PSR Class for Exceptional People (religion classes for the developmentally disabled) will begin later this month at Blessed Sacrament School in Springfield. The classes are open to all developmentally disabled children and adults, ages 7 and up, from the greater Springfield area.

Classes are held in the Blessed Sacrament School library on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:30. This year starts out with a "welcome back" picnic on Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. in the Washington Park playground area. Classes will conclude with an "end of the year" party and dinner celebration on April 30, 2008.

The usual weekly gathering consists of individual and group prayer intentions, Gospel lessons from the Good News messenger (Pflaum Gospel Weeklies), activity and discussion. Each class concludes with guitar music and interactive singing, closing with the Our Father.

PSR Class for Exceptional People was founded in the 1970s and continues as a result of the financial support provided by the Springfield area Knights of Columbus Councils 364 and 4179, spiritual direction provided by Father David Hoefler, pastor of Blessed Sacrament, and the volunteers who have helped with the program throughout the years.

New students are welcome to join the group, which has a faithful following from past years. For more information and to RSVP for the Sept. 19 picnic, contact Mary Tuttle at (217) 585-0478 or leave a message at the Blessed Sacrament parish office at (217) 528-7521.