17
St. Philip	Addison	Mainstreamed	Nancy McKnight (630) 543-1754
Assumption of the BVM	Ashkum	Mainstreamed	Jessica Behrends (815) 698-2262
Our Lady of Mercy	Aurora	Mainstreamed Parental attendance permitted	Mary Jo Tripani (630) 851-3444 x236
St. Mary	Beaverville	Mainstreamed	Ryan Loy (815) 486-7144
St. Alexis	Bensenville	Mainstreamed	Ericka Garcia (630) 766-4417
St. Charles Borromeo	Bensenville	Mainstreamed SPRED program for adults and children	Mary Kravchuk (630) 766-8822
St. Isidore	Bloomingdale	Mainstreamed Alternative visual/hands-on program on Saturdays with professional special needs educator	Vera Zielinski (630) 529-9191
St. Dominic	Bolingbrook	Mainstreamed, with one-on-one work with catechist	Chris Hannigan-Wiehn (630) 739-5703 x223
St. Francis of Assisi	Bolingbrook	Children's REACH program, Saturdays	Liz Wagner (630) 759-7588 x109
Maternity of the BVM	Bourbonnais	Mainstreamed. Faith Buddies program available at St. Joseph, Manteno-Contact Jessica Dickson at (815) 468-3403	Maria Pallissard 815 933-8285 x226
St. Joseph	Bradley	Mainstreamed. Faith Buddies program available at St. Joseph, Manteno-Contact Jessica Dickson at (815) 468-3403	Anita Lovell (815) 937-9340
Immaculate Conception	Braidwood	Individualized instruction available with trained special needs teachers held at Assumption BVM in Coal City.	Deacon Bill Dunn (815) 634-4171
Corpus Christi	Carol Stream	Mainstreamed	Mary Lou Conroy (630) 483-4222
St. Luke	Carol Stream	Mainstreamed	Mark Donovan (630) 665-2322
St. Ann	Channahon	Mainstreamed	Tom Uraski (815) 467-6962
Ss. Mary and Joseph	Chebanse	Not generally mainstreamed. Contact parish.	Jessie Behrends (815) 694-2027
Notre Dame	Clarendon Hills	Mainstreamed with tutorial support and aides as student's needs dictate. Specialized support for sacrament preparation.	Debbie Macaluso (630) 601-1762
St. Peter	Clifton	Contact parish	Jessica Behrends (815) 694-2027
St. Ambrose	Crest Hill	Mainstreamed	Sr. Mary Frances Werner (630) 257-7844
St. Anne	Crest Hill	Mainstreamed	Sr. Mary Frances Werner (815) 722-3222
Assumption of the BVM	Coal City	Individualized instruction available with trained special needs teachers	Deacon Bill Dunn (815) 634-4171
Our Lady of Korean Martyrs	Darien	[No answer]	Philip Kim (847) 627-0817
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel	Darien	Mainstreamed when possible. CHRISTOS programwith individualized instruction twice a month on Saturday afternoons	Sherry Rochford (630) 963-3053
Our Lady of Peace	Darien	Mainstreamed	Rev. Mark Baron (630) 986-8430
Divine Savior	Downers Grove	Mainstreamed	Maureen Janusewski (630) 969-1673 x132
St. Joseph	Downers Grove	Mainstreamed REACH Program available	Jacquie Lackaff (630) 964-0216 x1106
St. Mary of Gostyn	Downers Grove	Mainstreamed	Jen Liszka (630) 960-3565
Immaculate Conception	Elmhurst	Mainstreamed Case-by-case	Josephine Bastianoni (630) 530-3480
Mary Queen of Heaven	Elmhurst	Mainstreamed	Mary Glaudell (630) 832-8962
Visitation	Elmhurst	Mainstreamed Alternative program on case-by-case basis	Matt Pozen (630) 279-7058
St. Anthony	Frankfort	Mainstreamed As needed, a small alternative class is available.	Dcn. Tony Schlott (815) 469-3750 x149
Our Lady of Lourdes	Gibson City	No information	Tannie Smith 217) 784-4671
Immaculate Conception	Gilman	Mainstreamed	Mindy Rogers (815)265-7236
Queenship of Mary	Glen Ellyn	Not mainstreamed, but no program information offered	Hung Thai Nguyen Contact Parish
St. James	Glen Ellyn	Mainstreamed	Lisa Weesner (630) 469-7540 x30
St. Petronille	Glen Ellyn	Mainstreamed Alternative programs depend on circumstance	Julie Knox (630) 858-3796
St. Matthew	Glendale Hts	Mainstreamed	Mick Ruddle (630) 469-5178
Sacred Heart	Goodrich	Not mainstreamed. Faith Buddies program available in Manteno.	Rhonda Berns (815) 426-2550
St. Margaret Mary	Herscher	Mainstreamed. Faith Buddies program available at St. Joseph, Manteno-Contact Jessica Dickson at (815) 468-3403	Stacie Clyden-Powers (815) 426-2550
