GARY – “It is good to be together as a community and to enjoy a special moment in this Easter season,” said Benedictine Sister Norbertha Mlowe, who serves at Sharing Meadows in LaPorte, a community for other abled adults that brought all 30 of its residents to the Mass for People with Disabilities at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels on April 27.
“It is good to meet to learn about different kinds of people, to celebrate diversity,” she added. “We travelled here to see our friends and share our love. It is really beautiful.”
The smiles on the faces of the Catholic community, both those with and without disabilities who participated in the annual liturgy hosted by the Diocese of Gary on Divine Mercy Sunday, inspired Bishop Robert J. McClory. “When I am weak, then the Lord is strong, because the Lord sees my weakness and makes me strong,” he said. “The world may look at (people with disabilities) and say they are less than others, but we believe they are actually more than others, because the Lord loves them. We see the beautiful innocence in them.”
“These people are the strongest ones, and those who support them, love them, encourage them and celebrate them as they are” deserve much grace, the bishop added. “The Divine Mercy of the Lord is with us.”
Brenda Darrol, of Valparaiso, attended the Mass with her husband, Robert Darrol, and their daughter Angela Darrol, all parishioners at Our Lady of Sorrows. “We came to celebrate Angela and to honor Pope Francis, who was pretty supportive of people with disabilities,” said Brenda Darrol, whose family is affiliated with the Down Syndrome Association of Northwest Indiana.
“I saw the bishop before Mass and he said ‘Hi’,” said Angela Darrol, one of offertory gift bearers.
One of the biggest smiles of the day was worn by Andrew Birlson, a parishioner at St. John the Evangelist who not only joined the cathedral’s parish choir for the Mass, but for the first time served as psalmist. “I practiced a lot,” he said of his solo. There was one verse I couldn’t remember, but I got it. I also liked singing with the choir at the Chrism Mass.”
“It’s always good to see the bishop,” said Robert Darrol, recalling that the last time the family, including a young Angela and her three older brothers attended Mass at the cathedral, was 25 years ago. “We came for the Anniversary Mass on our 25th anniversary,” he said. “It brings back memories.”
Sister Loretta Schleper, PHJC, who serves at Sojourner Truth House in Gary, said it was the first time she and Sister Bindu Jose, also a Poor Handmaid of Christ, attended the Mass for the first time. “We heard that people with disabilities were included, people who are not usually included, and we thought we would come and be present to them and celebrate the holy Mass with them,” she said.
“These are different abled, not unabled, people and this is a time to make them feel abled,” said Sister Bindu Jose. “We include them all and make them feel loved … we take the opportunity to make them feel welcome today and make them feel special.”
“You can just see their love for Christ from deep inside,” said Deacon Bob Wellinski, of LaPorte, who read the day’s Gospel at the Mass and serves at Sharing Meadows, visiting the residents at least twice a week. “They really proclaim Christ’s Gospel through the way they live their lives and care for others.”
A highlight of the Mass for Deacon Wellinski came after the Holy Communion service when he saw a young girl with special needs give her father a big hug and lean her head on his shoulder. “It was such an expression of happiness and love,” he said.
“Today offered a very special moment for the residents to celebrate the Lord with others who have the same special needs,” said Livingston Kombo, who serves as a steward for two Sharing Meadows villagers. “The Lord is with them despite their disabilities, and to meet with the bishop is a special moment – to have the love of Christ proclaimed to them by the head of the Church for this diocese.”
Bishop McClory concluded the Mass by reminding the congregation that “God wants to use our gifts for his greater glory.”
Caption: Bishop Robert J. McClory accepts the offertory gifts from Nataly Garcia of St. Mary in East Chicago and Cinthia Ortiz Lopez of St. Margaret Mary in Hammond, at the annual Mass for People with Disabilities on April 27 at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary. Not pictured is gift bearer Angela Darrol of Our Lady of Sorrows in Valparaiso. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
