A welcoming church – when we needed it the most

By Gina Sternfels
NOLA Catholic Parenting

It is a gift that we can attend Mass and celebrate the life of Christ in the Eucharist. We have learned the importance of being in our church community, especially with COVID-19 shutting down our churches not long ago. When we could not attend Mass, we knew we were missing something – we could not go to Communion and receive the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus.

Many families who have loved ones with disabilities deal with this in their everyday life. Some families feel embarrassed about their child’s disability and possible behaviors during Mass. God invites us all to come together as a church family – to be known in his eyes as his beloved children. We all belong together in the community.

What’s the right thing?

  At one time, our family struggled with going to Mass as a family with our son, who has autism. My husband and I went separately to Mass, and our son did not attend. We were afraid of people staring at us while Ivan flapped and had behaviors.

Finally, a time came when we knew God was guiding us to take action to do the work. It was time for us to be in Mass together. We did that with the support of our priest. We were blessed to grow together as a family and as a church community.

Full acceptance by parish

Our parish fully welcomed us with acceptance and love.

God desires us to be in his truth. The best way to do that is to be in his Word and engaged in the sacraments. Therefore, we need to take this opportunity to remind loved ones who have fallen away from the church and those who may need help to get to Mass.

If you have been away from Mass or know someone who has, whether similar to us or for any other reason, don’t let the falsehoods you hear in your head hold you back from being known where it matters. Instead, let the Holy Spirit tug on your heart or nudge you into action. Get the support you need to be part of your community; the Holy Spirit will help you be where he wants you.

Welcoming churches

In our Archdiocese of New Orleans, there are many opportunities to start right where you are. If you want to be in a Catholic church environment where everyone understands what it is like in your shoes and know there are no judgments, you can attend a monthly Mass for Special Needs that is celebrated in a few parishes. These are my husband’s favorite Masses to attend.

St. Luke the Evangelist in Slidell and Our Lady of the Lake Church in Mandeville have God’s Northshore Blessings Masses. St. Francis Xavier Church in Metairie has God’s Special Children Masses. Everyone is welcome to volunteer to fully participate in serving in Mass as readers, gift bearers or in other ways.

Disabilities Masses

Our archdiocese’s Commission on Persons with Disabilities has resumed the quarterly Masses that rotate at churches throughout the deaneries. At this Mass, we have a regularly scheduled Mass in a parish with participation from local parishioners who live with disabilities. St. Matthew the Apostle Church in River Ridge participated recently. With the value the parishioners received and great feedback, St. Matthew has continued to offer a “Sensory Mass.”

As always, you have your home parish to attend. You are welcome! Most churches should have a disability advocate who can connect with and guide you, if you need any help in your parish. Call your church office and ask who that person may be.

If you do not find one, maybe you can recommend a friend for that ministry, or perhaps that may be God calling you to an opportunity to grow and be known in a new way!

You can find helpful information at https://nolacatholic.org/disabilitiescommission. Remember how much your father loves you and calls you to belong, be loved, accepted and be known.

Gina Kurtich Sternfels grew up in Plaquemines Parish. She graduated from Immaculata High School and Louisiana State University where she studied fine arts and psychology. She now resides on the northshore with her husband, Roland, and three teenage boys. She is passionate about disabilities as she has a son with autism. Dealing with boys and autism in the house has kept her on her toes, and she embraces life as “never boring!” She participates on the Archdiocese Commission on Persons with Disabilities. With Roland, she has been part of Catholic Engaged Encounter for many years. She and her family are parishioners at Most Holy Trinity Church in Covington. She has joined the Encounter School of Ministry to dig deep and learn more about her faith in a new way. She is working on being still, to hear the Father’s voice and use her gifts of creativity amidst the business of day-to-day life as a momma … on path with purpose!