S.P.I.C.E.—Questions & Answers

What is S.P.I.C.E.?

S.P.I.C.E. stands for Special People In Catholic Education. It was initiated for a twofold purpose:

• to provide financial support to the philosophy and efforts that have already existed at St. Catharine for years, i.e., that everyone is special and that St. Catharine Parish is committed to try to meet the needs of each of our student parishioners.
• To raise awareness in the parish and beyond of the needs that exist and what St. Catharine Parish has been doing to meet these needs.

S.P.I.C.E. has its own advisory board and is for the benefit of the entire parish.  S.P.I.C.E. reports directly to Fr. Michael Lumpe, and derives its direction and focus from Fr. Lumpe, Mrs. Janet Weisner, School Principal, and Mrs. Chris Schleicher, Director of the Religious Education Program.

Is S.P.I.C.E. going to make St. Catharine a Special Needs School?

Absolutely Not! S.P.I.C.E. was established to help St. Catharine meet the needs of our Parish Children, most of whom were already enrolled in our school or Religious Education Program before any special needs were even identified. It is our hope that S.P.I.C.E. will bring an awareness to other parishes, so that they can do what St. Catharine is doing in their own parishes.

Good Question! The answer is probably not, but St. Catharine is committed to "try" to meet the needs of all of its parishioners. Everyone has different learning styles and needs. Sometimes the St. Catharine environment supercedes the benefits that a more publicly funded school system can provide for a student. The bottom line is what is best for the individual student!

Think about that! This question is best answered by another question. Why didn’t God make us all the same? Does everyone have the same needs and learning styles, and should those with special needs be ignored? Our Parish is an extension of the family, the basic unit of the Catholic Church. Just as parents try to do all they can for all their children, so does St. Catharine for all of its members.

People’s needs are a very private issue, and especially when they involve inadequacies and special needs. Everyone loves their children and when they excel, people tend to talk about it. However, when they have problems, whether it be to protect the child, or for denial or embarrassment, parents tend to keep it confidential. St. Catharine understands and respects this, and has gone about their duties without making it public what special things that they are doing and how often they are doing it. Unless you are personally involved with a student with special needs, and unless these needs are "visible" (and typically they are not), you have no idea what the parents, parish and school are involved with. St. Catharine has been doing great things for years for a large number of families, and the general population has not been aware of it.

Excellent! S.P.I.C.E. has the complete support of the Diocesan Vicar of Education, our Pastor, School Principal and Religious Education Program. We have received tremendous support and encouragement. Our Board is meeting this spring to plan for next year. S.P.I.C.E. will be an ongoing event at St. Catharine, both in its fundraising and awareness efforts. We will meet periodically, St. Catharine School, and the Religious Education Director to discuss their needs and assist in meeting them.