Sensory Room At Maplewood Church Offers ‘Refuge’ For NJ Family

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Church wasn’t always an option for Percy Losardo.

The 14-year-old New Jersey resident, who has been diagnosed with autism, used to struggle to sit still in the pews, which led him to staying home when the rest of his family attended Mass at his parish, St. Joseph Church in Maplewood.

Now – after his church created a calming sensory room for neurodivergent parishioners – Losardo eagerly goes to celebrate Mass every week. And he’s not the only one.

An article recently published in Jersey Catholic provides some more details about the Still Waters sensory room at St. Joseph, which gives parishioners like Losardo a calming place to go whenever they need a break during the liturgy.

As recounted in the article:

“The Still Waters room functions the same as other sensory rooms, which are typically painted in soothing colors and contain tools to help people with conditions like autism, ADHD and anxiety manage their senses when feeling overwhelmed by auditory or visual stimuli. What makes it special is the fact that sensory rooms are exceedingly rare in houses of worship. In fact, the space is the first of its kind in the Archdiocese of Newark.”

The Losardo family has now resumed attending church together for the first time in years – and they’re grateful for the opportunity.

“The room is incredible,” said Percy’s mother, Lark Losardo.

“Percy actually wants to go because of the Still Waters room,” she said. “It’s a refuge for him. He doesn’t have to worry about what other people think if he starts losing focus, and I don’t have to worry about where he is.”

Jim Worth, the pastor at St. Joseph Church, said the new sensory room is yet another step forward for inclusivity.

“We always tell our parishioners that if there’s something they need, just let us know,” said Worth, who added that the parish offers other welcoming initiatives like an LGBT ministry and a basketball program for adults with autism.

“If we have the means and ability, we’ll make it happen,” Worth said.

Read the full article here.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.