People with disabilities are celebrated and thanked

Intermountain Catholic

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Mindi Allen, a Saint Vincent parishioner, signs for the deaf and hard of hearing at the Mass for the Disabled. She also signs at Saint Vincent Parish. IC photos by Christine Young

OGDEN — "What a joy it is to gather with all of you from throughout the Diocese of Salt Lake City for this 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time. But there is nothing ordinary about this celebration," said the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City at the Mass for People with Disabilities Sept. 19, at Holy Family Parish in Ogden.

Bishop Wester concelebrated Mass with Father Patrick Elliott, pastor of Holy Family Parish.

"It is great to be together. I treasure this time we have to deepen our bond," said Bishop Wester.

The Gospel reading was Mark 9:30-37, in which the disciples are arguing to see which one is the greatest.

"This Gospel brings to mind the desire to be great. We sometimes daydream what it would be like to be president, or have our picture in the newspaper all the time," said Bishop Wester. "When Louis the Great died, people were beside themselves to hear the preacher speak. But when he spoke, all he said was ‘Louis the Great, Louis the Great – only God is Great.

"In the Gospel the disciples are arguing about who is the greatest, but Jesus tells us only God is great," said Bishop Wester. "You and I are not great. This Gospel is about becoming like children and having the love of Christ enter into our lives, becoming one with Christ."

Bishop Wester said Jesus says what is essential is invisible to the eyes. Only those loved are great. Therefore, our love is measured not on our abilities or our achievements, but on how well we understand and love God first.

"Many of you have bore many crosses and dealt with challenges, but in all of it, you have shown love and been loved," said Bishop Wester. " And that is why you are truly great. Each of us carries crosses, and as a result, we have to see what a person has not to see what he or she has.

"What does the word handicapped mean?" asked Bishop Wester. "Perhaps it means too much money, thinking only of oneself, or being incapable of forgiveness.

"Thank you for all that you mean to us and our Church. You are loved," said Bishop Wester to the people with disabilities. "You remind us that we must always have a child’s heart but an adult’s bravery. Thank you for following Christ even in the midst of suffering and for showing us what true faith is all about."

John Lipsey, a Saint Therese of the Child Jesus parishioner, said this Mass was very special to him. Lipsey has a beautiful voice, and served as a cantor.

This Mass was special for Cindi Vega, a Saint Thomas More parishioner, who is blind and proclaimed the Word of God in braille, because Holy Family Parish was her grandparent’s parish. Isadore and Connie Vega were my grandparents, and I remember coming to church with them in the old church and sitting on folding chairs. This brings back a lot of special memories. Grandpa passed away in 1991, and grandma passed away in 2001.

"This Mass gives us strength and support from the diocese," said Vega.

Madeleine Allen, 17, who attends Skyline High School through the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind thought the Mass was special. She became deaf as a 1-year old, after having spinal meningitis. Her mother, Mindi Allen, helped sign for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Cecilee Wilson, captioner, printed every word spoken and sung on a screen for the deaf and hard of hearing.

William Bonn, whose son Scott, 24, is handicapped, is glad this is an ongoing event. It is a way for these people to not stand out, but rather be accepted and celebrated.

"It is a celebration of different abilities," said Heather Bonn, Scott’s mother. "We are a large diocese, and I am glad they moved it to a northern parish. It was held at a parish in the south end of the valley last year. It is nice that when they built Holy Family parish they were aware and made it accessible for people using wheelchairs."

Carol Ruddell, who signed, and also serves on the Diocesan Commission for People with Disabilities Board said, "We are always excited to offer something for this population and these Catholics, because in reality, often times they do not feel welcome in their own parishes for whatever reason. And this is a nice opportunity for them to feel welcome in the diocese as well.

"I feel very fortunate at Holy Family, because when we built our church, we built it so it would be accessible for the handicapped," said Carol Ann Imhoff. "People with disabilities have always been included. I have been partially disabled for a while, and I have always been included. It is important to me as a retired rehabilitation nurse that people be included."

"All the people who participated in this evening’s Mass were disabled," said Ruddell. "The lectors, the cantor, the communion ministers, and those who brought forth the gifts, all were people with disabilities who serve in their own parishes. I think more and more people are becoming active in the ministries in their parishes."