San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
A Mass for everyone
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Coronado focuses on inclusion with adjustments for people experiencing disability and their caregivers
Sacred Heart Catholic Church’s Mass of Inclusion will be both a typical Saturday night Mass, and a Mass like no other.
“It’s the standard Saturday night scheduled Mass. It just happens to carry this extra gift with it,” said Maria Nagy, parent facilitator for the Coronado church’s Exceptional Families Ministry for people experiencing disabilities, their families and caregivers, and volunteers. Nagy, mother to her autistic son Jack Medved, helped start the annual mass in 2016 with Dotti Hulbert, director of Catechetical Ministry at Sacred Heart, after reading about a similar Mass.
The Mass of Inclusion honors people experiencing disability and their caregivers, and it accommodates their needs as they take on all the roles of the Mass and access sacraments like baptism. The accommodations might include welcoming more wandering around the church than usual and providing applesauce with just a small amount of communion wafer for those who have difficulty swallowing. It’s also accessible to Spanish speakers.
The Mass includes members of their Exceptional Families Ministry (which also hosts monthly art and ecumenical faith sharing meetups, caregiver support meetings and special events), as well as parish members and others experiencing disability of any faith throughout the county.
“I believe that so many in our special needs community, while part of God’s flock, are often unseen — on the other side of the hill,” said Father Michael Murphy of Scared Heart. “As pastors, we must look for them, welcome them when we see them alone.
They bring life to the church in ways we do not always see and understand.”
Nagy and Hulbert answered questions about the Mass. Here’s a condensed version:
Q:
Can you tell me about the Mass of Inclusion?
Nagy: This is Mass where we really call to mind that we are all part of the body of Christ — everyone’s a member of it.
Hulbert: They welcome people, they do the readings, they offer the prayers, they sing, they bring up the collection, and bring up the communion gifts. They radiate God’s love through the church in a way that is like no other. Part of our goal is that the Mass of Inclusion is not to be a one-time-a-year event. This is the way we need to be able to make our faith accessible to everyone.
Nagy: Also at this Mass, we often have people who experience disability of any age who have not yet accessed some of the sacraments, which are baptism and communion, first communion and confirmation.
Hulbert: Another thing that’s unique is the liturgy is geared more to accommodate a lot of different needs. The readings are briefer. The prayers for the renewal of baptismal promises have been simplified.
Q:
You invite all to wear white with a little bit of color to the Mass. What’s the significance?
Hulbert: Wearing white is an outward sign of our baptism, all of us belonging to the body of Christ. When you see everyone dressed in white, you see we’re all in the same. But (with the color) that we are also diverse. It’s a Mass that has more laughter and joy, probably, than any other Mass because nothing is held back.
Q:
What are some of the barriers people experiencing disability face in attending church?
Nagy: It’s so much more than the ramp. Much more than just providing the ramp access.
Hulbert: There’s a barrier based on this long-standing idea of behavior, how you’re supposed to behave in church. You’re supposed to be quiet. You’re supposed to stand up and sit down on cue. And so, it’s presumed that it won’t work. And so, to have an experience where it does work and you are welcome, it’s changing minds and hearts. That’s why whenever I see this full church at this Mass, I’m glad because that’s that many more lives we’re touching with a vision that says it’s not about how you behave, about how you present. It’s about who you are.
Q:
What advice do you have for other faith groups that want bring in this kind of inclusion?
Hulbert: Start. You know, step over your fear, step over your discomfort that it’s going to be different, and just start. Start welcoming.
Nagy: It’s removing the barriers and keeping this very simple. Both the inclusive Mass itself and our ministry are very much about just providing space and opportunity for connection. I would love for it to be replicated. Because if one in eight people experience disability, there should be one in every pew. And they should be known.
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When: June 2-12
Where: Multiple locations
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