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Special students celebrate Eucharistic Christ
By John Gleason
Filling the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception with colorful art and song, a congregation of 800-plus participated in the annual Archbishop’s Mass for Special Religious Education on May 15.
The theme of this year’s Mass was “Gathered Around the Eucharistic Christ.”
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., was the main celebrant of the Mass. Father Roland Freeman, director of the Special Religious Education program, was the homilist
In a written statement, Father Freeman described the theme by saying that being gathered together to celebrate the Eucharist opens the way to experience the Father’s love for us in Jesus.
“The Eucharistic Christ enables us to love God in the way (Christ) loves the Father,” he said. “In this loving exchange we are opened to the experience that we are precious in God’s eyes.”
All of this is the gift of God’s grace at work within us, Father Freeman said, and this gives us the profound joy and peace that comes from the new covenant of Christ.
The Religious Education and Pastoral Care for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Office provides religious education in 16 parish-based programs for developmentally disabled children, youth and adults. Religious programming is also offered to 60 residents at the Wheat Ridge Regional Center. The programs include the training of teachers and visiting and ministering to the spiritual needs of developmentally-challenged persons living in nursing homes, group homes, alone or with family.
Before the Mass began, Father Freeman walked among the many students and their families, talking with old friends and greeting those who were attending the Mass for the first time.
“There is a special joy that I receive here,” he told the Denver Catholic Register as he motioned to the congregation. “That joy is the love they share with us; they’re radiating the spirit of Christ.”
Loretto Sister Mary Catherine Widger, associate director of the program, told the Denver Catholic Register the liturgy is a highlight of the year for those involved with Special Religious Education.
“It brings all the different communities together as a family to celebrate with the archbishop,” she said
Archbishop Chaput began the Mass by affirming that sentiment.
“On this beautiful day we come as a family to celebrate with the students of Special Religious Education,” he said. “Let us rejoice in Jesus’ love that leads us and makes us one family.”
In his homily, Father Freeman emphasized Christ’s love for each person.
“Jesus wants us to know that he knows all of us; he calls us by name,” Father Freeman said. “And He has prepared a gift for us: the gift is the Eucharist that comes right into our hearts.”
At the offertory, members of 14 different groups representing many of the Special Religious Education communities in the archdiocese processed in each carrying a figure of a person walking toward the eucharistic Christ. The colorful figures—which were decorated on their back sides with photographs of the members of each community—were created by Denver-area performance artist Devon Montagne. The artwork was presented to Archbishop Chaput. The art was then displayed on the altar steps for the remainder of the Mass.
At the end of the Mass, Archbishop Chaput was presented with a painting by Frank Howell, “Madonna of the Plains,” as a gift. He thanked the group for their generosity, saying he would hang the artwork in his home. The archbishop then drew a standing ovation when he acknowledged those who work so tirelessly in this ministry, particularly its dedicated leaders.
“Father Roland, I don’t know how anyone could be a better shepherd then you are to the special education community,” he said. “But he would not be able to do this as well as he does, or for as long as he does and as generously as he does, without the help of Sister Mary Catherine Widger.”
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