|
BY ERIKA ANDERSON
Staff Writer
ATLANTA--As the congregation sang and performed the hand motions to
“Weave One Heart,” Laura Shuler processed down the center aisle of
St. Jude the Apostle Church.
Her bright red dress matched the red leather-bound Lectionary she raised
above her head and her smile was a reflection of her excitement over
participating in the Mass. This was Laura’s opportunity to shine.
The Faith and Sharing Liturgy gives many others with physical, mental or
developmental disabilities a chance to display their gifts. Though a Mass for
persons with disabilities is held once a month at St. Jude’s, the Faith
and Sharing Liturgy, which offers participants an opportunity to socialize at a
potluck dinner after the Mass, is held twice a year. The theme of the fall
Mass, held Nov. 14, was “Use It or Lose It.”
At the Mass, people with disabilities served as ushers, greeters, lectors,
song sheet distributors, altar servers, gift bearers and musicians. Toni
Miralles, parish minister for people with disabilities, said that the Mass
prepares those with disabilities to serve at a regular parish Mass held later
in the year.
“It gives them such an opportunity to get out and feel confident and
really a part of the Mass and not just someone who is ministered to,” she
said. “It’s an opportunity for them to move their gifts into the
regular life of the parish.”
At the mid-November Mass, celebrated by Father Bill Williams, parochial
vicar at St. Jude’s, he encouraged participants to show others how to
share what God has given them.
“Each one of us has been given gifts from God,” he said.
“Your talent is very special because it’s something God gave
you.”
“You all have a very big responsibility to help others see and know the
goodness that God gives you,” he continued. “You can help others come
to see and know how they’re called to use their gifts and talents by
coming to work and be with you.”
He told the congregation that they had an ability to bring joy to others if
they were willing to share their gifts.
“You will give people more and more happiness and they will come to
know and love God in special ways,” he said.
Following the Mass, which ended in its traditional way as participants sang
“His Banner Over Me Is Love,” those in attendance proceeded to the
St. Jude School cafeteria for food, fellowship and fashion.
Wearing everything from a Halloween pumpkin costume to a Publix uniform and
a Braves jersey, several people with disabilities participated in a fashion
show and were met with thunderous applause from their friends and family. Their
faces beaming with pride and excitement, they joined the others for dinner,
while some explained their love for the St. Jude’s ministry.
Shuler, 38, who donned an evening gown for the fashion show, called herself
an active woman and said she loves to help out with the Mass. She is also
involved in the St. Jude’s welcoming ministry and said that she has
learned of God’s love for her.
“God loves me more than anything in the world because I’m hard of
hearing and I’m a special disabled person,” she said.
Felicia Miralles, 37, said that she enjoys participating in the Mass.
“I can do a lot of things there,” she said. “I like helping
with Communion.”
Many parents are also grateful for the Ministry with Persons with
Disabilities.
Pat Kahnle attends the Faith and Sharing liturgies with her son, Matthew,
who is 21.
“We started coming here during a rough time in our lives,” she
said. “What we found here was just total acceptance--beautiful, total
acceptance.”
“This is what I think a Christian community ought to be,” she
continued. “It’s something we’re not privileged to see very
often.”
Toni Miralles founded the ministry in 1973 as a way to aid her daughter,
Felicia, who is mildly retarded, and others like her. Miralles said that many
parents of children with disabilities find a haven at St. Jude’s because
of the ministry.
“I sometimes think it means more to the parents than to the
participants,” she said. “It’s so good to get together with
people who are running the same race.”
She said that many people do not feel welcomed because of their
disabilities.
“Some families have very little contact with other families with
disabilities,” she said. “… In some cases this may be the only
time an individual goes to Mass.”
Miralles believes that persons with disabilities give the church a sense of
wholeness.
“I don’t think our church is complete without our persons with
disabilities,” she said. “Jesus called everyone, especially the
least. I feel that they are a very important part of our church and our parish
and our community.”
Miralles hopes the ministry will grow and gain more support on the
archdiocesan level.
“There are pockets of things going on, but we need a central place
where the information is truly there and there is someone who can answer
questions,” she said. “My hope for the ministry as a whole is to see
an advocate in every parish, but for that we need a diocesan office.”
For more information about St. Jude’s Ministry with Persons with
Disabilities, call Miralles at (770) 394-4588.
|
