During last week’s meeting of the Viatorian Provincial Council in Las Vegas, its members took a break and paid a visit to one of their most valued programs: the Micah Program 6:8 at St. Viator Parish School. Started 12 years ago, the initiative remains the only inclusion program for students with disabilities — at a Catholic school — in the state of Nevada.
Members of the Provincial Council visit with Micah students and staff.
The program draws inspiration from a verse in the Book of Micah: “Act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with God and each other.” That verse, taken from the 6th chapter, has become the school’s motto.
Parishioners generously support the program through a collection held twice a year, and some sponsor individual students. However, Fr. Richard Rinn, CSV, Pastor of St. Viator Catholic Community, gratefully acknowledges the continuing support of the Provincial Council for enabling this groundbreaking program to continue.
Luke Silvestri was the first student to be supported by the Micah program. His parents helped start it, wanting Luke to have the same Catholic education that their four older children received at St. Viator. Luke now is in high school, but he returns every Sunday to serve Mass and in June he awards the Luke Silvestri Kindness Award.
Luke Silvestri, a graduate of the Micah Program, is shown here with current student, Amanda.
Thanks to the parish support and substantial grants from the Viatorian Community, the program continues to grow. Currently, Micah 6:8 supports 12 children with Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy and epilepsy in its inclusive, Catholic environment.
The school’s website clearly states its mission: “Every child is a gift from God and should be celebrated, embraced and given the opportunity to be educated in a loving, nurturing and Christ-centered environment that focuses on his or her needs and abilities.”
Fr. Rinn points out that the impact of the Micah program extends far beyond the children is supports.
“When we started the Micah Program, we thought we were doing something special for our Micah children,” Fr. Rinn says. “But what we learned was that the Micah children did something for us. Our students are more aware and more accepting, more generous with care and compassion. I see the same thing in our faculty, staff and families.”