The Diocese of Leeds
COMMISSION FOR PASTORAL INCLUSION -

Commission for Pastoral InclusionDisability Sunday 15 / 09 / 2007


Disability Sunday (Sunday 7th. October) is an opportunity to invite and encourage people with differing disabilities and their families to take a more prominent role in their parish communities.

What can we do in our Parish to participate in Disability Sunday? Any of the following items could be included in the celebration of Mass :

  • Involve disabled people at every level - taking up the offertory, Eucharistic Ministry, welcoming, giving out hymn sheets/ books, bulletins and newspapers
  • Music by a disabled person or group
  • Readings / Bidding Prayers by someone with a disability or a family member
  • Highlighting this theme in the homily
  • Drama on the subject of disability
  • Be as creative as possible
• For further ideas look at the website

 

Your Church Building does not have to have perfect access for people with limited mobility, but it should not be an impossible challenge either. It is important to draw attention to the facilities available for disabled people, e.g. that there is a loop system, where to sit to benefit from the loop, the provision of large print hymn books / sheets, bulletins, wheelchair access, spaces, and toilet facilities.

You may need to consider how people with disabilities who do not have their own transport may be able to travel to your Sunday Mass.

Ensure that the leaders of the children's liturgy are aware of Disability Sunday and are included in all the planning processes so that they can develop an appropriate programme and activities for the children.

We're sure you will find that your Disability Sunday opens new doors for your parish and inspires people to reflect God's heart for disabled people all the more, you won't want to limit yourself to just one Disability Sunday.

  • Join with hundreds of UK churches making Disability Sunday an annual October event and broaden the theme to include a variety of ways in which God works.
  • Develop an on-going awareness of disability and ways of responding to the needs of individuals.

For more detailed suggestions consult http://throughtheroof.org/.

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