Masses to recognize gifts of persons with disabilities to be held Oct. 22 and 23

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
October 6, 2005

JEFFERSON/SAC CITY - Each year during the month of October - Respect Life Month - two Masses are held in the Diocese of Sioux City for persons with disabilities.

Sponsored by the Coalition for Ministry with Persons Having Disabilities, the Masses this year are slated for 5:30 p.m., Oct. 22 at St. Joseph's in Jefferson and 10:30 a.m., Oct. 23 at St. Mary's in Sac City.

"This is an opportunity to recognize persons with disabilities and the gifts they have to share," said Vera Ludwig, director of family programs for the diocese and co-coordinator of the coalition. "We ask people to participate in the Masses, but the goal would be to have - at every Mass, in every parish - people with disabilities helping in whatever their gifts are."

Bev Hurni, diocesan director of adult and family ministries and co-coordinator of the coalition, added that along with recognizing the gifts of persons with both physical and mental disabilities along with chronic illnesses, these Masses can help raise awareness of the giftedness of persons with disabilities.

"In a lot of ways, disabilities are invisible so this brings attention to persons with disabilities within the community. It can raise awareness about the need to invite them to be full members of the community," she said.

Ludwig pointed out that the first time the diocese sponsored a Mass for persons with disabilities was back in the year 2000 when Pope John Paul II designated specific days to celebrate during the jubilee year.

The coalition liked the idea of hosting such a Mass so they offered a Mass the following year, since 2002 there have been two Masses every year at different locations in the diocese.

Ludwig mentioned that they continue to hold these Masses in October, during Respect Life Month, because it is such a fitting time of the year.

"This is an opportunity for us to respect people who live their lives with a disability," she said.

The two stressed the fact that respect life is not about just respecting it in the womb and at the end - it's the whole thing, what comes in between.

Hurni said parishes that have sponsored the Masses in the past have commented on the awareness raised by such liturgies. They have not only discovered the gifts of some parishioners with disabilities, but in some cases have discovered accessibility issues in their buildings.

"Maybe they have never had a person in a wheelchair try to enter the sanctuary to be a lector," she explained.

In Jefferson, Sue Wind and Father Donald Ries are coordinating the Mass. Deb Lundberg and Father Lawrence McCarty are planning the celebration in Sac City. These site coordinators are seeking to involve persons with disabilities in the celebration. In the past, persons with disabilities have served as greeters, lectors, gift bearers, choir members, ushers, Eucharistic ministers and servers.

According to Hurni, two priests with disabilities plan to concelebrate at one or both of the liturgies with the local pastors. Father Tim Fitzgerald, who has muscular dystrophy, and Father Dennis Meinen, who has multiple sclerosis, are both members of the diocesan coalition.

"They speak a very personal walk," noted Ludwig.

Anyone is welcome to attend the liturgies. Area group homes have been invited to the Masses.

There will be refreshments after both Masses this year. Hurni mentioned they had not done that in the past, so that is an addition to this year's celebrations. In Sac City, Lundberg is arranging a display with information about disabilities.