Celebrations and Ministries for Persons with Disabilities

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Diocese of Arlington are committed to affirming the dignity of every human person and, in particular, to growing “in knowledge and understanding of the gifts and needs of her members who live with disabilities” (USCCB, Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities). Therefore, the Office of Divine Worship works in close collaboration with the diocesan ministry for the deaf and hard of hearing and the diocesan ministry for persons with special needs. Provided below are resources from those ministries, as well as resources from the USCCB.

“Parish sacramental celebrations should be accessible to persons with disabilities and open to their full, active, and conscious participation, according to their capacity. … Full accessibility should be the goal for every parish, and these adaptations are to be an ordinary part of the liturgical life of the parish.”

(USCCB, Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities, no. I.3)

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^{Photo Credit: Joe Cashwell (Mass for Respect Life Sunday and Disabilities Awareness Month 2018)}