Diocese of Syracuse to Hold Healing Mass For Sexual Abuse Victims
Sunday and Wednesday Vatican Masses to include American Sign Language
People with disability will now be able to access Pope Francis’ Wednesday and Sunday speeches in American Sign Language as part of a “no one left out” initiative announced by the Vatican towards the end of last month.
According to a member of the Alacantarine Franciscan Sisters Sr. Veronica Amata Donatello, everyone will now access the “Word of God and the words of the pope.”
“Because the Gospel and the words of the successors of Peter are addressed to all,” she told CAN.
Donatello is working with Vatican News to ensure the deaf access the pope’s message in Italian Sign Language (LIS) and American Sign Language (ASL).
The pope Wednesday’s general audience catechesis and Sunday Angelus or Regina Coeli prayer are now available via sign language.
The Franciscan sister said the church can take care of the disabled by, “as the Holy Father reminds us, putting those at the peripheries, the discarded, at the center, listening to them in the decision-making process, in the involvement of proposals.”
She said the church should stop holding events for people with disabilities, adding that they should be included in ordinary life.
“Even people with severe, complex disabilities have a ‘place’ and are active subjects,” she said. “Only by overcoming the pietistic and welfare point of view can one think of a Church for and with everyone.”
National Service for the Pastoral Care of People with Disabilities headed by Donatello was formed recently by the Italian bishops’ conference.
More Stories:
About the Author
Catholic365.com is a Catholic-focused article and information portal from Catholic writers and bloggers who write about things Catholics are interested in, with 3 main categories - Faith, Life and What's Going On, from a perspective consistent with the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. We strive to spread the word of God and the Catholic faith by highlighting both the articles and the writers through internet and social marketing campaigns. Our goal is to engage and support the Catholic faithful to evangelize to all Catholics using modern technology. Our mission originated with Pope Saint John Paul II's call to Catholics for a "New Evangelization".
