Chapter 11

Suppression Notice

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Exceptional Families

Celebrating Families with Special Needs

In honoring the inherent dignity of every person, the Church can play a unique role in uplifting families where one or more person has special needs. The Catholic faithful are increasingly answering the call to advance the full and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in the Church and broader society. To learn more about how our local parishes and Catholic Schools are partnering with individuals with disabilities and their families, please see the diocesan Special Needs webpage.

Resources for Families

  • Frequently used acronyms, abbreviations and jargon within the special needs’ community may be daunting at first. This cheat sheet of terms will better help parents/caregivers to advocate during school meetings and medical appointments.
  • Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego connects families and individuals with disabilities to resources, services and opportunities while encouraging an inclusive community and enhancing quality of life. Their Flourishing Families annual resource guide offers a comprehensive overview of programs, services and opportunities throughout San Diego and Imperial Valley.
  • Exceptional Family Resource Center (EFRC) has been empowering families with of people with disabilities -across their lifespans- with support. We connect families to services and resources that would be appropriate for their family’s needs. EFRC is driven by parent peer support and much of the staff is also parents of children or adult children with disabilities.
  • San Diego Regional Center (SDRC) serves as a to people with developmental disabilities in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Some of the SDRC’s key goals include: enhancing the quality of individuals’ daily living experiences, increasing the number of clients integrated into employment, etc. Learn more about their services and assessments for eligibility.
  • Autism Society San Diego connects people to the resources they need through education, advocacy, support, information and referral and community programming. Autism Society offers support groups throughout the county.
  • The Arc of San Diego is one of the largest providers of services to children and adults with disabilities in San Diego County. Their programs include parent/infant interventions, independent living skills and vocational training, as well as camps and recreational activities.

Pastoral Resources

Contact Information

Staff

  • Director: John Prust
  • Associate Director: Janelle Peregoy
  • Associate Director: Wendy Baez

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About the Coat of Arms

Bishop Pulido’s coat of arms is divided into four quarters with wavy horizontal lines from top to bottom. The blue and white lines represent the Blessed Virgin Mary. They also suggest water, which alludes to Jesus washing the feet of His disciples and to the waters of baptism. The red and gold lines represent the Holy Spirit and fire. The colors also can be seen as referring to the Blood that (along with water) poured from Jesus’ side at His crucifixion, as well as to the bread (gold) and wine (red) transformed into the Eucharist. At the center is a roundel featuring a symbolic representation of the “mandatum” (washing of the feet), which he believes exemplifies service to all humanity. The roundel’s outer edge is a line composed of small humps; it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Diocese of Yakima, where Bishop Pulido served as a priest before being named a bishop.

About the Coat of Arms

Bishop Pham’s coat of arms combines the Diocese of San Diego’s coat of arms on the left side, and his on the right. On his, a red boat on a blue ocean sits on diagonal lines suggesting a fisherman’s net. This symbolizes his ministry as a “fisher of men,” as well as how his own father had been a fisherman. The boat is also a symbol of the Church, which is referred to as the “barque of Peter.” At the center of the sail is a red beehive (a symbol of the bishop’s baptismal patron saint, St. John Chrysostom, known as a “honey-tongued” preacher). The beehive is surrounded by two green palm branches (an ancient symbol of martyrdom; the bishop’s ancestors were among Vietnam’s first martyrs). The eight red tongues of fire around the boat are a symbol of the Holy Spirit and a representation of the diversity of ethnic communities.

About the Coat of Arms

The coat of arms combines symbols that reflect Bishop Bejarano’s spiritual life and priestly ministry. The main part of the shield shows four wavy vertical lines on a gold background. These represent flowing waters. This alludes to his chosen motto and also symbolizes the graces that come from the Divine life to quench our thirst for God. The upper third of the shield is red because it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Order of Mercy, of which the Bishop’s patron saint, Raymond Nonnatus, was a member. The central symbol resembles a monstrance because St. Raymond is often depicted holding one. The Eucharist is Bishop Bejarano’s inspiration for his vocation. It was through the Eucharist that he received his call to the priesthood at age seven and which keeps his faith and his ministry going. It represents the call to offer oneself as a living sacrifice. The monstrance is flanked on either side by an image of the Sacred Heart, alluding to the mercy of God and echoing the idea of a sacrificial offering of oneself united to the sacrifice of Christ, and of a rose for Our Lady. It is an allusion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, and highlights the bishop’s Hispanic heritage.

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