St Francis of Assisi Parish

 

The Personal Advocacy Service is an agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth providing one-to-one support for people with varying degrees of intellectual disability to enable them to live more fully as active members of their local faith community.

The year begins with a Missioning Ceremony at Morley, where all the Advocate Catechists gather to be blessed and sent forth by Bishop Sproxton for their year’s service. A small Group Mass in May is celebrated by the Priest from Greenmount.  In August they have their Reconciliation, which is the Second Rite of Reconciliation, specially adapted for the Friends with intellectual disability.  Generally, it is difficult for the Friends to access this Sacrament, so this enables them to do so.  This is also done by the Priest from Greenmount.  In November they have their Parish Adapted Liturgy, which is Mass with the parishioners, again adapted slightly to help the Friends.  They usually have this Mass alternating between Maida Vale and Greenmount Parishes.  In early December they have a combined Thanksgiving Mass with another Group (Identitywa), an organization under the Archdiocese supporting people with intellectual disability.

In 2019 Personal Advocacy Service completed 30 years’ service in Perth, and they had a wonderful celebration in July at Morley.

There are several groups in different parishes. They are usually small groups of may be 8 volunteers (Advocates) and 6 Friends with disabilities.

Each group meets every week, except during school holidays.  This group meets on Wednesdays at Greenmount Parish.  The Advocates (volunteers) meet one week for a Preparation Session.  The following week the Advocates pick-up their Friend and bring them to the Integrated Session.

Each group meets every week, except during school holidays. The Advocates (volunteers) meet one week for a Preparation Session. The following week the Advocates pick-up their Friend and bring them to the Integrated Session.

Currently they have 5 Friends, 4 Advocates and a Group Leader and an Activities Leader.  They urgently need another Advocate (volunteer), so all the Friends have a friend to support them and encourage them during the year.  If anyone would like to be a part of this rewarding and worth-while ministry, please contact the Co-ordinator through the St Francis of Assisi Parish.

Marie Neale
Co-ordinator