Photo Courtesy of Bishop Talley

ATLANTA—When Toni Miralles first approached him about getting involved with the disabilities ministry at St. Jude Church, Atlanta, Father David Talley did not realize the central impact it would have on his life and ministry.

For the new parochial vicar, the zeal of Miralles, who started the ministry to assist her own daughter, Felicia, led to his sharing in the work of the ministry, its liturgies, and the annual Toni’s Camp, a weekend camp for young men and women with developmental disabilities Miralles fostered since the 1970s. For decades now, Bishop Talley has volunteered at the spring camp and built relationships with the families whose children attend.

He refers to the camp as the “best experience of the church you will see,” where campers and volunteers come to share and be fully accepted for who they are. It can be a challenging experience for both campers and volunteers, he said, but one that is very rewarding.

Peter Miralles of All Saints Church, Dunwoody, left, and Monsignor Talley stand together in the Toni’s Camp dining hall. Miralles’ mother, Toni, coordinated the camp from 1973 up until her death in 2000. Bishop Talley serves as the chaplain for the Disabilities Ministry. Photo By Michael Alexander

Bishop Talley, who describes himself as an introvert as a youngster, said he has a special affinity for those on the margins of society and when he first attended the camp, he responded to the way it embraces everyone in the love of God.

The roots of Toni’s Camp reach all back to the 1960s. In 1966, a Grey Nun, Sister Robert Therese, directed annual summer Bible camps in the archdiocese for Catholics with disabilities. These camps were initially held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Atlanta, primarily to provide catch-up instruction for Catholics with disabilities, who had never been prepared for the sacraments of initiation.

In 1971, Miralles took charge of the ministry. She moved the location to Camp Will-A-Way in Winder. Over the years, the retreat evolved into “Re-Creation” at Camp Will-A-Way and then in 2004 “Re-Creation” was officially renamed “Toni’s Camp Retreat” in memory of Miralles, who died in 2000. During this time, the location changed to Camp Twin Lakes, off Interstate 20, near Covington.

Miralles’ son, Peter, said the dedication of Bishop Talley to this ministry has kept him involved in his late mother’s work.

“My mother invited him to camp and he has since been at camp the entire weekend every year including when Bishop Talley studied in Rome,” wrote Peter by email. “He became Toni’s Camp’s spiritual leader and since the death of Toni Miralles has fine-tuned camp to be a spiritual journey for not just the core group but all the participants and counselors who come and go over the years.”

“Bishop Talley was a strong proponent to bring the ministry under the tutelage of the Archdiocese of Atlanta,” he added. “Personally I am still involved today because of his commitment.”

Many people who have worked with Bishop Talley in this ministry attended his episcopal ordination April 2. Janie Avant, an employee of Arcado Elementary School in Lilburn, has gotten to know Bishop Talley well over the years. Her two sons, who have developmental disabilities, have attended the annual event since they were teenagers. Avant adopted the two boys, Mihai and Vasile, from Romania when they were in their teens. They are now in their 30s.

The young men were excited to hear the news about Bishop Talley, but Avant said one of their first concerns was whether it would jeopardize the camp.

“But what about Toni’s Camp?” Vasile asked.

Both men were in attendance with Avant at the ordination Mass. Donning jackets, ties and beaming smiles, the pair was visibly excited as they waited in Kenny Hall for the ordination Mass to begin.

“He is a very good man and a good priest,” said Mihai.

From ground level Monsignor David Talley, chaplain for the Disabilities Ministry, verbally encourages a camper preparing to ride the zip line from its 40-foot platform starting point. For 44 years the Archdiocese of Atlanta has embraced and supported Catholics with disabilities through its weekend camp ministry. Photo By Michael Alexander

“He gets involved” in all the activities at the camp, added Vasile, who mentioned all of his favorite activities, including kickball, which topped the list.

“He’s been so good to our kids,” Avant said of Bishop Talley. “He has the love of Christ in him and you can recognize it.”

Avant’s involvement with the disabilities ministry has impacted her so profoundly that she is pursing a doctoral degree from Georgia State University in special education, physical and health disabilities.

Deacon Francis Head first met Bishop Talley when he volunteered at Toni’s Camp. Deacon Head, who was paralyzed after a motorcycle crash when he was 20, has been inspired by Bishop Talley’s focus on making those with disabilities comfortable with themselves and around others.

