GARY – Joy is always at the heart of the Diocese of Gary’s annual Mass for People with Disabilities, thanks to those who participate. This year’s Mass, scheduled for Sunday, April 27, is no exception, thanks to the altar servers, ushers and greeters who light up the Cathedral of the Holy Angels with their enthusiasm for the liturgy.
“The people with disabilities who serve at Mass are so joyful, and all excited to get their vestments on; it is really inspiring,” said Emily Hackett, who serves on the diocesan Intercultural Ministry Advisory Board and directs the religious education programs at St. Thomas More in Munster. “They are happy to say the prayers, and it’s nice to see them minister with other servers. I wish the other servers (without disabilities) were so into it.”
Among the most enthusiastic altar servers in the diocese are a group of young men, Chris Neff, Zack Campbell, George Perosky and Tim Veden, who faithfully served St. Stephen, Martyr church in Merrillville before it closed in February.
Sharon Staley, of Winfield, was the group home manager for three of these young men before retiring, driving them to Sunday Mass at St. Stephen, Martyr since 2006 and helping them complete RCIA classes. “I’ll be driving them to the cathedral for the April 27 Mass; I call myself their chauffeur,” she said. “When Chris (Neff) was baptized, he was really excited about the Catholic Church and (when) he later received his First Communion and confirmation. Deacon Rob Litavecz suggested Chris might like to be an altar server and he couldn’t have been happier.
“Chris’ joy is contagious,” added Staley, leading Campbell, Veden and Perosky to eventually join him as altar servers at St. Stephen, Martyr. With the church closing, they now regularly serve the 5 p.m. Mass on Saturdays at Our Lady of Consolation in Merrillville.
Neff and Campbell are scheduled to serve at the April 27 Mass, while Veden will be an usher.
“Chris wants so much to help with the Mass and it makes others happy just to watch him,” said Staley. “He has such an innocence. Once Father Mike (Maginot, retired administrator at St. Stephen, Martyr) could not celebrate Sunday Mass and another, older priest filled in. Chris felt he might have to teach him how to say Mass, so midway through Mass he started showing the priest what to do!”
Campbell is “very outgoing,” said Staley, “and all the sacraments make him feel good. He always wants to talk to people (after Mass) and to help, and he tells them he will pray for them. Sometimes we think he sees angels up on the altar.
“Tim (Veden) loves to sing hymns, and his love of music comes through at Mass. He loves Prayers, too.”
New to altar serving at the Mass for People with Disabilities this year is Ethan Ruiz, 15, whose family live in Hebron and attend St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Student Center in Valparaiso, where he is a regular altar server.
“He’s quiet, but he likes to be around people,” said Ethan’s mother, Tracy Ruiz. “He likes the Mass and is very good about knowing all the parts.
Tracy Ruiz admitted watching her son serve at Mass “makes me nervous, because there’s a lot of pressure, but he is relaxed. Other people enjoy watching him, because he always has a smile on his face. He has a joy about him, and that’s the best part for me. People see it and they appreciate it. It brings the Mass alive to see him, because he’s so engaged.
Ruiz said she would be attending the April 27 liturgy with her daughter and son-in-law, Genevieve and John Leriger of Lafayette. “They are coming for Sunday’s Mass and because Ethan will be making his confirmation the next day, April 28, and Genevieve is his sponsor.
“Ethan is the best at helping around the house and in helping others,” added his proud mother. “If he goes to get a cookie, he’ll bring one to others, too. He has a servant’s heart.”
“I was an altar server when I was younger and you get a whole different perspective,” said Hackett. “You learn why (the priest) does what he does at Mass, and you have to be more attentive than others. You feel like you are more a part of the Mass and learn more about your faith.”
Hackett said the Ability Inclusion Ministry (AIM) for the Diocese of Gary has a database to help further one of its goals, which is “to help people with disabilities take on roles as ushers, servers and greeters, to support their parishes.”
To learn more about AIM, contact Hackett at ehackett@stm-school.com/.
Caption: Bishop Robert J. McClory stands with the three most faithful altar servers at St. Stephen, Martyr during the parish's closing Mass on Feb. 15, (from left) Zak Campbell of Merrillville, Chris Neff of Crown Point and George Perosky of Merrillville. At right is Deacon Rob Litavecz, who trained the young men. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
