{"id":15263,"date":"2019-04-01T14:55:48","date_gmt":"2019-04-01T19:55:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/satodayscatholic.org\/?p=15263"},"modified":"2019-04-01T15:16:11","modified_gmt":"2019-04-01T20:16:11","slug":"a-welcoming-and-accessible-community-for-all-those-with-special-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/satodayscatholic.org\/a-welcoming-and-accessible-community-for-all-those-with-special-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"A welcoming and accessible community for all those with special needs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In sharing faith and\nlife with one another and recognizing the needs of people with special needs,\nArchbishop Gustavo Garc\u00eda-Siller, MSpS, celebrated a Mass for persons with\nspecial needs March 31 at St. Mark the Evangelist Church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The archbishop told attendees\nthat he was both honored and humbled to be with them. \u201cI am honored, because\nyou are among God\u2019s chosen ones! You have special gifts and special needs, and\nfor you and your families God has special blessings,\u201d he began. \u201cI am humbled\nbecause you give more to me than I can ever give to you! You give to me the\nface of Christ!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Archbishop Gustavo then\nexplained the Gospel reading at the liturgy, the story of the prodigal son.\nThis son thought he did not need his father or his family. He went away from them.\nHe was too proud and too stubborn in his heart. But when times got difficult he\nremembered his father, his family, and the house where grew up. He felt badly\nbecause he had run away from them. He longed to see them again, and to be with\nthem face to face. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is the moment\nwhen the young man \u2018wakes up,\u2019 and realizes that he needs his father once\nagain!\u201d the archbishop exclaimed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so, the young man\nbegan his the journey home with a few steps. But long before he gets home his\nfather sees him, and runs to him, and kisses him, and embraces him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow much the father wanted\nto see the face of his son once more! How powerful is this moment!\u201d Archbishop\nGustavo continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The father ordered that a beautiful garment be\nplaced over the son\u2019s shoulders, and that rings be put on his fingers and shoes\non his feet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe father was so\nhappy to see the face of his son once more that he give back to his son all the\ndignity he had lost by running away!\u201d the Missionary of the Holy Spirit\nconcluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The San Antonio prelate\ntold his friends, \u201cI long to see the face of Christ! I need to see the face of\nChrist! And to me, you are the face of Christ! So thank you, thank you, thank\nyou! Just as the father threw a big party for his son, so I feel a spirit of\njoy and happiness in my heart by being with you today!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The archbishop quoted\nSt. Paul, who stated that whoever is in Christ is a new creation. \u201cBrothers and\nsisters, you are a new creation for me!\u201d he smiled. \u201cMay God continue blessing\nyou and working through you to show his face to many, many people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Order of Alhambra, an organization whose mission includes assisting those with special needs, hosted a reception following the liturgy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photos by: Veronica Markland for Today’s Catholic Newspaper <\/p>\n\n\n\n