The “What Can I Do?” series of interviews is intended to inspire those who may feel called to do something for persons with disabilities, but they’re not sure what they could do that would be possible and make a meaningful difference. Several people have been presented with excellent ideas and ministries, but this one is very special.
Cathryn Lally is a young woman with Down syndrome who is filled with energy, ideas, and evangelical zeal. I am delighted to be able to introduce her, and I know that her ministry will provide inspiration to many who seek to answer that question: What Can I Do?
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Mark Bradford: Hello, Cathryn. Thanks so much for agreeing to this interview. I was excited and very impressed to hear about your ministry, Coffee by Cathryn, and anxious to share it with our Word on Fire community. First, please tell us a little about yourself: your age, your interests, and what gave you the idea to start Coffee by Cathryn at your parish.
Cathryn Lally: I am a twenty-two year old woman with lots of interests and goals. I live in Rowley, MA, with my mom and Dan, but I’m a daughter with three dads: Michael in heaven, Dan on earth, and God the Father. I love them all. I have a brother, Ryan, who is married to Alba, and two sisters: Michelle and her husband Jesse, and Erin and her fiancé Dan. I also have two stepbrothers and one stepsister, Scott and his wife Alexa, John, and Olivia and her husband Conor. My family keeps growing, and in the last four years, we had four weddings and one to come in June. I love weddings!
I am a Special Olympics competitor (gold medal) in lots of sports: skiing, swimming, cheering, and basketball, and my favorite is skiing. I take hip hop classes every Monday morning, modern dance on Monday afternoons. I also love to dance! I have had a job at Pomodori restaurant since high school, and I work there every Thursday. I am also a part of L’Arche Boston North’s culinary arts team. We make homemade hummus and meals for the community three days a week and serve meals every Friday at All Saints Parish in Haverhill, MA. I take pride in all the jobs I have held. I am best described as brave, smart, and strong. I describe myself as kind with a never-give-up attitude.
Because I love weddings, cooking, and serving and am in a lot of weddings, I want to be a wedding planner.
Was it hard to convince your pastor to allow you to start Coffee by Cathryn? What has your relationship with your parish been like? Sometimes people with disabilities struggle to find acceptance even at church. Have you ever had that experience, and if so, how have you overcome it?
Cathryn’s mother, Diane: Cathryn had a lot of challenging changes from March to June 2025: turning twenty-two, ending school, and recovering from a fourth open-heart surgery. It made us think about what we could create to give Cathryn hope, joy, and a sense of belonging that includes her love for serving but is also connected to a very important part of our life, the Mass.
Finding the right balance of authentic inclusion and leading by example has been, so far, beyond what we could have imagined.
We noticed a note in our bulletin that our pastor, Fr. Daniel Hennessey, was interested in creating a disability ministry at our church. I asked a few questions about this and met with him to talk further. Our initial meeting was to define the intent, because truly we are all members of the Body of Christ and creating a special group just didn’t sit well with Father or me. After several calls with our archdiocese to see what other churches were doing and to perhaps leverage their programs, it was clear few, if any, were focused on opening the doors wider by creating meaningful inclusion and identity in a faith-based community. It was around Thanksgiving when the idea of a coffee cart came to be. Who doesn’t love coffee after Mass, especially parents waiting for their kids during CCD?
So, we accomplished two goals in one: (1) Coffee with Cathryn is naturally inclusive, and it created a real sense of belonging and community in our parish. (2) Leading by example reinforced our common identity and witnessed to other families that may not be bringing family members with different abilities to church.
Can you tell us a little about the process you went through to start Coffee with Cathryn. Why coffee, and how do you prepare for each weekend? What kind of help do you have?
Diane: After a lot of prayer, we built a cart and collaborated with a dear friend and her son JJ to provide the coffee. For Christmas, we gave Cathryn the cart, had T-shirts made, and created a logo. Every bit of this was moving forward with no clear execution plan—other than prayer.
Next we met with our pastor and shared our solution to his desire to create a disability ministry that requires absolutely no heavy lifting or funding from the parish. We also distributed gift bags with stainless steel coffee tumblers with a Coffee by Cathryn logo and a sample of coffee to each of our local churches and priests. Our idea was very well received in theory, and we wanted to expand beyond our parish, but we were concerned how families would feel who already serve coffee at their parishes on Sundays. I reached out to the DRE in a couple of parishes, and the idea of discipleship by example hit a sweet spot.
We then created a mission Statement:
Coffee and Tea featuring JCG Long Day Coffee will be offered free of charge (donation jar available). More than just coffee, this initiative helps build a more inclusive parish where people of all abilities are welcomed and valued as part of the Body of Christ.
Coffee by Cathryn Ministry is a new parish initiative that fosters fellowship and strengthens our community by offering coffee and tea, creating a natural/organic opportunity for inclusivity and overall sense of belonging.
Coffee by Cathryn provides a welcoming space for parishioners to gather and connect.
Coffee by Cathryn was launched on Palm Sunday at Our Lady of Hope Parish in Ipswich, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston on Divine Mercy Sunday, and on Mother’s Day after a Marian procession at St. Rose of Lima in Topsfield, MA.
I’m very curious about how receptive the members of your parish have been. How many “customers” do you have and how many Masses do you serve each weekend?
Diane: It was not hard to convince our pastors and priests. They all loved the idea, but no amount of talking could effectively describe the reception we received. Joy, all God.
Prior to launching this ministry, Cathryn has always been recognized by her beautiful and very reverent presence at Mass, especially her reception of the Eucharist. She has always been greeted warmly but without real conversation or relationships. I believe we needed to step up and highlight Cathryn’s identity as the thoughtful young woman of faith that she is and show that she has a lot more to offer.
Finding the right balance of authentic inclusion and leading by example has been, so far, beyond what we could have imagined. Cathryn and JJ and parents set up the cart, brew the coffee, and then help as needed in keeping the coffee coming. Cathryn and JJ hand out the cups, answer questions, smile, and stare at the donations jar. We set the cart up the day before and keep the cart in the parish storage room that we are using the next day or for other events.
Cathryn, I’m very curious about any changes you have noticed in the people you serve in your parish community. I see that your goal is to “build a more inclusive parish where people of all abilities are welcomed and valued as a part of the Body of Christ.” Do you believe that goal is being achieved? Do you have any stories you could share about your parish’s response to your ministry?
Cathryn: Regarding how well received it is, if smiles and reception could be quantified, the donation jar has been overflowing. We used two cases of coffee—twenty bags and covered the coffee cost, and JJ’s profits nicely!
My last question is about the future. Do you have any plans to expand your ministry or share it with others? And please give us some advice. What would someone who reads this interview need to do if they wanted to follow your example and do something similar in their parish?
Diane: We know our parishioners love coffee and community, and most have not been exposed to the beauty, depth, and love that Cathryn and JJ naturally lead with. It has been a win-win! The entire goal of this adventure and successful ministry was to make it easy and repeatable. We would absolutely encourage and support all members of the Body of Christ with all abilities to dive in, fall forward, and lead by example.
Cathryn and Diane, thanks so much for sharing this story with us. Cathryn, what you have accomplished is amazing and such a blessing to the parishes you are serving. Coffee shops that employ people with disabilities have become more and more popular, but you are going beyond that idea and bringing the coffee—and most especially your joyful presence—to the people right in their parishes. May God continue to bless all that you’re doing.
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If anyone is in the Boston area on a Sunday, or if you live in the area, go to Mass and stop by for a cup of Coffee by Cathryn.