An Invitation to Rome

By James Walsh

How can we ensure that every child is truly included in the life of the Church?

A few months ago, we were honoured with an extraordinary invitation to travel to Rome to deliver a presentation and workshop titled Faith, Inclusion, and Digital Accessibility: A CatholicPlus Mission for Every Child at the prestigious Kairos Forum event: Value, Neurodiversity and Education:

Looking back, the invitation feels like more than a professional milestone. It was a moment of mission, a clear affirmation that the work of inclusive and accessible faith education matters not only within local communities but across the global Church.

Standing at the Heart of the Church

There is something profoundly moving about being in Rome, a place where faith, tradition, scholarship, and lived witness meet. To stand there alongside international leaders in theology, education, and disability advocacy was both humbling and deeply energising.

This gathering was more than an academic conference. It was pastoral in spirit, purposeful in vision, and grounded in the lived reality of the Church today, centred on hope, inclusion, and the future of Catholic education.

Presenting at the Pontifical Theological Faculty Teresianum

Delivering our presentation within such a respected theological institution was a profound privilege. Sharing our vision for inclusive and digitally accessible Religious Education with an international audience reinforced the urgency and importance of this mission.

We spoke about designing curriculum with accessibility at its core, not as an afterthought but as a foundational principle rooted in Catholic social teaching and in the inherent dignity of every child.

Leading a Practical Workshop

Our workshop explored how technology and accessibility can transform faith education in practical and meaningful ways. Inclusion cannot remain an aspiration or policy statement. It must be embedded in curriculum design, digital resources, and everyday classroom practice.

Together, we explored:

 • Adaptive digital tools • Accessible content strategies • Universal Design for Learning in Religious Education • Ensuring no child is left behind in faith formation

The conversations were rich, honest, and hopeful. Educators from diverse contexts shared both challenges and creative solutions, united by a common desire to make faith formation genuinely accessible to all.

Interviewed by EWTN

One of the greatest honours of our visit was the opportunity to be interviewed by EWTN. Sharing our mission with a global Catholic audience was both surreal and deeply affirming. It reinforced the reality that inclusive education is not a niche initiative. It is a universal calling within the Church.

Finally,our time in Rome was filled with meaningful encounters and shared purpose, moments that will continue to guide and inspire our mission for years to come.