St. Isaac Jogues	Hinsdale	Mainstreamed. Individualized instruction available with trained special needs teachers.	Joan Latto (630) 323-0265
Our Mother of Good Counsel	Homer Glen	Mainstreamed	Janet Litterio (708) 301-0214
St. Bernard	Homer Glen	Mainstreamed, with assistance from parents, school IEP, etc.	Margie Wilson (708) 301-3020
Sacred Heart Mission	Hopkins Park	Mainstreamed. Faith Buddies program available at St. Joseph, Manteno-Contact Jessica Dickson at (815) 468-3403	Sr. Mary Beth Clements (815) 944-5562
St. James	Irwin	Mainstreamed. Faith Buddies program available at St. Joseph, Manteno-Contact Jessica Dickson at (815) 468-3403	Alicia Miller (815) 426-2550
St. Andrew Kim	Itasca	Not generally mainstreamed, but no program information offered	Contact Parish (630) 250-0576
St. Peter	Itasca	Mainstreamed	Toni Pietrowski (630) 773-1272 x216
Cathedral of St. Raymond	Joliet	New separate REACH program meets twice a month on Mondays	Christine Pershey (815) 722-6653
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel	Joliet	Mainstreamed	Nata Martinez (815) 727-6330
St. Francis Xavier	Joliet	Mainstreamed	Penny Giunta (815) 436-4501
St. John the Baptist	Joliet	Mainstreamed, but if needed separate program is taught by catechist trained in special needs education.	Julianne Daletski (815) 727-9077
St. Joseph	Joliet	Mainstreamed	Cherie Gimbel (815) 727-9378
St. Jude	Joliet	Mainstreamed, with a separate program provided on a case-by-case basis	Sarah Reznicek (815) 725-2209 x405
St. Mary Magdalene	Joliet	Mainstreamed	Shirley Norris (815) 727-4600
St. Mary Nativity	Joliet	Mainstreamed	Nanci Lukasic-Smith (815) 726-4073
St. Patrick	Joliet	Mainstreamed	Julie Dillenburg (815) 726-2924
St. Paul	Joliet	Mainstreamed	Michele Kmety (815) 725-6927
St. John Paul II	Kankakee	Mainstreamed. Faith Buddies program available at St. Joseph, Manteno-Contact Jessica Dickson at (815) 468-3403	Sr. Evangeline Kiambati (815) 932-7911
St. Patrick	Kankakee	Mainstreamed. Faith Buddies program available at St. Joseph, Manteno-Contact Jessica Dickson at (815) 468-3403	Eileen Kregor (815) 932-6716
Sacred Heart	Kinsman	No special needs cases have arisen.	Luri Mayer-Lorentz Contact Parish
St. Joan of Arc	Lisle	Not mainstreamed Provided REACH program until recently-- in need of new coordinator. Contact parish.	Barb Caruso (630) 963-4500 x4517
St. Dennis	Lockport	Mainstreamed Catechesis of the Good Shepherd	Venus Wozniak (815) 838-2592
St. John Vianney	Lockport	Mainstreamed	Bernadetta Kopinski (815) 723-3291
St. Joseph	Lockport	Mainstreamed	Deacon Dennis Stolarz (815) 838-0592
Christ the King	Lombard	Mainstreamed Aides and extra time outside class as needed	Loretta Crotty (630) 396-6078
Divine Mercy Mission	Lombard	Mainstreamed	Barbara Musial (630) 543-7027
Sacred Heart	Lombard	Mainstreamed	Dr. Linda Andrejek (630) 495-0843
St. Pius X	Lombard	Mainstreamed SPRED Program available	Elizabeth Becerra 630-627-4526 x204
St. Joseph	Manhattan	Mainstreamed.	Kelly Hoehn (815) 478-4452
St. Joseph	Manteno	Mainstreamed. Faith Buddies program available at St. Joseph, Manteno-Contact Jessica Dickson at (815) 468-3403	Jessica Dickson (815) 468-3403
St. Mary	Minooka	Mainstreamed	Fred Ban (815) 467-2233 x104
St. Mary	Mokena	Mainstreamed REACH for Children	Chris Aust (708) 326-9355
St. Patrick	Momence	Mainstreamed. Faith Buddies program available at St. Joseph, Manteno-Contact Jessica Dickson at (815) 468-3403	John Rehmer (815) 472-2864
St. Boniface	Monee	Mainstreamed	Nancy Bishop (708) 534-9682
Immaculate Conception	Morris	Mainstreamed, but separate program as needed	Julie Dillenburg (815) 942-0620
Holy Spirit	Naperville	Mainstreamed	Jane Ehrlich (630) 922-0081 x36
Ss. Peter and Paul	Naperville	Mainstreamed Children's and Adult REACH available	Theresa Pratt (630) 357-2436
St. Elizabeth Seton	Naperville	Mainstreamed Alternatively, REACH at St. Raphael or Ss. Peter and Paul	Jacqueline Skelly (630) 416-1992
St. Margaret Mary	Naperville	Mainstreamed	Jacqueline Snyder (630) 369-0777
St. Raphael	Naperville	Separate REACH program.	Jeanne McDonald Contact parish (630) 355-4545
