Newark, NJ – Four parishes within the Archdiocese of Newark have resumed celebrating Masses specifically adapted for persons with disabilities. The monthly Masses are facilitated by the archdiocesan Department for Pastoral Ministry with Persons with Disabilities.

Though parishioners with disabilities are welcome and encouraged to attend their local parish Masses every week, these Inclusive Family Masses are offered to accommodate anyone who feels uncomfortable at the prospect of their loved one with a disability making noise or moving around at inopportune moments. The Masses are shorter, and some do not have music because some individuals with disabilities find it unpleasant. Above all, the hope is that Inclusive Family Masses foster a sense of acceptance and solidarity among families impacted by disability and also facilitate comfort participating in their parish’s regularly scheduled Masses and life.

The full 2021-22 Inclusive Family Mass schedule is below:

–St. John the Evangelist
29 N. Washington Avenue
Bergenfield, NJ 07621
Rosemarie Flood: 201-384-3601
www.sjrc.org

3 p.m.
November 7, December 5, January 2, February 6, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5

–San Agustín
3900 New York Avenue
Union City, NJ 07087
Oficina: 201-863-0233

a las 5 p.m. en Español
Octubre 9, Noviembre 13, Diciembre 11, Enero 8, Febrero 12, Marzo 12, Abril 9, Mayo 14

–Church of the Nativity
315 Prospect Street
Midland Park, NJ 07432
201-444-6362
office@nativitynj.org

9 a.m.
October 10, November 14, December 24,* January 9, February 13, March 13, April 3, May 8
* Christmas Eve Mass at 5:30 pm.

–St. Therese of Lisieux
120 Monroe Avenue
Cresskill, NJ 07626
201-567-2528

1:30 p.m.
September 19, October 17, November 21, December 19, January 16, February 20, March 20, April 9*, May 15
*Palm Sunday Vigil: 5:00 PM

“Celebrating the Eucharist is an essential part of our Catholic faith, but many individuals with disabilities and those who love them don’t attend Mass because they may have had a bad experience,” said Anne Masters, director of the Department for Pastoral Ministry with Persons with Disabilities. “We’re incomplete as the body of Christ if anyone stays away. We offer the Inclusive Family Masses so they don’t have to worry about making extra noises or the need to move around. This ministry exemplifies our Church’s care and concern about all families.”

The Inclusive Family Masses, which are offered annually from September through June, originated in 2006 as an initiative of the Church of the Nativity in Midland Park. After seeing the parish’s success connecting with congregation members with disabilities, the Archdiocese brought the Masses to several of its other parishes in 2008. The goal of the Inclusive Family Masses is to encourage parishioners with disabilities to feel comfortable with the liturgy’s format so they can resume attending regularly scheduled Masses in their parish weekly.

Inclusive Family Masses have resulted in several success stories, with individuals with a disability becoming so comfortable attending the Inclusive Family Mass that they return to the regular liturgy. They have also encouraged people to complete Sacraments of Initiation, whereas before they felt excluded from this possibility. Additionally, they have nurtured comfort with new roles in the liturgy, such as Altar Server, and leadership possibilities such as training other Altar Servers.

“We’re all created in the image of God, and we’re all called to live out our baptismal promise in terms of reflecting God’s image of love in our lives,” Masters said. “These Inclusive Family Masses do that by breaking down walls of attitudinal and environmental barriers. Once persons with disabilities feel comfortable attending their regular parish Mass after attending the Inclusive Family Mass, the rest of the parish community can get to know them and know that all should be equally valued and welcomed. Some of our parish communities may need help with practicing this.”

To learn more about Inclusive Family Masses and other services offered by the Department for Pastoral Ministry with Persons with Disabilities, visit www.rcan.org/disabilities.

About the Archdiocese of Newark
The Archdiocese of Newark serves approximately 1.3 million Catholics who reside in the 511 square miles of the four counties it serves: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union counties. Comprised of 212 Catholic parishes and 74 primary and secondary Catholic schools, the Archdiocese is shepherded by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R. He was appointed Archbishop of Newark on November 7, 2016, and elevated to Cardinal by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, on November 19, 2016. Cardinal Tobin was installed as Archbishop of Newark on January 6, 2017. To learn more, visit www.rcan.org.

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