Discussing the reality of disabled youth and their integration into parish activities—that's the goal of "Oratory Open to All," an event hosted Thursday, September 25, by the Carugate parish. "The evening gave us a chance to think broadly about disability and take stock of how Faith and Light serves this community," explained the group's regional coordinator.
"Faith and Light has worked with Carugate's parish program for ten years," he noted, "and we walk alongside catechists and priests, supported by the physical therapists at Don Gnocchi in Pessano." The group aims "to make disability less of a disability—to help people experience it as something ordinary, not as a problem to fear or avoid."
Getting there takes time and energy, especially when you're building cooperation among priests, young people, families, and catechists. But it's encouraging to discover "that including disabled youth in our parish programs is genuinely possible. It just takes the will and commitment—and the heart—to make it happen."
Faith and Light's approach and spirit can't stay locked inside these communities. They belong to everyone, wherever they are. But sharing them means learning to communicate well.
About fifteen handicapped youth now attend Carugate's parish program. Many join the outings and camping trips; all participate in catechism class. "In a form suited to them," the coordinator explains, "but always in the classroom with the other children—never isolated."
Fewer words, more images, gestures, games: that's the secret to sharing faith with a disabled young person. "It would be a mistake," he cautions, "to bring handicapped youth to parish programs only to keep them separate, grouped off on their own. Instead, we need to foster real integration and contact with all the other children—in the playground, the classrooms, the church." Within days, the response is striking: "real participation, enthusiasm, engagement—a remarkable shift from the natural hesitation you see at first."
What about other parishes across Italy? Tell us about your experiences with inclusion—and your challenges.
Integration depends on the families. The coordinator stresses their crucial role: "Every parent fears leaving their child alone, and that fear is so much deeper when the child is disabled. But once parents build a direct, trusting relationship with the educators, everything becomes simpler. The initial coldness melts away, and catechism class stops being a hardship—it becomes a moment of joy."
Trust—asked of families and disabled youth alike—and responsibility, expected of all the parish young people who accompany them. These are the two key words of an experience that demands energy, commitment, attention, and sensitivity. But it works, as Carugate shows. "Disability inclusion in our parishes is possible," the coordinator concludes, "and each step makes handicap less of a barrier."
Beppe Arrigoni, 2008