Fr. Rosario Oliveira

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: PILGRIMS OF HOPE

    The Holy See will commemorate the ‘Jubilee of People with Disabilities’ on April 28-29, 2025, at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. This momentous occasion will feature a pilgrimage to the Holy Door, Confessions, and the Eucharist, followed by a meeting with the Holy Father and other scheduled events.
    In our See Cathedral, while we observed a special day for the Jubilee of People with Disabilities on March 22, 2025 for some Pastoral reasons, (kindly read the report on this bulletin), we will also dedicate the month of April 2025 to this celebration. Throughout the month, we will honor the resilience and determination of individuals with disabilities, who inspire us with their unwavering faith, hope, and courage.
    People with disabilities strengthen our faith, reinforce our hope and demonstrate to us the Gospel way of life. They accept their disabilities not as a curse but at as a means to glorify God (see Jn. 9:3). In their disability, they imitate Jesus, who made himself vulnerable for our sake. Their disabilities/ “trouble produces endurance, endurance brings God’s approval, and His approval creates hope” (Rom. 5:3-4). And “this hope” says St. Paul “does not disappoint us”. So, basically, St. Paul speaks of the hope generated by troubles, sufferings and disabilities. In their life of faith and hope, people with disabilities demonstrate how to life a true Gospel life and be followers of (suffering) Jesus with joy.
    The dignity of people with disabilities: The Holy See had published a document on the dignity of people with disabilities namely, Dignitas infinita (2024), A Declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on Human Dignity. Human dignity is a central theme in Christian thought, applying to all the faithful in the life of the Church, and maintaining “awareness of human dignity amid the complex historical moment in which we are living.” Physically abled people should avoid the temptation to make them (people with disability) feel that they are invalid, useless, and parasite draining the resources of the family and society. The people with disabilities are also created unto the image and likeness of God. Hence, we need to see in them the ‘disabled face of Christ’. Jesus always treated people, especially those with disabilities,with dignity and respect, and eventually healed them (see Jn. 5:6).
     The rightful place of the people with disabilities, in the Church and Society, must be acknowledged and upheld. Jesus gave people with disabilities and outcasts in the society, a place of honour and belonging (see Mk. 1:40-45). Jesus saw in them the goodness, which the other members of the society failed to perceive. We must look at such people through the eyes of Jesus that their life is equally precious. They must be considered as active members contributing towards the growth of the family, church and society (each according his/her state of life). They must be seen as contributors, evangelizers and proclaimers of the Good News. We need to make all forms of liturgy completely accessible to the persons with disabilities. It is not enough to make them recipient during the celebration and organise Mass or Prayer Service for them, but to make them active participants during the liturgy. Consequently, they must be allowed to exercise active role in the Holy Eucharist, to organise Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament exposed, in conducting the prayer services and so on.
    People with disabilities are indispensable on the journey of “Pilgrims of Hope”. The Bible says, “…those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable…” (1Cor. 12:22). This reference to the Body of Christ and community of Christians implies that people with disabilities, who may appear outwardly weaker, are indispensable. Their life is not less important than the others. Hence, on the journey, they are equal companions. Physically, they may be a bit slower but the person is not consist of only body but also the soul and spirit. The body may be weak by the soul and spirit is willing (see Mt. 26:41). On this journey, we glorify God by service. Disability cannot be a hindrance to serve God and fellow pilgrims. One can glorify God by expressing thanks and gratitude instead of complaining or being bitter; if able to write, one can serve by writing words of expression and encouragements; if unable to speak, one can smile and express love and kindness; one can pray for others; one can visit others even on the wheel chair, with some assistance, that will encourage the sufferings and lonely; if unable to read, one can request others to read the Word of God; the list can go one. The last will be the first in the kingdom of God. Let us journey together whether abled or disabled as “Pilgrims of Hope”.
    St. Catherine of Alexandria, pray for us all!