Guidelines help parishes include people with disabilities

IC photo/Marie Mischel

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Carol Ruddell, chairperson of the diocesan Commission for People with Disabilities, presents the March 24 workshop of the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops' "Revised Guidelines of the Celebration of the Sacraments with People with Disabilities."

OGDEN — The eight general principles of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ “Revised Guidelines of the Celebration of the Sacraments with People with Disabilities” were the focus of the first half of a two-hour workshop that was intended to educate and encourage catechists and others to make their parishes accessible to all.

The March 24 workshop at St. Joseph Parish in Ogden was the first of five scheduled throughout the diocese. In addition to the general principles of the U.S. bishops’ guidelines, the workshops touched on how each of the sacraments are to be administered to people with disabilities.

The revised guidelines came about through the effort of three offices of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and it was discussed twice in the conference’s general session, “so this is a pretty important document for our bishops as well as for us,” said Carol Ruddell, president of the Diocese of Salt Lake City Commission for People with Disabilities, at the workshop.

The workshops were bilingual, with Deacon Duane Padilla and Carla Padilla translating the information into Spanish.

“The guidelines focus on us on the Body of Christ – we’re all in this together,” Ruddell said, pointing out that the first of the document’s general principles is that “All human beings are equal in dignity in the sight of God. Moreover, by reason of their Baptism, all Catholics also share in the same divine calling.”

The guidelines emphasize that parishes should not just be accessible on a physical level, but also allow everyone “to fully participate in the whole life of the parish,” Ruddell said. It’s not just about removing physical barriers, “it’s about the whole parish being available and accessible, and asking people how they want to participate. Asking them, inviting them to be a part – to being a catechist, to being a part of the sacramental celebration, being a Eucharistic minister, being a music minister. And asking; rather than presuming someone can’t or doesn’t want to, you should ask and invite.”

However, some people might be afraid of or misunderstand what is necessary to accommodate people with disabilities into their parish, but the guidelines stress that all persons should be encouraged to receive the sacraments.

Some accommodations may need to be made to accomplish this while still meeting the requirements of the sacraments. The bishops’ document clearly describes the criterion for reception of the sacraments.  Nevertheless, they urge a generous attitude in the decision-making: “Cases of doubt should be resolved in favor of the right of the Catholic to receive the sacrament,” it states in the case of the Sacrament of the Eucharist; for the Sacrament of Confirmation, it says people with disabilities “should be encouraged either directly or, if necessary, through their parents, to receive it.”

Summing this up, Ruddell said, “It’s all through the guidelines – when it doubt, confer the sacraments.’”

To accomplish this, approaches other than the traditional catechism classes may be required. Ruddell gave the example of a young man who was nonverbal and whose preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation was through songs about the Holy Spirit. “When he received his Confirmation, his whole demeanor changed, his manner was different. He didn’t have to speak and answer questions about Confirmation – he was able to demonstrate by his behavior that he knew this was a sacrament and that it was a grace.”

The bishops’ guidelines don’t cover every situation, but the overall message of the document is clear, Ruddell said: “We are not to be the barrier to God’s grace.”

Advances in technology have removed many barriers to the sacraments. For example, the creation of low-gluten hosts now allow people who are gluten intolerant to receive the host at Communion (although the guidelines note that people also may receive under the form of wine alone.) In addition, during the Sacrament of Reconciliation, electronic devices may be used by those who have communication difficulties.

Participants in the workshop told personal stories of how their parishes have helped them, their family members or others participate in the sacramental life of the Church. After attending the workshop, St. Thomas Aquinas parishioners Carlos and Eva Araujo, whose son Amaral has disabilities, said the most important thing was learning that the Church is taking steps to include people with disabilities.

“It was a little hard for us in the past, but now it’s a little easier, and so we’re happy for that,” Carlos Araujo said.

Additional workshops are scheduled as follows:

Saturday, April 14, 1-3 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 7405 S. Redwood Road, West Jordan

Saturday, May 5, 10 a.m. – noon at Christ the King Parish, 680 S. Cove Drive, Cedar City

Saturday, May 12, 9-11 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 1661 East 500 North, Orem

Saturday, Sept. 29, 9-11 a.m. at St. Helen Parish, 435 E. Main St., Roosevelt

Diocesan Resources for People with Disabilities

The Diocese of Salt Lake City’s Commission for People with Disabilities offers several resources to help individuals or families of people with disabilities.

— For reception of the sacraments, they have adaptive preparation kits from Loyola Press for First Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation. For information on the kits, visit https://www.loyolapress.com/faith-formation/special-needs/adaptive-learning-kits

— To help with understanding and participation in the Mass, they have the My Picture Missal. This also is available as an app; visit https://www.loyolapress.com/faith-formation/special-needs/adaptive-learning-kits/my-picture-missal-app

— They have a plethora of DVD resources, including webinars created by the National Catholic Partnership on Disability that can be used by individuals or discussion groups. For information, visit http://ncpd.org/webinars.

— The commission assists parishes with the purchase of Assistive Listening Devices so that everyone can hear and understand what is spoken at Mass. For information, contact Jeff Allen at jjallen@xmission.com.

— Commission members also are available to help catechists or parents modify resources or consult on how to individualize parish programs.

The Diocese of Salt Lake City’s Commission for People with Disabilities is seeking interested people to serve. Consider nominating yourself or someone to the commission, which meets monthly to implement the Diocese Master Plan to include all Catholics with disabilities in the faith life of the diocese and parishes. To be considered, contact your pastor.

For information about the resources, call the diocesan Office of People with Disabilities, 801-328-6841 ext. 333.

Catholics CAN award nominations

The Diocese of Salt Lake City Commission for People with Disabilities is seeking nominations for the Catholics Can Award, which recognizes an individual, parish or organization who ensures meaningful participation by people with disabilities within Catholic parish life. Nominations are due June 1. For information or nomination form, contact the Diocese of Salt Lake City Commission for People with Disabilities, 801-328-8641 ext. 333.