Mother calls pope's blessing of youths with disabilities 'validation'

Published: 2008-04-21

YONKERS, N.Y. (CNS) -- For Yoselin Garcia and her 18-year-old daughter, Isabel, the blessing they received from Pope Benedict XVI April 19 in the chapel at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers was their second papal blessing. Pope John Paul II blessed them in 1995 during a rosary service at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. Isabel was one of 56 youths who with their caregivers were invited by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York to attend the event with Pope Benedict. Her mother told Catholic News Service the pope's blessing and the time he spent with the youths and their caregivers were "a validation of the children and their families for all the sacrifices we make on a day-to-day basis." Isabel has cerebral palsy and does not speak. She and her family are members of St. Peter's Parish in Haverstraw and she was confirmed at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

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