What does it mean for the Church to be fully alive? In this deeply moving episode, Jim and Meghan welcome Tricia Borah, coordinator of the Adaptive Youth Ministry at St. Brigid Parish. Tricia shares her powerful journey from preschool teacher to advocate for teens and young adults with disabilities, revealing how inclusion transforms not just programs, but people. Whether you’ve ever felt overlooked or unsure how to serve, this conversation will stir your heart and open your eyes to what the Church can become when every member is truly seen.
What’s in this episode:
- Why the Church isn’t fully alive without people of all abilities
- The mission behind St. Brigid’s Adaptive Youth Ministry
- What makes the LTE program a “forever place” for teens and young adults with disabilities
- How a retreat and a mission trip changed Tricia’s life
- What sensory-friendly Masses are—and why they matter
- The difference between inclusion and accommodation in parish life
- How Tricia builds custom curriculum to meet diverse needs
- Why visibility is the greatest gift the Church can offer these families
- Creative ways to form both participants and volunteers through shared ministry
- One resource every Catholic family should know: National Catholic Partnership on Disability (ncpd.org)
- Book she’s currently reading: Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist by Brant Pitre
- Favorite book: The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon
- Advice to her younger self: Don’t be afraid to ask for help
- Final wisdom for listeners: Don’t assume—ask families what they need, and then try
Resources Mentioned:
National Catholic Partnership on Disability – Offers tools, training, and support for parish disability ministries
Acceptingthegift.org – Created by Catholic parents for Catholic parents navigating disability
Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist by Brant Pitre – An in-depth exploration of the Last Supper’s biblical and Jewish foundations
The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon – Stories of unsung heroes in American history
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