St. Pius V Parish’s SPRED is a program of religious education specifically designed to meet the spiritual needs of persons with developmental disabilities. It is the only program of its kind in the Southwest Chicago Latino communities and the first in Chicago to be offered in Spanish.

The SRPED program serves developmentally disabled students between the ages of 8 and 18. Roughly 50 students take classes in three shifts. Each class is staffed by more than 30 volunteers.

This unique program offers these special students the opportunity to discover a place where they belong and can enjoy meaningful relationships. Students are welcomed into an environment that encourages praise and thanksgiving; an environment that speaks of God's fidelity, compassion and his call to love and serve.

To accommodate the developmental needs of each individual, catechists work one-on-one to create deep personal relationships with participants, empowering them to discover for themselves the presence of God in their original life situation as it unfolds in their home and in the community.

"Before [the SPRED program] my daughter had no friends outside of the family,” said one parent. “She could hardly communicate, She looked sad, had low self-esteem. She was quiet and very nervous. Today she is a different girl! She is communicative; she left behind the shyness and is active with friends."

Through participation in a SPRED community of faith, participants are better able to celebrate the sacraments and enter into the worshiping experiences of the whole Church.

For more information on the program please visit www.stpiusvparish.org or call (312) 226-6161.