Catholic Herald
Oct 16, 2024
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge concelebrated the Mass at St. Mark Church in Vienna with Father Peter W. Nassetta, pastor, among others. Catholics of all abilities served as greeters, lectors and gift bearers. In his homily, Bishop Burbidge reminded those in the pews of their important role in the church.
“We thank God for all of you, for the gift that you are to the church, to your families, to me, to everyone who knows you and loves you. We thank God for your beautiful witness in our midst and the wonderful example you provide to all of us,” Bishop Burbidge said. “And with you, my brothers and sisters, we give thanks to God for your parents and your siblings, teachers, and all those entrusted in your care and wellbeing — all the goodness and support they extend to you.”
He added that the Mass calls to mind the themes of Respect Life Month, celebrated in October. “Respect Life Month reminds all of us the truth we can easily forget or maybe even just take for granted, that God created each one of us uniquely in his own image and likeness and that his Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, lives and dwells within each one of us,” he said.
Bishop Burbidge encouraged Massgoers “to extend compassion and care to all persons, including our brothers and sisters who we honor today, those with physical, emotional, developmental disabilities, to uplift the dignity that is theirs as children of God.”
Bishop Burbidge reminded the faithful that, like the rich young man in the Sunday’s Gospel, “We can find ourselves at times seeking after the things of this world. It’s wealth, it’s comfort, it’s pleasure, and sometimes we find that even though we have all those things, we’re not fulfilled.”
We should emulate Jesus’ advice to the rich young man by first remembering that all we possess are gifts from God, Bishop Burbidge said. “If you’re lacking that joy, that serenity that you so much desire, not really clear about the meaning and purpose of your life, then today, honestly and humbly ask, ‘What is the Lord at this moment asking me to give up? What is the Lord asking me to leave behind, so that I may follow him?’ ”
Bishop Burbidge thanked the volunteers of Porto Charities, a nonprofit that provides educational and employment opportunities to those with disabilities through grants and advocacy programs. The nonprofit held a reception in the parish hall after Mass.
Bill Dalgetty, a parishioner of St. Mark, helped establish Porto Charities in 2009 with several families who participated in the Options Program at St. Paul VI Catholic High School, originally located in Fairfax before moving to the Chantilly campus.
“Our efforts, our fundraising, the people we’ve been able to attract to that charity and to that organization to support children with intellectual and developmental disabilities — it’s been growing ever since,” Dalgetty said.
Dalgetty said the annual Mass for Persons with Disabilities does more than promote inclusion. “It does raise the visibility that the diocese supports children with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities,” he said. “The Masses attract a lot of people and expose the need for Catholic schools to support children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
Bill and his wife, Marilynn, have five children. Their youngest, Emily, was born with Down syndrome. By the time Emily entered high school in the early 2000s, Paul VI had begun its Options Program, a program that provides inclusive education for students with intellectual disabilities while integrating students into the social life of the school.
Emily graduated in 2005, and today, she enjoys serving the church and her local community at St. Mark through her love of baking. She worked at a local bakery for many years, but after the small business closed its doors in 2020, she wanted to find another way to spread joy with sweet treats.
Emily and Marilynn started a coffee social ministry, “Coffee and Community,” at St. Mark after the Tuesday and Thursday daily Mass. “Mass was a safe place for her,” said Marilynn.
Just over two years later, the ministry continues to thrive, with 15 to 40 regular attendees. “What are we bringing this Tuesday?” Marilynn asked her daughter. “Snickerdoodles,” Emily said with a smile.
Bill and Marilynn said that Catholics of different abilities like Emily have many gifts to give the church. “These sweet people all have an impact on society,” Marilynn said. “Yes!” Emily agreed.