A Community Like No Other
Headline suggestion: UP students share faith and community with exceptional adults
Deck suggestion: Faith and Leadership students volunteer with adults who have developmental disabilities.
Emily Neelon
Once a month, University of Portland students of the Faith and Leadership House can be found on campus spending time with adults with developmental disabilities from the Portland area.
The Religious Experience for Exceptional People, better known as R.E.X., began 34 years ago under the guidance of Dorothy Coughlin, director of the Office for People with Disabilities in the Archdiocese of Portland. Coughlin relates that the purpose of this group is to form a community of people that, no matter their denomination, share the same faith in God.
“The basis of our coming together would be to form relationships, to share our stories, our joys, our challenges, to support each other,” Coughlin said.
During meetings, students and R.E.X. members join together to pray and socialize. At this past Saturday’s meeting, the R.E.X. community celebrated Halloween, dressing up in costumes, decorating pumpkins, enjoying treats and celebrating their faith.
The Faith and Leadership House, a group of students living in intentional community on campus, partners with Coughlin to put on R.E.X. every month. Students from the house volunteer their time each month, helping Coughlin with every event and spreading the word around campus.
Faith and Leadership House junior Chika Eke began volunteering with R.E.X. at the beginning of the semester, and after two meetings, has already begun to see the positive impact that the program has had on her life.
“It’s helped me to be less judgmental,” Eke said. “Working with (R.E.X. members), I realized how interesting and talented they are. Hanging out with them is really fun, so it’s been a good experience”.
Pat Ell, director of the Moreau Center, helps the Faith and Leadership House with their endeavors to advocate for R.E.X. As the oldest outreach program on campus, Ell sees R.E.X as an excellent opportunity for students to give back to the Portland community.
“It’s one of the only things we do at the University where people come here and get to be our guests and we get to treat them to some hospitality,” Ell said.
Coughlin stresses that all UP students are welcome to join in the festivities. She has seen many students transform from their experiences in R.E.X.
“This experience opens up college students to an experience that they may not have in their ordinary life,” Coughlin said. “Instead of seeing anybody with a disability as being very needy, they see extreme inner strength and courage”.
Possible Sidebar:
The next R.E.X. event is on Saturday, Nov. 23rd at 2 p.m. in the St. Mary’s Student Center Lounge. All are welcome!
