Apr
8
Inclusion: Ministering to the Excluded
April 8, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Easter. The parking lot is crowded, the pews fill up and the overflow of people attending Mass heads down to the new Parish center to watch Mass on an overhead screen. When it’s time to hand out Communion, Msgr. Malovetz heads down there with a number of Eucharistic ministers to hand out Communion . When he returns, he goodnaturedly quips that it was a longer walk down there than he thought -with a smile on his face. It was an effort he made that was done with joy. He knew what it would mean to those people who could not get into the church and felt excluded to have him show up to give out Communion.
Sometimes “showing up” is what makes things happen. My mailbox is full at times from people with disabilities who tell me they want to go back to church (and these are not just Catholics -it’s an interfaith thing). And I write back to them and we talk about their concerns. And one of the things I say is “show up”. However it’s not that simple for some. And there is work to be done to help those who are excluded, who aren’t even able to get to the “overflow” service.
You can’t show up if you can’t get there. Transportation is an access issue. I have a survey up about transportation needs because that is one problem.
You can’t show up if churches don’t let you know about their accessibility. You don’t know if you can get inside. We need to encourage parishes to put on their websites and any ads they may have if their church is accessible – ramp, accessible bathroom, large print materials and the like.
You can’t keep showing up if you’re greeted with exclusionary attitudes. Well you can but it leads to lack of access in other ways. We need attitudinal change as well as physical access. Are the church’s activities accessible and inclusive? Are people with disabilities given a chance to participate in service work and the social life of the parish?
We need better education, outreach and awareness of what is needed to bridge gaps. The truth is that inclusion is not a static state but an ongoing ministry.
We need to be willing to walk (or roll) the extra mile, go out of our way and minister to the excluded.
