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spots learn about, live their faith while helping others

Story and photos by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

People who climbed aboard the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Bus recently may not have seen SPOTS before their eyes, but they did see SPOTS’ handiwork.

The SPOTS — Special People of the Son — decorated the bus for the July 4th holiday. This was just one of the projects they have completed this year.

The SPOTS were formed in 2006 for young adults with intellectual disabilities, cofounder and parent, Kathy Costello said.

Costello has two daughters, one with autism and one with aspergers, a syndrome associated with autism.
“Those afflicted with this syndrome have difficulty understanding what those around them think and feel. As a result of this, they often behave inappropriately in social situations, or do things that may appear to be unkind or callous,” according to one web site describing the syndrome.

SPOTS was born out of necessity, Costello said. Most of the young adults attended a religious education class for youngsters with disabilities at St. Mary’s in Belleville, the only class in the diocese for these special children.

When they became young adults and no longer qualified for the program, they had no other options. They wanted to continue their faith formation, so Costello said, parents and youth organized to form SPOTS.

The group meets monthly with a firmly established purpose: to help young Catholic adults with special needs learn more about God; to give them opportunities to reach out to others in service; and to help them build and be a part of a faith community that meets their needs.

“No matter what the ability level, all of God’s people have gifts to share and lessons to teach us,” Costello said. “SPOTS is an organization that spreads those gifts wherever they go.”
Each meeting usually includes a liturgy or prayer service, a speaker or other opportunity to learn about God, time to plan for upcoming events, and “something fun,” Costello said.

Many diocesan clergy have attended SPOTS meetings to offer encouragement and participate in the prayer part of their meetings.

Sister Joan Stoverink, ASC has planned a number of outdoor activities for the members at Ruma, Costello said.
The members interface with youth groups occasionally, and the SPOTS work on their own service projects as well.
Recently, they made rosaries for diocesan prison ministry with youth from St. James Parish in Millstadt.

The group is small, now with six members, ages 15-28. “We’re always looking for new members,” Costello said.
Members also participate in the Special Olympics, with Matt Hindman partial to the bocce competition. “I liked it,” he said.

SPOTS enjoy working with other youth groups, but they also appreciate time for their own projects, Costello said. “Sometimes you want to be with folks at the same place you are so you can move at your own pace with people of the same ability.”

“These are children who will go to heaven,” Matt’s mother, Karen Hindman said. “They talk and act on their faith, and they like helping other people.”

SPOTS have often been on the receiving end of help, and they want to return the favor as they can.
“It gives them a chance to be part of the church on their own terms and find a place where they fit,” Costello said. “Sometimes it’s tough” to find the fit.

Parents, necessarily, are involved in the meetings and completion of the projects, but no one speaks or acts condescendingly to the members, always asking their opinions and including them in some of the decision making.
“No one can spend time with these wonderful people and not be changed,” Costello said. “Their honesty and joy in the simple things are life lessons for the rest of us. They are joyful people who embody the simplest and most important gift that God has given to all of us: his unconditional and accepting love.”

For more information about SPOTS, please contact Costello at costello@htc.net.