St. Thomas the Apostle	Naperville	Mainstreamed REACH in collaboration with St. Raphael	Patti Dougherty (630) 355-8980
St. Jude	New Lenox	Mainstreamed Alternative special needs class, parental attendance or one-on-one available	Katie Neu (815) 463-4291
Ascension of Our Lord	Oakbrook Terrace	Mainstreamed Alternatively, individual/one-to-one instruction	Vince Zaprzal (630) 953-4415
St. Anne	Oswego	Mainstreamed One-on-one and small groups available as needed	Cathy Gillooly (630) 554-1425
St. Mary	Park Forest	Mainstreamed	Aaron Canty (708) 228-5592
St. Mary	Paxton	Mainstreamed No special needs children at this time	Dan Schneider (217) 379-4033
St. Paul	Peotone	Mainstreamed. Faith Buddies program available at St. Joseph, Manteno-Contact Jessica Dickson at (815) 468-3403	Deacon Jim Kelly (708) 258-9580
St. Peter	Piper City	Mainstream	Sharie Schuette (815) 686-9260
St. Mary Immaculate	Plainfield	Separate program Two individualized groups meet once a week	Geri Morse (815) 436-4501
St. Mary	Plano	Mainstreamed, but parents may attend	Deacon Eduardo Murillo (630)552-1505
St. Mary	Reddick	Mainstreamed. Faith Buddies program available at St. Joseph, Manteno-Contact Jessica Dickson at (815) 468-3403	Bridget Hoffman (815) 949-1568
St. Joseph	Rockdale	Mainstreamed	Elizabeth Kelch (815) 725-4469
St. Andrew	Romeoville	Mainstream except by parental request	Annmarie Ott (815) 886-4165
St. Walter	Roselle	Mainstreamed, but with Individual Faith Plan to aid in education	Valerie Della Penna (630) 894-5880 x3019
Holy Family	Shorewood	Mainstreamed, but supervised homeschooling also available	Leslie Krauledis (815) 730-8691
St. Lawrence	S. Wilmington	Mainstreamed	Tiffany Stabb (815)237-2230
St. Anne	St. Anne	Mainstreamed. Faith Buddies program available at St. Joseph, Manteno-Contact Jessica Dickson at (815) 468-3403	Kim Emerson (815) 937-5690
St. George	St. George	Mainstreamed. Faith Buddies program available at St. Joseph, Manteno-Contact Jessica Dickson at (815) 468-3403	Denise Dillard (815) 432-5569
St. Liborius	Steger	Mainstreamed If needed, some catechists are certified Special Ed teachers	Dcn David Prete (708) 754-3460
St. Alexander	Villa Park	Separate program based on need and circumstances	Ann Kreuger (630) 832-0506
St. John the Apostle	Villa Park	Mainstreamed	Dolly Foley (630) 832-7588
St. Irene	Warrenville	Mainstreamed Separate class if needed	Jacqueline Skelly (630) 393-2400 x121
St. Edmund	Watseka	Mainstreamed	Patty Duffy (815) 432-5569
Resurrection	Wayne	Mainstreamed Separate program for Confirmation preparation	Linda Cortese 630-289-5400
St. Mary	West Chicago	Mainstreamed	Sr. Rosanny Contreras Pozo (630) 231-5704
Holy Trinity	Westmont	Mainstreamed REACH program (individualized) available	Joanne Gregoire (630) 968-5978 x111
St. Daniel the Prophet	Wheaton	Mainstreamed	Karen Gulvas (630) 384-0123
St. Mark	Wheaton	Mainstreamed	Christine Olsen (630) 668-4614
St. Michael	Wheaton	Mainstreamed	Magdalena Glaz (630) 665-2250
St. Rose	Wilmington	Special classroom for profoundly affected children with a certified instructor	Jamie Hooper (815) 476-7491
St. Patrick	Wilton Center	Mainstreamed. Faith Buddies program available at St. Joseph, Manteno-Contact Jessica Dickson at (815) 468-3403	Amy Pfeiffer (815) 478-3440
St. John the Baptist	Winfield	Mainstreamed	Maureen Brennan (630) 682-4400
Holy Ghost	Wood Dale	Mainstreamed Parental attendance/homeschooling available	Sr. Susan Majcen (630) 766-1045
Christ the Servant	Woodridge	Mainstreamed	Christine Goba (630) 910-0770
St. Scholastica	Woodridge	Mainstreamed	Beth Cartner (630) 985-9255 x117
St. Patrick	Yorkville	Separate program Special needs catechists on Wednesdays at 4:30	Michele Gonzales (630)553-6671 x23

Do you need to find a parish near you? Try the parish map search located here.

Resources for parishioners with special needs and their support system can be found here. Also check out Children of Mary, a group for teen Catholics with special needs. More information can be found here.