St. Mary's Church

Jan 13, 2026 / 10:41 am (CNA).

CHICAGO — A Catholic nonprofit that helps parishes and schools provide faith formation and catechesis for people with disabilities was selected to win the 2026 award for service to Catholic studies from the American Catholic Historical Association (ACHA).

The National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) was presented the award during a panel discussion about the historical and modern interactions between the Church and Catholics with disabilities at the annual ACHA meeting in Chicago on Jan. 8.

During the discussion, panelists highlighted the ongoing efforts to make Catholic parish and school life more welcoming to members of the faithful who have disabilities and also spoke about persistent struggles to ensure that inclusivity is comprehensive throughout the Church.

“Though this recognition of our mission and ministry was very unexpected, it is both energizing and affirming,” Charleen Katra, executive director of NCPD, told CNA in a statement.

Katra said the award helps bring attention to the NCPD’s efforts to ensure Catholics with disabilities receive access to their baptismal rights: “To be educated in the faith; to live a sacramental life; and to respond to God’s call.”

“Persons with disabilities have unique gifts that bless the Church,” she said. “Thank you for blessing NCPD with this honor. We gratefully accept it on behalf of Catholics living with disabilities, and their families, who seek meaningful participation in the Church!”

Mary Dunn, outgoing ACHA president, said NCPD was selected because of its efforts to “promote real belonging” for those with disabilities and said “the lines between history and practice are always thin.”

Katra, who has a background in special education, said in the panel discussion that she first became involved in special religious education when she tutored a child with an intellectual disability named Brandon, who needed catechesis to prepare for the sacraments.

She said there are “a lot of different ways” to learn about God. Brandon needed multisensory learning that included a lot of visuals, which was not a learning experience offered at the parish at that time. In her current role, she helps provide training and resources to parishes to make sure Catholics with disabilities have access to a learning experience that fits their needs.

Although many parishes have incorporated these options into their catechesis, Katra said she still hears from families whose needs are not met by the Church. In some cases, she warned, families will leave the Catholic Church altogether if those needs are not met: “The Church can’t not look at this.”

“What happens?” she said. “They go somewhere else that will meet their needs or their loved one’s needs.”

“No one should not feel at home in the house of the Lord,” she added.

University of Southern Mississippi English professor Leah Parker, who has expertise in disability studies related to literature, said 15% of children in American public schools receive some form of special education, which highlights the need for greater inclusion.

“We’re all made in the image of God,” she said. “... I need my brothers and sisters with disabilities. We are incomplete without each other.”

The ACHA gave out two other awards during its 2026 annual meeting.

The Excellence in Teaching award was presented to Harvard ecclesiastical history professor Kevin Madigan. The Lifetime of Distinguished Scholarship Award was given to Yale history and religious studies professor Carlos Eire.

Más de 6.000 personas participaron en el evento eucarístico “Llamados”, organizado por Cursos Alpha en España, que pone la mira en el año 2033 con presencia de sus iniciadores. 

La Fundación Heritage, dirigida por el ex presidente del Wyoming Catholic College, Kevin Roberts, presentó sus propuestas para apoyar la vida familiar en medio de las bajas tasas de matrimonio y natalidad en Estados Unidos.

En un mensaje difundido en la red social X, Lazzarini calificó el encuentro como “un honor” y explicó que informó al Pontífice sobre “el inmenso sufrimiento padecido por los palestinos en el territorio palestino ocupado”.

Un “sueño” que pronto podría hacerse realidad. Así describe el obispo de Helsinki, el español Raimo Goyarrola, la fundación de la primera escuela católica en Finlandia, país profundamente marcado por el luteranismo.

El 7 de enero, este joven pudo saludar al Santo Padre tras la Audiencia General. El encuentro fue breve, pero cargado de emoción, ya que pudo contarle su experiencia.

El Cardenal Pietro Parolin subrayó desde Bruselas el gran desafío de la Iglesia Católica en una Europa herida y dividida: no perder “su audacia evangelizadora”.

Cada 13 de enero, la Iglesia Católica celebra a San Hilario de Poitiers, obispo, Padre y Doctor de la Iglesia nacido en tierras galas. Hilario vivió en el siglo V, en el que jugó un papel muy importante en la lucha contra las herejías de su tiempo.

La Iglesia en México reunirá a más de 1.000 líderes de diversos ámbitos en la segunda edición del Diálogo Nacional por la Paz, que se realizará del 30 de enero al 1 de febrero en la sede de la universidad jesuita ITESO en Guadalajara, Jalisco.

Con motivo de la conmemoración de los 100 años del inicio de la Guerra Cristera, más de 45.000 jóvenes de todo México participarán el 31 de enero en la Marcha Nacional Juvenil al Monumento a Cristo Rey.