Diocese, parish, strive to bring sacraments to disabled children

Framed by the brisk primary colors on the floors and walls of the St. Margaret's Center pediatric ward in Albany, Marygrace Pietrocola stoops in front of a small boy engrossed in an energetic TV cartoon.

"Give me a smile," she said, reaching out to cup his cheek in her hand. "Come on, let's see that smile!"

The boy sits in a cushioned wheelchair. His arms, over which he has little control, are padded to keep him from injuring himself. As he peers up at Ms. Pietrocola, an easy smile bursts across his face.

Fragile lives

Like the other children living at St. Margaret's, the boy is "severely disabled," according to Ms. Pietrocola, the Center's director of social services. The children often cannot walk or talk, and some must be fed through tubes because they have never been able to swallow.

Some children have seizure disorders or require physical therapy on a maintenance level. Most "carry a poor medical prognosis; their condition is not going to improve," she said.

Thirty-two of the 58 children at St. Margaret's come from Catholic families, a fact that spurred St. James parish in Albany to support the spiritual life of St. Margaret's children and their families.

Sacraments

One St. Margaret's family came to David Amico, the Albany diocesan director of Catechesis for Persons with Disabilities, to ask about preparing their son to receive the Eucharist and Confirmation.

In turn, he contacted St. James, where he is a member. Rev. Dominic Ingemie, pastor, expressed interest in expanding their ministry to include pastoral and catechetical work at St. Margaret's.

Mr. Amico believes that all children deserve access to the sacraments. His office, funded completely by the annual Bishop's Appeal (see page 5), already serves more than 725 children and youth with various kinds of learning, cognitive and physical disabilities.

"The goal is to include children and youth as much as possible into faith formation programs already established in the parish," said Mr. Amico. "We encourage parishes to promote as much inclusion as possible."

Unique efforts

In his sessions with parish leaders and youth ministers, he recommends considering each child individually. When possible, he requests that children with disabilities both receive one-on-one attention, and be included in the retreats, gatherings and service opportunities that other attend.

But the situation is different at St. Margaret's, where the children are too medically fragile to live at home.

"In all reality, our population is unable to comprehend much of what goes on," said Ms. Pietrocola, explaining how teachers and aids work with the children in activities that aim to stimulate the senses.

Nevertheless, they shouldn't be forgotten, said Mr. Amico. "The love of the Father for the most vulnerable of His children gives us the assurance that every person, however limited, is capable of growth in holiness. Who are we to say how Jesus is touching that child in ways that we don't know?"

Faith inside

With help from the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis (where Mr. Amico works), and the Bishop's Appeal, St. James parish envisions providing the children with sacramental preparation.

"What is required for the receiving of sacraments is faith. The faith of the family is what brings the child to the sacraments," Mr. Amico said. "How an individual expresses that faith can be different based on the disability. Their expression of faith and desire to receive the sacraments may be reverential silence or a nod of their head. It doesn't have to be verbal."

Growing in faith and the sacraments are about a "relationship with Jesus Christ and with the faith community," he said. "Everyone is capable of that."

(St. Margaret's is New York's only free-standing long-term care facility serving medically fragile infants, children and young adults. It is a member of the Center for the Disabled family of services.)

(4/17/03) [[In-content Ad]]