Aimée O'Connell
Autistic... Lay Carmelite... Neurodiversity-, Trauma- and DBT-Informed School Psychologist... or, "just Aimée."
Aimée O'Connell began the Mission of Saint Thorlak, now known as Autism Consecrated, in 2017 with the goal of discussing autism and spirituality via the example of its namesake, St. Thorlak of Iceland. Her writing draws from contemplative (primarily Carmelite) spirituality, her master's degree in school psychology and perspective as an autistic individual. Aimée has authored the Novena in Honor of Saint Thorlak, approved in 2018 by Bishop David B. Tencer of Reykjavik; and Thorlak of Iceland, a full-length contemporary biography of Iceland's only native (and, neurodivergent?) saint. The written word is Aimée's friend, as her auditory processing and situational mutism make it difficult for her to speak and keep up with real-time conversations, whether in person, on the phone, video conferences or in larger venues. She is grateful that we live in an age where email, text, closed captions and transcripts are readily available and allow her to participate alongside those who speak easily. Hyperlexia for the win!
Aimée and her husband have two neurodivergent teens and a neurodivergent twentysomething, whom they enjoy (and have enjoyed) homeschooling, and who consented to being mentioned in this way.
Father Mark P. Nolette
Autistic Catholic Hermit-Priest / Spiritual Director
Fr. Mark Nolette is a priest of the Diocese of Portland, Maine.
Following his formative years in Biddeford, Maine, Fr. Mark went on to Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, and St. Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario. He was ordained to the priesthood on August 1, 1987.
In 1989, Fr. Mark undertook canon law study at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.. Subsequently, Fr. Mark has served the Tribunal of the Diocese of Portland in several roles: judge, associated judge, procurator advocate, promoter of justice, and defender of the bond. He served as Vice Chancellor of the Diocese of Portland from 1999-2001.
Fr. Mark has had many parish assignments throughout the state of Maine, including: Augusta, Gray, Portland, Ashland, Calais, Pleasant Point, Lubec, Machias, Cherryfield, Camden, Dover-Foxcroft, Dexter and Pittsfield. He has also served at St. Timothy’s parish in Campobello, New Brunswick. Additional roles have been served as a sacramental minister at the Augusta Mental Health Institute, a vicar forane, and as a member of the Diocese of Portland’s Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors. As of his retirement in 2020, Father Mark is privileged to spend his time now with God more fully as a hermit-priest.
Father Mark was formally diagnosed with autism in 2014. In 2018, he took up the role as spiritual director of the Mission of Saint Thorlak, which has since expanded to its present identity as Autism Consecrated. As part of this role, he authored The Scriptural Stations of the Cross for Autistic People in 2019. An avid reader, Father Mark takes particular interest in current theological and philosophical works on personhood and disability, especially as applied to the Church's perception of her autistic members. His book reviews can be found at Baylor Press, along with various publications online and in his personal blog, The Anchorite.
Learn more about Father Mark in this article of Harvest Magazine.
