Masses for persons with disabilities held in diocese

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
October 30, 2003

The Coalition for Ministry with Persons Having Disabilities for the Diocese of Sioux City hosted two Masses during October, Respect Life Month, to celebrate the giftedness of all persons. This was the fourth year that these Masses were offered for the people of the diocese to attend.

"Often people with disabilities are looked upon as needy and needing services," said Bev Hurni, director of family ministries for the diocese. "There certainly is that element, but they also have gifts to share. They can be of service to people, to the parish, but they need to be invited. It helps to raise awareness and celebrate their gifts."

Catholics with disabilities, their families and all interested persons were invited to attend either of the Masses. There were handicap entrances and parking available at both locations.

There are visible and invisible disabilities as well as disabilities that people are born with and disabilities that develop later because of disease, injury or age.

"When the coalition uses the term disabilities it is referring to all these disabilities," said Hurni. "Sometimes people with disabilities are reluctant to volunteer for ministries or to join in parish activities. However when parishes welcome them by providing an accessment environment and reach out to them they often are grateful for being included and enjoy offering their service."

The first Mass was held Oct. 12 at Holy Family Church in Emmetsburg. Father Daniel Guenther presided over the Mass.

"We felt it went very well," said Father Guenther. "We had a number of people come in that normally would not have been here for Mass - not only from town here but even out of town."

There were people with disabilities involved in different ways. People helped with lectoring, ushering and bringing up the gifts.

"It was a lot of work to get them prepared, but they seemed to have liked it," said Father Guenther. "The parish appreciated what was done. I heard a lot of favorable comments about the Mass."

It is important to have people with disabilities help with the Mass because they are part of the parish, it is their faith too, added Father Guenther.

The second Mass was held Oct. 19 at Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Church in Sioux City.

Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo celebrated the Mass. Connie Barrett provided sign language for the Mass. Bishop DiNardo kind of teased Barrett because she didn't know what he was going to say, and she had to keep up with him, explained Hurni.

"He gave an excellent message in his homily," said Hurni, who attended the Mass at Nativity. "He talked about how in the past few years we have done a good job in our churches of making our buildings accessible with curb cuts and ramps.

"He said that that is a wonderful first step. We need to help people feel welcome by helping them get in, but we can't stop there. Once they are inside the building then we have to involve them as full members of our community and invite them to serve as their abilities allow them."

Another part of the bishop's homily was about Pope John Paul II and his disabilities right now. The pope's disabilities are right out there for people to see. He is serving the church and being a leader despite those disabilities.

The roles of lector, gift bearers and presenter of the communion meditation were performed by people with disabilities, according to Hurni.

"Nativity parish did a good job of inviting people with disabilities to serve in the various ministerial, liturgical roles," said Hurni.

Father Gerald Feierfeil gave comments after Communion. He talked about how he was delighted with some of the things the parish had done over the years, added Hurni. Nativity church has done things such as improving the sound system, curb cuts and removing pews so that people in wheelchairs could sit in the midst of the congregation rather than on the edge.

For information about the coalition, contact Bev Hurni at (712) 233-7531.