"Liturgy and Welcome. Making the Inaccessible Accessible" is the theme of Devotio 2019, the second edition of a trade fair dedicated to religious products and services. The event runs February 17–19 at BolognaFiere.
This year, the fair again hosts Devotio Lab seminars aimed at priests, liturgists, diocesan leaders, parishes, religious communities, and professionals.
Reaching those on the margins
Dies Domini – the Center for Sacred Architecture at the Giacomo Lercaro Cardinal Foundation – coordinated this program. "In an age when people no longer come to the Church through tradition, but through personal choice, everything must be designed to help those on the margins discover the beauty of Christian life, and those already on the journey to live it more fully," explained Claudia Manenti, director of Dies Domini. "To achieve this, gestures of welcome are essential—they must shape not only the people in our communities, but the spaces and rituals themselves."
Devotio 2019 will feature five seminars and two exhibitions. One key session, "Liturgy and Disability in Church Spaces," takes place on February 19.
Where stands accessibility?
The principles of Sacrosantum Concilium set out to establish serious pastoral planning through catechesis and liturgy. But what has been done architecturally to respond to the needs of people with disabilities?
From this starting point, the February 19 seminar will explore how faith is celebrated through many senses and languages, from both liturgical and catechetical perspectives. It will also showcase concrete tools, examples, and best practices in making church spaces accessible and inclusive.
The speakers
Moderated by architect Emanuele Cavallini, a member of DEVOTIO Lab's Scientific Committee, the discussion will feature Prof. Giorgio Bonaccorso o.s.b., a liturgist who will reflect on how liturgy serves as access to the inaccessible—the interplay between "access" and "inaccessibility," between reaching the other and reaching God, as an experience grounded in respect for the other and faith in God. Also speaking is Sr. Veronica Donatello, head of Catechesis for People with Disabilities at the Italian Bishops' Conference, who will discuss pastoral and catechetical tools and languages for including people with disabilities.
Architect Giuseppe di Vita, director of the Diocese of Caltanissetta's Office of Sacred Architecture, will offer a critical review of the "Churches Without Barriers" competition more than a decade after its conclusion, highlighting the tension between meeting the needs of people with disabilities and preserving historic buildings.
Source: Aleteia
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