Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors

Inclusion Comes from the Heart

Church of the Holy Spirit, Schaumburg, Illinois

Leonard and Regina Buchino serve Church of the Holy Spirit in Schaumburg, Illinois, as parish Inclusion Representatives, keeping inclusion in the forefront of parish life.

Each year on Inclusion Awareness Day, Regina Buchino gives a reflection written by Len and herself on the limits they encounter as individuals who use wheelchairs.

Click here to read a condensed version of Regina and Len's Inclusion Awareness Day Reflection

Regina giving her reflection from the accessible altar on Inclusion Awareness Day.

The parish has worked hard to create an accessible environment and to involve parishioners of all abilities in worship, liturgical ministries and leadership roles.

The worship space features a new sanctuary with a ramp to the altar, accessible seating with free standing chairs and bright lighting. Large print song sheets are also available. "We increased the type size three times," said the pastor. "It was easy to do."

Parishioners came together to provide a ramp to the altar at Church of the Holy Spirit.

Low-gluten hosts are available for a parishioner with celiac disease who can only tolerate small amounts of gluten.

Parishioners with disabilities serve as ushers, greeters, choir members, gift bearers, lectors, parish council members, altar servers and communion ministers.

Parishioners of all abilities are involved in ministries at Church of the Holy Spirit

Sign language interpretation is provided at the 9:15 Sunday worship service, for the religious education program and for church events. A mass in Spanish is also celebrated each week.

A sign language interpreter signs at the 9:15 Mass every Sunday at Church of the Holy Spirit.

The exterior of the parish plant provides curb cuts, accessible parking, a drop off area and a ramp to the church and ministry center.

An exterior ramp with nearby accessible parking at Church of the Holy Spirit.

The church hall and ministry center has accessible meeting rooms, 36-inch-wide doorways, ADA-approved door handles, a designated emergency waiting area and an alarm system designed for individuals with disabilities.

With the approval of their pastor, the Inclusion Representatives nominated their congregation for Open Hearts Awards. Church of the Holy Spirit received Open Hearts Award grants in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

The parish has recently remodeled church washrooms for accessibility. "This is an important investment in our desire to be open, welcoming and inclusive," said Father Tkachuk. "Entrance ramps, wider doorways, accessible rest rooms in the new ministry center, a ramp to our sanctuary, and an interpreter for the deaf at 9:15 mass reflect our desire to make all welcome in this place."

A men's and women's washroom in the church vestibule were completely gutted and redesigned to provide access. Regina and Len, both wheelchair users, were consulted on the renovation.

Grab bars, raised toilet and lowered tissue holder were installed in spacious accessible stalls in both men's and women's washrooms.

Accessible sinks, mirrors and lowered paper towel holders were a part of the renovation.

A lowered urinal for men who use wheelchairs and a large accessible stall with swing in door were installed in the men's washroom.

A large accessible stall with a changing table well out of the way of people who use wheelchairs was installed in the women's washroom.

In June of 2008 Church of the Holy Spirit hosted a regional meeting of Pathways Awareness volunteer Inclusion Representatives from parishes in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. Pastor William Tkachuck and Inclusion Representatives Len and Regina Buchino spoke eloquently about the blessing their parish has received as a result of their access and inclusion efforts.