CHARLOTTE — The big day was June 3 at St. Matthew Church; the occasion was the first SPIRIT Club Prom. St. Matthew SPIRIT Club, which began three years ago, is a social club for those aged 15 and above with developmental disabilities or intellectual challenges.
Those with autism may have difficulty making social contacts and interacting with others. Others may have difficulty being social in large groups. SPIRIT Club has developed into a safe and welcoming friendship group, which meets once a month. Each participant has a teen or adult volunteer who participates with them in athletics, arts and crafts, games, dancing and other activities. Past events include a talent show, luau and costume party.
Close to 100 participants and volunteers attended the SPIRIT Prom, the first ever formal event for SPIRIT Club. The Sister Jeanmarie Kienast Banquet Room was decorated in blue and gold courtesy of Extravaganza Events, and desserts were provided by Amelie’s French Bakery, Suarez Bakery and others.
Parents, SPIRIT Club participants and volunteers were thrilled with the event. Parent Kieron O’Mara said, “Casey has seen his brother go to their proms; now he has had one of his own.“ Attendee Kevin Robinson said, “I didn’t know what a prom was and wasn’t sure I wanted to go. I did go and had a wonderful time!”
Linda Altritt, organizer and co-leader of SPIRIT Club, said, “I felt blessed to have the privilege to work with our amazing Prom Committee members in creating this special celebration. It brought joy to my heart to see all the smiling faces and feel the warmth shown by all our volunteers. We all have different gifts, but we all share something in common: we all need to have fun!”
— Photo provided by John Kenny and Jan Clemens
CHARLOTTE — All are welcome to attend the sixth annual diocesan Polish Mass in honor of Our Lady of Czestochowa, St. John Paul II and St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, to be offered at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.
Polish Father Matt Nycz will be the celebrant and Deacon James Witulski will assist. The Mass will be in Polish with the homily given in both English and Polish, and it will fulfill the Sunday obligation. Confessions in Polish and English will be heard beginning at 1 p.m. A Polish choir will provide music.
After the Mass, the faithful will have the opportunity to venerate a first-class relic of St. John Paul II: a drop of his blood on a fragment of his cassock from the day he was shot in 1981. Also, for the first time, there will be a first-class relic of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska.
Anyone owning traditional native Polish attire is encouraged to wear it to the Mass.
A reception with light refreshments will be held after Mass. Donations for the reception are appreciated and can be dropped off before Mass at Aquinas Hall, across the courtyard from the church.
St. Thomas Aquinas Church is located at 1400 Suther Road in Charlotte. For details, call Mary Witulski at 704-290-6012.