One of the biggest steps the Church needs to do now to include autistics is making a sensory-friendly Mass in every city. Asking a few autistics I know, I have found a number of locations that have such Masses. I looked at the US and Canada. Here’s the map. I’ll explain the details below it.
Details:
- This is presented as-is and to-the-best-of-my-knowledge. I cannot gurantee the information in the map.
- Each location has details and usually a link to the website.
- Some are specific areas like a reverse cry-room, some are special Masses explicitly sensory-friendly, and others are Masses that are the most sensory friendly in the area even if not done for that reason.
- Different locations use different terms. I will usually include this in the description.
- Not every one is every week. (Honestly, with the autistic love of order and regularity, we should work to make these all weekly.)
- I am relying both on parish descriptions and descriptions by autistic individuals.
- Please comment below or use the contact form above if something needs updating.
- This will be pinned to the menu on this site and I hope to regualrly update it so it can be reshared every few months.
Sensory-Friendly Masses in General
I know some autistics are more sensory seekers, so if anything the issue with Mass is not enough sensory information. So, these may not be “sensory-friendly” to them. The goal here is to help many autistics go to Mass. Usually, sensory seekers can find a Mass that works for them, but often sensory-avoiders struggle to find one.
If no sensory-friendly Mass is near you, two options exist. First, you can try to convince a parish near you to offer one. (Hopefully, I can write a guide on this later.) Second, you can implement various strategies to deal with sensory issues at Mass which I described before.
History of the number of locations listed
- February 2022: 11 locations
Father, this parish has a 6:45 am Sunday Mass with no music. If that is the kind of thing that might help your autism community, maybe you could post it to your map. https://saintmonicas.com/mass-times/
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Father, what is your evaluation of how the traditional Low Mass might help to serve this need with it’s quiet and rhythmic character? What do you think? Have you explored this as part of your ministry?
It often is a good option. I mentioned it in the piece I linked in the above article. I talk about ti here: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/throughcatholiclenses/2019/10/autistic-sensory-issues-at-mass/
I noticed St Helen’s Parish in Dayton. I can’t attest to the sensory aspects but I will say that if they say they have one they are definitely trying and will definitely listen and make every effort to help. A true family parish.
Father, are you aware of any compilation of masses friendly for people with ADHD? When I was a child, Sunday masses were torture (why do they need to sing Alleluia for >60 seconds rather than just saying it once!), However, I actually enjoyed the simple weekday masses.
As an adult, I can tolerate the Sunday masses better, but I see the pain and mass-refusal in ADHD-diagnosed children every Sunday. It may be helpful to have a list of parishes that celebrate the Sunday liturgy with a weekday-style mass (if that is allowed in the rubrics). Maybe the traditional low mass mentioned above would be a good option. I’ll check out the link you provided.
If you want to try to make such a list, I think it would help people. I don’t know of one existing.
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