Congregation members sing in American Sign Language at the diocese’s Ohana Mass for men and women with disabilities, Feb. 16 at Holy Trinity Church in Kuliouou.
Everyone inside Holy Trinity Church, Feb. 16, felt joy and unconditional acceptance. More than 60 people gathered at the Kuliouou parish that day to support their friends and relatives at the Ohana Mass, a liturgy for Catholics with disabilities.
Held by the diocese once a month, the Ohana Mass provides a way for men and women with a variety of abilities to celebrate their faith. Sign-language interpreters at the liturgy help the deaf participate in liturgical music and rites. Youth and young adults with disabilities are invited to serve as lectors, offertory collectors, altar servers and ministers of Communion.
It is a heart-warming service that exemplifies the Catholic spirit of acceptance, said Iwie Tamashiro of the Office for Social Ministry. Tamashiro has been organizing the Ohana Mass since last May.
“The aim should be to integrate all people” into the Mass, “regardless of their abilities,” she said. “We needed to provide a venue where people with disabilities may learn to do ministry and serve their church.”
Tamashiro said she was inspired by the disabilities community in the Archdiocese of Portland, Ore., which has been gathering in worship for almost 20 years. The group provided her with an outline to create special “adapted” liturgies here in Hawaii.
Congregants at the Ohana Masses have started to forge a tight-knit bond. They meet on the last Sunday of each month at Holy Trinity, many coming from Windward Oahu to participate. Fellowship and food follow the Mass.
“The families who gather at Ohana Mass once a month are really starting to form as a small Christian community,” Tamashiro said. “No doubt, the people who do ministry love serving their Church. I’m convinced that moment for them is what they enjoy the most.”
On March 23, the Ohana Mass will be held for the first time at Resurrection of the Lord Church in Waipio. Catholics with special needs from the Leeward and Central Oahu vicariates are encouraged to attend.
Diocesan young adult ministry coordinator Makana Aiona is part of the team coordinating the March 23 event. He and other Resurrection of the Lord parishioners are looking forward to hosting the Ohana Mass community.
“I feel that it is a service and ministry we can provide,” Aiona said. “We have a few families with youth that have developmental disabilities, as well as longtime parishioners who are now adults who we know could benefit from this.”
Volunteers are needed to help at the Mass, Aiona added. Youth and young adults from other parishes can come to lend a hand with hospitality before the liturgy and setup of the potluck afterward. A designer is also needed to create the Ohana Mass bulletin.
Tamashiro hopes having a second Ohana Mass each month will extend the reach of disabilities ministries in the diocese. The full schedule of Ohana Masses for the rest of the year can be found at the diocesan website, www.catholichawaii.org.
“We want to invite other young adults to bring their special brothers, sisters and friends to Mass,” Tamashiro said. “Our hope is that young people will open their hearts and minds to others who may look, speak, walk and think differently, and to truly see Jesus in every person.”
“It’s really no different from any other faith community,” she added.