Volunteering with girl with special needs provided a lesson in understanding

For Summer Tiuseco and Roman Crasto, unexpected trials mixed with unexpected triumphs after spending the past year helping Geri, a Vanspec student with Down syndrome, receive her First Holy Communion.

Recent graduates of Holy Cross Regional Secondary in Surrey, the two friends had spent time during high school volunteering at clothing drives and food handouts, but Tiuseco, who is studying to be a speech pathologist, said she was still looking for a way to be more involved with the Church.

Then one Sunday after Mass she listened to a representative of Vanspec, which helps Catholics with developmental and learning disabilities prepare for the sacraments. She pitched to Crasto the idea that they volunteer. After some training they were paired with Geri, an energetic and happy, 13-year-old girl with Down syndrome preparing for her First Communion.

While the three of them needed some time to get comfortable with each other, they quickly built a fruitful relationship.

Tiuseco and Crasto learned quite a bit about Geri: that she loves music, that despite being non-verbal she could follow along with them when they read books, and she loved puzzles. They also discovered that her attention span was much longer than originally thought, and soon the lessons flew by.

They both highlighted the joys and quirks of building a relationship with someone with special needs.

“In the beginning, it was tough, but she really looked forward to it,” Crasto told The B.C. Catholic. After a few sessions Geri would even get frustrated with her mom if she stayed to keep an eye on her during class.

Beyond simple catechism lessons, there were some hurdles that needed to be crossed. Initially Geri didn’t want to wear her confirmation gown, and she didn’t want to eat the Communion host because she doesn’t like new foods.

“It was a bit of a struggle,” said Tiuseco, “but Father Amador Abundo, from Immaculate Conception Parish in Delta, took time to work with Geri and make her feel comfortable, and even though she didn’t want to wear the gown.”

“When we got there, she tried to be on her best behaviour,” Crasto said. “She always tried to be on her best behaviour with us.”

The volunteers came away from the experience with a deeper sense of themselves and an expanded understanding of how they relate to others.

“If there was one thing I took away, it was that small things can have a huge impact for someone else,” said Crasto. Even though they only spent one hour a week with Geri, “that one hour shifted [her] from not wanting to go to church” to being excited about her First Communion, he said.

“I felt like when I was teaching her, speaking about God, even at a basic level, deepened my faith and relationship with God,” he said. “The whole experience encouraged me to go to church more and pray more often.”

Tiuseco had a similar experience. “I learned so much about myself, not just about my student. I learned to be more patient,” she said. “Not just patient with Geri, but with people more broadly, for example, my family. It helped me be more aware of other people.”

While both are now attending UBC this year, they want to return to Vanspec to help Geri prepare for her confirmation next spring.

Click here to send us a letter to the editor.