Thanks for accepting my invite. Also, I wanted to share w/ you a tid-bit about something wonderful today. At our VBS we celebrate Mass every day at Noon (end of the day for the children). During the VBS day we teach the children how to read the Scriptures and prayers, and we prepare them w/ special songs that fit the VBS curric and are suitable for Mass. The children also get to bring up the gifts. This year we struggled a little (some more than others!) to embrace and include a boy "T" who has autism. T loves music and I believe really wanted to participate in everything. I don't really know because I'm not educated re autism. But I always saw a twinkle in his eye at music class. Anyway, because of the familiy's schedule, T was never able to stay for Mass until the last day, today. He was chosen to be one of the gift-bearers. He did a great job. I couldn't see everything that was going on because I was busy accompanying the singing on the piano, but when I glanced up, he was handing his gift to one of the altar boys and the priest was blessing him. I could see that the priest was being blest in so doing... Well, I'm not a good story teller, but I just wanted to share that T's presence and participation w/ us was a blessing to us all.

I've invited you as a friend because I'm Catholic and new on beliefnet. I found your name on list of new Catholics, also: you're studying autism? I'm a musician, teaching VBS at my church this week, and we have an autistic child! I have a very soft heart for all children, but especially those w/ special needs, although I have no special training for special needs... anyway, if you feel like sharing some of your knowledge/advice, here I am!!!! :)