By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
October 14, 2004

Masses were held last weekend in two locations of the Diocese of Sioux City to celebrate and recognize the gifts of persons with disabilities.

According to Bev Hurni, director of family ministries, Father Dennis Meinen celebrated the 5 p.m. liturgy at Immaculate Conception Church in Cherokee on Oct. 9. Father Armand Bertrand, pastor at the Cherokee parish, concelebrated. Deacon Leroy Rupp assisted with the Mass. In Fort Dodge at Corpus Christi Church, Father Larry Burns celebrated the Mass with Father Tim Fitzgerald concelebrating.

In addition to raising awareness about the gifts of persons with disabilities, Hurni noted that they also used the services as a time to pray for the needs of persons with disabilities.

She pointed out that this is the fifth year that the Coalition for Ministry With Persons Having Disabilities had organized special liturgies.

"During the jubilee year different days were designated (by the pope) for different groups of people. There was a day designated for people with disabilities," said Hurni. "The day was in December, but we moved it to October to coincide with Respect Life Month and the weather is not so unpredictable."

Through the years, the locations for the Mass have rotated in order to raise awareness at assorted parishes that persons with disabilities are in their midst.

"At both Masses, people commented afterwards that they weren't sure if more people with disabilities just happened to attend that Mass or if they had always been there but they had never noticed them before," said Hurni. "It's inspirational when people make comments that tells me their awareness has been raised."

Persons with disabilities were directly involved in the Mass at both locations. Between the two Masses, they served as greeters, altar servers, gift bearers and lectors. Connie Barrett, a member of the coalition from Sioux City, provided sign language at both Masses.

Even one of the celebrants at each location had a disability. Father Meinen, who is a member of the diocesan coalition, has multiple sclerosis and Father Fitzgerald, who expressed interest in joining the coalition, has muscular dystrophy.

"In his homily, Father Meinen talked about that in Robert Frost's poem The Death of the Hired Man, it says home is where when you have to go there, they have to take you in. Part of what the coalition's work is that we want everyone to feel at home in the body of Christ," said Hurni.

She extended gratitude to Suzanne Torrey and Sister Janice Hoffman for planning the Cherokee celebration and to Lori Gascho for planning the Fort Dodge liturgy.

"In Fort Dodge, it gave me the chance to extend a personal invitation to people to join our coalition because we currently do not have people from that deanery on the coalition," said Hurni. "About three people expressed interest in joining the coalition, so that was a wonderful benefit, too."

The coalition is also seeking members from the Northeast Deanery.

Along with these Masses every October, the coalition sponsors two retreats for persons with developmental disabilities every spring.

The coalition does publish a quarterly newsletter, Inclusion, that is available free of charge. Contact the Office of Adult and Family Ministries at (712) 233-7531 or e-mail sandiw@scdiocese.org to subscribe.