Partners in Faith

PIF donors help those with disabilities live productive lives

OAK RIDGE  With many of faithful Catholics in the Paterson Diocese coming together to support Partners in Faith (PIF), the diocesan capital and endowment campaign, the Church of Paterson has been able to continue to reach out to help those most in need. Donations from PIF are helping to serve the poor served by the agencies of diocesan Catholic Charities, to foster important Catholic values to school children, to assist priests in need of special care and to rebuild the Mother Church of the Diocese, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson.

At the Department for Persons with Disabilities (DPD), an agency of Catholic Charities, pledges to Partners in Faith have allowed for many improvements to several of its group homes and main offices here. DPD’s mission is to provide residential, vocational, spiritual and social services to adults with intellectual and development disabilities and their families. Through competent and compassionate care, DPD empowers each person to become active, contributing, and valued members of their community, and to participate fully in life with dignity and respect. As a Catholic Charities Agency, DPD strives to end discrimination toward people with disabilities and works for social change by being a voice for justice and advocacy, and convenes others to do the same.

“Whenever Pope Francis has the opportunity to engage a large crowd of the faithful, he is often seen going out of his way to find a disabled person and making contact with him or her,” Bishop Serratelli said. “This is not by accident. Our Holy Father’s embrace of these special individuals is meant to represent the Catholic Church’s embrace of people who are all too often marginalized by society.

“Our Diocese has always made it a priority to care for people with developmental disabilities. It is wonderful to see how funds from Partners in Faith continue this effort. Our Department for Persons with Disabilities has done a remarkable job over the years. Because of the success of our Partners in Faith campaign, we are able to do even more for so many people in need,” the Bishop said.

According to Scott Milliken, executive director of DPD, in the past year, DPD has received more than $300,000 from pledges made to PIF helping the agency, which serves 74 individuals in its residential programs and 57 individuals in its vocational day program.

“DPD has been extremely grateful for the generous donations made to the Partners in Faith Campaign,” said Milliken.

At Calabrese House in Parsippany, DPD has been able to purchase a ramp van for two individuals living in the home. At Wallace House, repairs have been made to replace the roof. In addition, because each of the homes runs on a generator in the event of power outages, PIF donations helped replace an extensive unit at Barnet House in Pompton Lakes. In Oak Ridge where three group homes and DPD’s main offices are located, a 61,000-square foot of private roadway was paved to allow for safer access.

Msgr. James Mahoney, diocesan vicar general, moderator of the Curia and pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Chatham Township, said, “Teaching and showing reverence for all life is one of the best things about being Catholic. One of the many special programs made possible through Partners in Faith is our support given to the Department for Persons with Disabilities. I’ve had the chance to see on many occasions the wonderful work being done in this department. It is simply a program and place that recognizes Jesus in the life of each of these precious people. What a great thing for our diocese and our people to make possible.”

Just last month, DPD opened its newest home, Giuliano House in Jefferson Township, which is the agency’s 10th group home and 12th residential program. The house is named after Dr. Joseph Giuliano, DPD’s longest tenured board member, who has served as the residents’ dentist for 35 years.

This newest home will serve four people, who have been living in development centers around the state. The home is a ranch style house to accommodate the residents’ needs, which include special evacuation exits, lifts and modified bathrooms. Like all DPD homes, there are staff members working on shifts 24/7. The Giuliano House will have a nurse present to enhance the professionally trained staff. This program was made possible through the N.J. Olmstead Initiative, which created legislation to eliminate institutions and through support of DPD’s capital campaign, Building for the Future, with a goal of $200,000. PIF helped with the opening of the new home by providing funding for its entire HVAC system and $66,000 of unanticipated costs.

“The home is for those who have significant physical illnesses aside of developmental disabilities. We are happy to welcome the new residents to the DPD family,” said Milliken.

Giuliano House’s first resident, Patti, who moved in Dec. 8, had lived at the former North Jersey Developmental Center in Totowa for most of her adult life, and according to the DPD staff, she is happy to be at Giuliano House.

“Patti is one of the sweetest people I have ever met. She just has such an amazing spirit,” said Kelly O’Caiside, the new director at Giuliano House. “She loves to sing and laugh and she is so curious about the world around her. She knows that she is in a place where she will be loved and cared for, but most importantly she is finding that she can relax and be in a family environment. She’s already making great progress even though she’s only been with us for a short time.”

Last March, DPD marked its 50th anniversary and the opening of Giuliano House, said Milliken, was an appropriate way for the agency to mark this milestone as they continue to serve an often forgotten population in today’s society.

The Bishop said, “I am profoundly grateful to all who made contributions and for those who are continuing to complete their pledge commitments. This important work would not be possible without their ongoing support and generosity. May God bless every donor for being a partner in faith.”

“All of these improvements to our homes would not have been funded by State dollars and I would personally, on behalf of all the people we serve, thank Bishop Serratelli and all who donated to the PIF campaign which not only helped DPD, but Straight and Narrow and Catholic Family and Community Services as well,” said Milliken.

[Information on Partners in Faith and the Department for Persons with Disabilities, visit www.dpd.org.