God’s Love

Embraces
Autism

A
Religious Formation
Booklet
for
Children
with Autism
Developed by:

The Diocese of Pittsburgh

Secretariat for Catholic Education
Department for Persons with Disabilities
To parents and catechists,

Children with autism are often visual learners. In this book-

let, there are pictures of a church with a brief catechetical expla-
nation on the back of each picture. There are also pictures of a
priest celebrating Mass with a brief catechesis on the back.

Parents/catechists should feel free to expand the catechesis

for the student. These notes are “stepping stones” and should lead
to a deeper catechesis whenever possible.

The photos were taken by Charles LeClaire at Saint James

Church of Guardian Angels Parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
The priest is the Reverend John Hissrich, Pastor. Our special
thanks to Grace Harding for developing this resource. She served
the Diocese of Pittsburgh as Director of the Department for Per-
sons with Disabilities from 1987-2005.

You are welcome to create a booklet in the same format with

digital pictures of a similar nature from your parish for your son/
daughter/student. Creating a customized version of this resource
will yield the best results for a child with autism.

It is intended that this booklet be used in conjunction with a

routine “tour” of the Church at a low/no traffic time when the
child with autism can experience/explore the signs/symbols of our
faith up close with a few words of explanation.

May you be richly blessed for the care you take in passing
on our precious faith to our children.

For more information, please call:

Department for Persons with Disabilities

Diocese of Pittsburgh
Secretariat for Catholic Education
111 Boulevard of the Allies
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1618
Phone: (412) 456-3119
E-mail: disabilities@diopitt.org
 My Book
About

The Church
The Church
Catechesis:

This is a picture of a church. We go to church once a week to pray

to God. We listen to God’s word and tell Him we love Him. We
receive God’s Son, Jesus, in Holy Communion.
The Pews and
Doors of the
Church
Catechesis:

This is a picture of a Church.

In this church, we can see pews, the doors of the church, and the
church loft where the organ is.
The Altar
Catechesis:

On this altar, we see the tabernacle. There are candles next to it.

The Blessed Sacrament, which is the Body and Blood of Jesus,

remains in the tabernacle.
The Altar
Catechesis:

This is a picture of an altar. The priest prays the words of the Mass at
the altar.

Do you see the candles and the cross?

The Tabernacle
Catechesis:

This is a picture of a tabernacle. All churches have a tabernacle,

but all tabernacles do not look the same.

The Blessed Sacrament remains in the tabernacle.

Priest and Altar
Server’s Chairs
Catechesis:

This is where the priest and altar servers sit during Mass.
The Lectern
(Ambo)
Catechesis:

People read the Word of God at the Lectern.

Sanctuary
Lamp
Catechesis:

The sanctuary lamp is near the altar. There is a candle inside. The lit
candle reminds us that Jesus is present in the tabernacle.
The Crucifix
Catechesis:

This is a picture of a crucifix.

Jesus died on a cross many, many years ago. Jesus died to save
all of us who love Him.
The Easter
Candle
Catechesis:

This is a picture of an Easter candle. The Easter candle reminds us

that Jesus is always with us.

Jesus is “the Light of the world”.

The Baptismal
Font
Catechesis:

This is a picture of a Baptismal Font.

Babies are baptized here. Sometimes children and adults are bap-
tized here. When we are baptized, we become children of God.

*The catechist may want to discuss baptism, its ritual and its
importance as a sacrament with the student.
 The Holy
Water Font
Catechesis:

This is a picture of a Holy Water Font.

Water that is blessed by a priest is in it. When we go in or out of a

church, we put the tips of our fingers in the holy water font and
make the sign of the cross on our bodies.
 The
Confessional
Catechesis:

This is a picture of a Confessional.

We go into the confessional to tell the priest our sins and that we
are sorry for our sins.

This is called the Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation.

 Inside the
Confessional for
face-to-face
confession
Catechesis:

There are two parts to a confessional. This is the side we call “face-
to-face”. The priest and the person going to confession sit facing
each other.
 Inside the
Confessional
For private
confession
Catechesis:

There are two parts to a confessional. This side is the private side.
The priest and the person going to confession cannot see each
other. This is called a private confession.
 Statue of
The Sacred
Heart of Jesus
Catechesis:

This is a picture of the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. There is

an image of Jesus’ heart on the statue. This image of Jesus’ heart
reminds us that Jesus loves us very, very much.

We can pray: Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You.

Statue of The
Blessed Virgin
Mary
Catechesis:

This is a picture of a statue of the Blessed Virgin, Mary.

Mary is the mother of Jesus.

When we pray to Mary, we say: “Hail Mary, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your
womb, Jesus.”
 Statue of
Saint Joseph
Catechesis:

This is a picture of a statue of Saint Joseph.

Saint Joseph is the foster-father of Jesus. When we pray to Saint

Joseph, we say: “Saint Joseph, pray for us.”
 Statue of
Saint Anthony
Catechesis:

This is a picture of a statue of Saint Anthony.

Saint Anthony loved Jesus very much.

When we pray to Saint Anthony, we say: “Saint Anthony, pray for

us.”
 Statue of The
Guardian Angel
Catechesis:

This is a picture of a statue of a Guardian Angel.

God has given everyone a Guardian Angel.

We pray to our Guardian Angel to protect us from harm.

Church
Windows
Catechesis:

Many churches have special windows called stained-glass

windows.

Sometimes there are pictures of Jesus and the saints in the windows.
The Pews
Catechesis:

The seats in a church are called pews. Sometimes we kneel in

church on kneelers.
The Organ
Catechesis:

Most churches have organs. The person who plays the organ is
called the organist or music minister. They play beautiful music on
the organ.
When we go to
Mass, the priest
leads us in
prayer. Here
are pictures of
the priest lead-
ing us in prayer
during Mass.
Sign of the
Cross
Catechesis:

When Mass begins, Father leads us in saying, “in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

We say, “Amen.”
Father reads
the Gospel
Catechesis:

Father reads the Gospel at Mass.

Father also teaches us how to be good and holy children of God.

 The
Eucharistic
Prayer
Catechesis:

During Mass, Father says a very beautiful prayer called the Eucharist
Prayer.
 The
Consecration
Catechesis:

Father blesses bread and wine at Mass to become the Body and
Blood of Jesus.

This is called the Consecration.

We say,
“Amen”
Catechesis:

At the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, we all say or sing, “Amen!”

Father blesses
the people
Catechesis:

When Mass is finished, Father blesses us and tells us to “go in

peace.”
The Lamb
of God
Catechesis:

Sometimes we call Jesus, “the Lamb of God”.

We call Jesus “the Lamb of God” because Jesus sacrificed His life
for us and took away all our sins.
 Diocese of Pittsburgh
Secretariat for Catholic Education
Department for Persons with Disabilities
111 Boulevard of the Allies
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1618

Phone: (412) 456-3119

TTY: (412) 456-3122
FAX: (412) 456-3113
E-Mail: disabilities@diopitt.org