(Chelsea Update would like to thank Joe Yekulis for the information in this story.)
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has declared the month of March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and this is the 30th Anniversary of this event.
His proclamation states, “During this month, we join with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Developmental Disabilities Council to encourage all citizens to recognize Michigan’s advances concerning persons with disabilities, and also acknowledge that our work to ensure full inclusion, integrated employment and community-based settings are not yet done.”
St. Louis Center is a residential care facility for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It was established in 1960 by the Archdiocese of Detroit as St. Louis School for Exceptional Boys, and today there are 54 boys, men and women who call St. Louis Center their home.
St. Louis Center has been managed by the Servants of Charity Congregation of priests since 1960, and they were founded by St. Louis Guanella in 1908. St. Guanella had a special place in his heart for people with special needs, and spent his life caring for those who were rejected by society during the turn of the 20th Century in Italy.
“Fr. Guanella did not limit himself to merely assisting the poor. He sought them out. He felt convinced that ‘we cannot stop as long as there are poor to be aided and needs for which to provide.’ With untiring commitment he went everywhere to make charity bloom and grow. His goal was to offer a dignified living condition, opening a way for the poor to develop personal potentials. In this way they could enjoy the gifts of life and faith in pursuit of the paths of human and Christian fulfillment.”
Fr. Enzo Addari, SdC., administrator of St. Louis Center stated, “We are grateful to the community for the tremendous support we receive throughout the year, along with our educators and many others who make the lives of our residents better every day.”
For more information about St. Louis Center, please visit www.stlouiscenter.org.
We should also recognize all the great children in our Chelsea schools who struggle with the challenges of developmental disabilities and say thanks to those teachers, TC’s and paraprofessionals who help them have the best educational experience possible!
Couldn’t agree with you more Lorin. That’s why we also recognized our educators in the story. The local teachers and staff in the Chelsea Public Schools do a marvelous job with all of the I/DD residents in the community that they care for, and we are always grateful for their help, service and support. Keep up the good work!