“Bishop Talley helped inspire me to be very open about my own disability and use my circumstances to reach out and inspire others,” he said. “He has encouraged me to see my experiences and use of a wheelchair as a gift to others. That is what he does. He finds a place for everyone to reach their potential.”

“Bishop Talley has brought dignity to people with disabilities,” he added. “In his eyes, we are not someone to be pitied or sit on the sidelines. He fully embraces the worth and dignity of the lives of the disabled.”

For Deacon Head, being present at the ordination was a powerful experience. He was “overjoyed” when he heard the news and looks forward to the new bishop’s service to the archdiocese.

“It was beautiful,” said Deacon Head of the ordination Mass. “I was the first one who received Communion from him after his ordination, and I could not help but become emotional. Bishop Talley can look at you and say a lot without words.”

Trish Hungerbuhler, a parishioner of St. Peter Chanel Church, Roswell, has been a Toni’s Camp volunteer for nearly 20 years. She remembers working with Miralles and Bishop Talley over the years and the camp has become a special part of her life.

“Camp, to me, has always been like heaven on Earth,” said Hungerbuhler. “You realize there is something special going on here. You are there in the midst of where everyone is accepted. No one is looked at for what kind of car they drive or what kind of job they do. Everyone is there because they love God.”

“Bishop Talley was able to help everyone see the gift of that weekend,” she said of Toni’s Camp.

Hungerbuhler is inspired by Bishop Talley’s ability to reach everyone on a spiritual level, whether it is “a doctor at his parish or an autistic child.”

“He is so non-judgmental, so open, and so humble,” she said. “He is such a good listener that no matter what background you come from, you really know that he cares about you.”

Janie Avant attends the ordination for Bishop David Talley. Years ago Avant adopted two boys, Mihai and Vasile, with disabilities from Romania, who today are in their 30s. Avant also volunteers at Toni’s Camp, an annual retreat for individuals with physical or mental disabilities. Photo By Michael Alexander

Karen Ehmer, a volunteer for more than 20 years at Toni’s Camp, was also in attendance at the ordination Mass. A parishioner of St. Jude Church, she has volunteered with the parish’s special religious education program since 1990 and has served as a volunteer at Toni’s Camp since 1991. When she first met Bishop Talley at St. Jude’s she recognized his humble spirit of service.

“I first met Bishop Talley when he was assigned to St. Jude. I remember him as very friendly and welcoming,” she recalled. “He married my sister and brother-in-law, as he says one of the very many roles a new priest gets assigned to, but he made a point of making my brother-in-law, who is not Catholic, feel welcome and comfortable.”

Ehmer has witnessed firsthand Bishop Talley’s focus on including people, no matter who they are or where they come from, and it has been an inspiration for her in her own volunteer work. She believes that Bishop Talley’s dedication has gone a long way in sustaining a strong disabilities ministry in the archdiocese.

“I believe the disabilities ministry exists as it does in the archdiocese because of the bishop’s advocacy and commitment to it, especially after the death of Toni Miralles,” said Ehmer. “His commitment to it has been unwavering and forceful as long as he has been associated with people with disabilities.”

“Bishop Talley always sees himself as the servant, not the one who sits in the place of honor with our Lord,” she added. “Also, he does not see himself as serving the ministry, but rather that he is the recipient of the blessings of their faith.”

She said she was “thrilled and surprised” when she first heard the news of Bishop Talley’s ordination and happy that this “truly humble” man would serve the church in this role. The ordination Mass was something special for her.

“The ordination was beautiful and moving,” she said. “I was awed by the beauty of it all.”

Those who have worked with Bishop Talley in the disabilities ministry recognize his sincerity in ministering to people of all walks of life. His care and concern for every person and his ability to share the Gospel in an accessible way have stolen the hearts of countless campers, parents and parishioners alike.

“Bishop Talley’s ability to communicate the message of the Scripture in a way that connects with people who struggle understanding abstract things” is special, said Ehmer. “My favorite stories from camp are the joy the bishop exudes when one of our campers overcomes a physical or emotional disability and they accomplish something that they haven’t been able to do before. He is the cheerleader-in-chief at camp as well as our spiritual leader.”