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One evening each month, a group of volunteers offer a special Religious Education/Prayer Program known as C.A.R.E. (Catholic Adult Religious Education) at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Oak Ridge, NJ.
This community of faith began in 1989 and is an opportunity for adults with disabilities to come together to share their faith and the important things in their lives through discussion, prayer, song and social time. Each evening has a basic structure, but each is also different based on the needs of the members and/or the season of the Church year. These sessions are ecumenical programs of spiritual enrichment and are open to people living in our group homes and supervised apartments as well as people living at home with their families or in group homes of other agencies.
The two dedicated professionals who facilitate the program are experienced working with people with various disabilities and they work closely with the other volunteers in planning each session. A number of high school students have joined as aides as part of their Confirmation service and some have continued to participate long after they have completed their requirements. These young people have added much enthusiasm and energy to the program while personally benefiting from their experiences with the members who participated. Members experience and share God's love for them and grow in their appreciation of other people in their lives.