Recognition of the gifts of human dignity and equality was once more celebrated last Sunday in the Diocese of Broken Bay with the annual Mass of Inclusion which marks the International Day of People with Disability (3 December).
Bishop Anthony Randazzo joined parishioners at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Waitara, to welcome persons with disability and their families, including friends from the Ephpheta Centre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people, St Lucy's School, St Edmund's College Wahroonga and CatholicCare - Diocese of Broken Bay.
In celebrating the gifts and achievements of persons with disability, he urged all to work together to remove barriers for the 4.4 million Australians with disability so that everyone can participate and feel included in our community.
“The divine gifts of human dignity and equality include all people in the family of God;” Bishop Randazzo said.
“They require that all people, male and female, young and old, especially the vulnerable and those with disability, have an opportunity to be seen, recognised, welcomed, valued, and accepted, always with care and compassion.”
Bishop Randazzo said while many people may have focused on the challenges of the past 18 months, there are those who encounter challenges on a daily basis – including exclusion.
“Exclusion has nothing to do with an actual disability or impairment, whereas it has everything to do with ignorance, intolerance, and injustice which all fail to recognise the dignity and equality of the human person,” Bishop Randazzo said.
“We commit ourselves anew to develop attitudes and acts of solidarity, and service towards all people, regardless of their situation in life.”
The Mass of Inclusion is available with close up access to Auslan (Australian Sign Language) for those deaf and hard of hearing people in our community. Access to this specific live steam is available on Facebook.