Pope Francis: People with special needs have a 'right' to the sacraments

By Jay Zainey
Cofounder God's Special Children

The Archdiocese of New Orleans has been in the forefront of including people with special needs in the liturgy and in administering the sacraments to them.

In October 2004, God’s Special Children was formed in New Orleans as a way for people with special needs, their families and friends to celebrate the Mass together.

Indeed, everyone was invited to join us at the Mass – regardless of whether or not they had family members with special needs.

Over the years, the attendance at the Mass grew from approximately 65 people to as many as 400. We have been very blessed to have Father Mike Mitchell celebrate the Eucharist for us for the last 15 years. Each month Father Mike inspires us with Christ’s message of love, peace and acceptance. 

When the attendance increased so significantly, Archbishop Alfred Hughes asked to meet with my wife Joy and me to discuss the Mass and how the church could better accommodate those of us who have family members with special needs. Archbishop Hughes was appalled to learn that many people with special needs had been denied the sacraments, and he immediately assigned two nuns to assist people with special needs to prepare for the sacraments.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond also has been a strong advocate for people with special needs and their families. Since 2009, when he became archbishop, Archbishop Aymond has been the principal celebrant of the God’s Special Children’s Anniversary Mass, held every year in October. He has celebrated baptisms, given out First Communion and confirmed numerous people with special needs.

Archbishop Aymond believes no one should be denied the sacraments. In addressing issues within the Catholic Church faced by people with special needs, the Vatican has promulgated guidelines which include the following statement: “The Sacraments are gifts of God and the liturgy. … therefore, no one can deny the Sacraments to people with disabilities” (emphasis added).

In fact, Pope Francis has weighed in on the subject. As recently as last December,  he stated: “Special attention should be given to disabled people who have not yet received the Sacraments of initiation, meaning Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion. … No one should be excluded from the grace of the Sacraments.”

In the Dec. 3, 2020, issue of the Crux newsletter, Pope Francis also insisted on the need to provide training for priests, seminarians, religious, catechists and pastoral workers so they know how to best interact with the disabled and use inclusive pastoral tools. Again, the Archdiocese of New Orleans has been at the forefront of this issue.

For the past number of years, Father James Wehner, rector/president of Notre Dame Seminary, has invited my wife and me to make presentations to the seminarians on ministering to people with special needs. In this way, seminarians who have not been exposed to people with special needs are given the opportunity to obtain a better understanding of ways to minister to God’s children who have special needs.

Under Father Jim’s leadership and example, a number of our future priests have attended the God’s Special Children Mass and have shown great sensitivity toward them.

Recognizing the importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect, Archbishop Aymond has stated: “As Catholics, we should lift up each other in life and in spirit, no matter our degree of intellectual ability. It is the responsibility for each of us to give love and pastoral care to all of God’s special children – because we are all special in God’s eyes. We should treat our brothers and sisters in light of their special needs, and not in spite of their special needs.”

We invite everyone to join us as we celebrate God’s Eucharist at our God’s Special Children, Families and friends Mass, held monthly at St. Francis Xavier Mass on Metairie Road. The anniversary Mass will be celebrated Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church, 444 Metairie Road, Metairie.

To learn more about God’s Special Children, please contact Joy Zainey at (504) 834-5865. Sign up for the mailing list through [email protected]. For information on having a child with special needs receive the sacraments, contact Mount Carmel Sister Mary Ellen Wheelahan at [email protected]. Remember, no one with special needs will be denied the sacraments.