Education has long been a key component of the Church’s mission, with thousands of Catholic schools across the globe forming future saints.
For many families, that education has long been out of reach because of a lack of resources to serve their children with special needs and disabilities.
Here in the Archdiocese of Denver, thanks to dedicated people like Eileen Haniszewski, the Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal Disciple of the Month, more and more schools are answering the call to build a community that can serve more of God’s children.
“Catholic education at its core supports inclusion because it is part of God’s masterpiece,” Haniszewski said, speaking of the importance of the work being done in archdiocesan Catholic schools to include children with disabilities, an effort that has been underway for years.
“It is a beautiful obligation that we have as Catholics to educate all children and to support their families in the education and raising up of what others might perceive as a really challenging situation,” she continued. “We could only be so blessed to be invited into a covenant with a family that could trust us with the education of the most precious children, which are those kiddos with profound needs. God just provides.”
It all started one day when the former public school teacher accidentally found herself in an interview for a reading interventionist position at St. Mary Catholic School in Littleton, meant to help students in their English language development.
From there, she was invited again and again to consider something new and different until she ended up being the Director of Resource & Special Education at St. Mary School.
“I was not planning on doing this,” Haniszewski said. “I was going to be a reading intervention teacher. That was my trajectory. But obviously, God had a different plan!”
Over time, with much prayer, effort and collaboration with the FIRE Foundation of Denver, Haniszewski built a comprehensive program to support the students who come through St. Mary’s doors. Where formerly, the program was able to support only students with mild disabilities, there are now robust resources for students with intensive disabilities that the school previously could not serve.
“This mom was going on and on about how she cannot believe the growth that she’s seen in the charity and love in her own typically developing kids because of the genuine friendships they’re forming with kids with disabilities,” Haniszewski said, reflecting on the impact of inclusive education on the larger school community.
“We often follow their lead because they’re a little bit closer to Christ than the rest of us. Following their lead has formed teachers and parents and entire families in really loving God’s creation, and every piece of his creation,” she continued.
A true calling, Haniszewski finds her work directed by God, with his grace flowing from prayer and the sacraments, especially from her team’s time in daily eucharistic adoration, out to those whom she serves.
“It doesn’t feel like work often,” Haniszewski shared. “It’s such a labor of love. And I feel like God multiplies my time. There are things that happen within the school day that shouldn’t be able to be finished, but they are somehow.”
God’s loving provision is clear through Haniszewski’s work. From sending the right people at the right times to providing an opportunity for further study and formation, God has guided her to this point. He has also provided for her family through her day-to-day efforts to serve his children.
“My two kiddos will ask me on the way to school, ‘Who are you helping today, mommy?’ And that’s a driver for them to be exposed to and love and be in relationship with people of all kinds and learning differences. It’s so important to see that active service in their mom’s life and their dad’s service through supporting what we’re doing here,” Haniszewski shared.
From her husband’s efforts adapting The Hobbit for one of her students to her children’s help creating resources, inclusive education is undoubtedly a family affair.
“Just knowing that we’re building something and that God is using me and our family towards doing something like that is renewing,” Haniszewski said.
In recognition of her incredible dedication to all of God’s children, Eileen has been recognized as this month’s Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal Disciple of the Month. Thanks to her compassionate service, countless children have come to know Jesus more personally through the gift of Catholic education.
Congratulations, Eileen, for being the Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal Disciple of the Month!