Our Lady of Fatima hosts its first sensory-friendly Mass

Our Lady of Fatima (OLF) Parish, Curepe, hosted its first sensory-friendly Mass on Sunday, January 11, facilitated by the Bethesda Community for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

The celebration marked a significant milestone for the parish, which now joins other parishes across Trinidad offering these specially adapted liturgies. There will now be a sensory-friendly Mass at OLF on the first Sunday monthly.

The Mass brought together members of the Bethesda Community, other PWDs and their families and caregivers, in a carefully adapted liturgical environment that respected sensory needs while preserving the reverence and dignity of the Eucharistic celebration.

Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist Cliff and Germain Daniel, who also served at the Mass, reflected deeply on the experience. In a shared testimony, they expressed their gratitude for being invited to participate, describing it as “a privilege to be selected to share God’s love made available in the Eucharist.”

Drawing from personal experience, the ministers reflected on the importance of spiritual accompaniment, noting that when illness and disability enter a person’s life, opportunities for spiritual growth are often overlooked.

They shared that they were “overjoyed to see how these parents and relatives remained steadfast in their children’s spiritual development, which was evident during the Mass.”

They further observed that the celebration was marked by a profound respect for human dignity, stating: “I witnessed the upholding of each person’s dignity; regardless of the challenges, their parents continue providing an invaluable service as a vocation of love, one that is often easily overlooked.”

Parish priest Fr Brent Alexis, O Carm was the celebrant. In his homily, Fr Brent spoke to the call of inclusion at the heart of the Eucharist. He reminded those present that all who come before God’s altar are equally loved, and that every person—without distinction—has the same right to share at the Lord’s table. His message echoed the Church’s ongoing mission to ensure that no one is excluded from full participation in the life of faith.

This message of welcome resonated strongly with the spirit of the day’s liturgy, reflecting the Gospel truth that God shows no partiality and that all are called into communion with Christ. The Mass stood as a visible sign of the Church living out that call, not only in word, but in action.

For families of PWDs, the celebration was deeply meaningful, offering a sacred space where their loved ones could participate fully in worship and be embraced as integral members of the faith community. —Ronalda Joseph-Wood, Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist