Five parishes to host special disability Masses

By JAMIE MCCLURE, Globe intern
Sept. 27, 2007

"His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents?" Jesus answered, "Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him." -John 9:1-3

Within October, which is Respect Life Month, there will be five Disability Masses held to help celebrate the disabled and the gifts of all people.

"A disabilities Mass is an opportunity to celebrate the gifts persons with disabilities bring to our parishes," said Vera Ludwig, the coordinator of family programs for the Diocese of Sioux City. "It is also a good opportunity for parishes to welcome persons with disabilities and to participate fully in the life of the church and it's an opportunity to draw attention to the efforts of the groups who work with people with disabilities."

Ludwig also said the hope of the family programs is for the disability involvement in Masses to be automatic instead of having to have a special Mass in order to celebrate the disabled.

Father Dennis Meinen, chaplain for Holy Spirit Retirement Home will help with the Moville and Remsen Masses.

"I feel it's important to have these Masses because I want everyone to know that there are disabled people who can do wonderful things if they are given an opportunity, or an open door to do the wonderful things," said Father Dennis Meinen, chaplain for Holy Spirit Retirement Home. "When I celebrate Mass, I give thanks to God that I am able to. I know that life is fragile and that it could change tomorrow."

The five Disability Masses will be at - Holy Spirit Church in Carroll at 4:30 p.m., Oct. 13; Immaculate Conception Church in Moville at 5:30 p.m., Oct. 13; Corpus Christi Church in Fort Dodge at 5:00 p.m., Oct. 14; Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City at 5:00 p.m., Oct. 14 and St. Mary Church in Remsen at 2:00 p.m. on Oct. 18 - hosted by the St. Mary School.

The school will also welcome the Sign Choir from Carroll. At Immaculate Conception Church in Moville and the Cathedral of the Epiphany, Connie Barrett, a parishioner from Immaculate Conception Church in Sioux City will be the sign interpreter. After Mass in St. Mary Church in Remsen, the parish will have lunch in Carroll at Holy Spirit Church on Oct. 18. Following the lunch will be a social in Remsen the same day.

"We want to open up our Mass to everyone," said Mary Arens, the coordinator of the Disability Mass in Remsen. "We are really excited about the Mass because we are going to be focusing on the right to life/sacredness of life, from conception to natural death in all forms; for example, the unborn, the elderly, the disabled, etc."

Arens also said the students - K-12 will be learning sign language so they can participate in Mass along with the sign choir.

Father Meinen was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1988, one year after he was ordained a priest. The chaplain said when he talks with other people and they say they are going to pray very hard for him to heal, that he "doesn't think that is what God wants for him or what his will is for him."

"It is more important to the Lord that I witness to my disability," said Father Meinen. "I want to carry out what the Lord wishes of me."

Along with being the chaplain at Holy Spirit Retirement Home, Father Meinen is also the part-time chaplain at Mercy Medical Center-Sioux City.

"When I go in to see patients at Mercy, they can tell that I am carrying my cross from Jesus along with them because I come in my scooter," said Father Meinen. "I think it helps the patients to be more comfortable. I always tell them that the Lord is with them and I feel that the Lord is always with me."

According to Ludwig, a one in five persons has a disability and they are more natural than not natural. She also said, "We need to be aware that we are all people first."

The Disability Masses began nearly eight years ago in December 2000 with Archbishop Daniel DeNardo presiding. Since that year, the Masses have been in October because of Respect Life Month, Ludwig said.

"The Masses help strengthen people's faith because it allows the persons with disabilities to know that they are welcome and a part of a community that supports them and we want them to know they are not alone," said Ludwig.

If parishes want to host a Disability Mass next year or want to purchase brochures to help welcome people with disabilities, contact Vera Ludwig at the Diocese of Sioux City office at (712) 233-7532.

"The Lord showed me how to handle his plan," said Father Meinen. "He is always mysterious and surprising but if we can accept these mysteries and surprises, I think that is the bigger challenge."