A family at a previous Ohana Mass. (Photo courtesy: Office for Social Ministry)
OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY
“The Lord reserves a special place in His heart for whoever has a disability … the church cannot be ‘mute’ or ‘tone deaf’ when it comes to the defense and promotion of people with disabilities.” (Pope Francis)
Reaching out to the vulnerable is a fundamental part of “witnessing to Jesus.” As the Gospel words and actions reflect, there is special place in our Lord’s heart for those with disabilities and special needs. This is clearly at the heart of Pope Francis’ ministry. On the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics, Pope Francis honored the young athletes with a blessing, encouraging them to continue to “grow and develop and fully realize their abilities.”
He also offered a warm welcome to a group from the Deaf Catholic Youth Initiative of the Americas, using the universal sign language hand gesture to say “I love you,” and praying for the spiritual impact of their pilgrimage to Rome. The U.S. Catholic bishops have long urged parishes to include sign interpreters at Mass and during confessions and to invite deaf people to serve as ministers of holy Communion.
Here in Hawaii, we are blessed to witness parishes that hold a special place in their hearts with the vulnerable.
Holy Trinity Parish in East Honolulu was the first to open its doors to a monthly liturgy known as the Ohana Mass, created by the diocese to be celebrated by persons with disabilities and their families. Participants from all over Oahu came for worship and fellowship. After several years at Holy Trinity, the Ohana Mass moved to Sts. Peter and Paul Church in the Ala Moana district on the second Sunday of each month. This past summer, the liturgy visited St. Ann Parish in Kaneohe, where parishioners graciously welcomed more than 25 members of the Ohana Mass community to their regular Sunday morning youth Mass.
Raina and Matt bring up the gifts to Father Richard McNally during this year’s Ohana Mass at St. Ann Church in Kaneohe. (Photo courtesy: Office for Social Ministry)
At St. Ann, persons with disabilities were altar servers and Eucharistic ministers, while parishioners experienced worship in sign language, many for the first time. One of the more memorable highlights were the rows of people singing “Alleluia” in sign, as smiles of acceptance and joy became infectious. At the crowded celebration, huge, happy grins spread across the faces of youth ushers and music ministers. The Gospel message in the Ohana Mass, which emphasized that all are created in the image of God, was clearly visible and experienced in an inspiring celebration of inclusion and dignity.
Earlier that week, St. Ann parishioners joined the Institute for Human Services (IHS) in blessing a medical clinic in Kaneohe that reaches out compassionately to houseless men, women and children. Days later, IHS announced a special outreach to persons suffering with severe mental illness, and renewed its call to faith-based communities to support homeless food ministries. IHS is also planning a special collaboration around ministry with the most vulnerable in St. Augustine Parish as the parish celebrates its 165th anniversary in Waikiki.
Other Oahu parishes, including Holy Trinity and more recently Sacred Heart in Waianae, host ministries that embrace and accompany fellow Catholics who are battling cancer and other debilitating health challenges. These are just some of the inspiring examples of Hawaii parishioners making a special place in their hearts with vulnerable persons, all of whom are gifts of God with dignity and special abilities.
Christ calls us to have compassion for the poor, weak, disabled and defenseless. For more information about ways you can experience inspiring ministries with the vulnerable, please visit our website www.officeforsocialministry.org.
Mahalo,
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry
