Faith Inclusion Network-FIN

Six children with Down syndrome have reportedly been invited to serve Pope Leo XIV at the altar during Mass during his visit to France—an especially meaningful gesture highlighting the dignity and participation of people with disabilities in the life of the Church.

The gesture comes amid Pope Leo XIV’s repeated emphasis on the dignity of every human person. In June, while meeting members of the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation, the Pope welcomed people with Down syndrome and stressed that “the value of the human person does not depend on what he or she accomplishes or produces.”

The Jérôme Lejeune Foundation, which works in research and medical care for people with genetic intellectual disabilities, has been closely associated with Pope Leo’s defense of human dignity and the culture of life. During that June audience, the Pope personally embraced young people with Down syndrome and encouraged the foundation to continue its work.

In the Catholic Church, there is a place for everyone. Every person is created in the image and likeness of God, possesses inherent dignity, and is called to participate in the life and mission of the Church. These children are not merely spectators at the altar—they are cherished members of the Body of Christ.

Registration https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OPbsH9nrRmCpUgcxMp5aCw
Tuesday, Sept. 29 12:00pm EDT/11:00am CDT

A multisensory, embodied approach to worship works well for many people with disabilities—and for everyone else, too.

Melissa Florer-Bixler interviews Bill Gaventa and Jason Le Shana about the Disability Ministry Network’s resource Worship for the Whole Body (read ⬇️).

THE ROLE OF CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS IN SU***DE PREVENTION
🗓️ When: Sept. 10, 2026, at 12 PM CDT / 1 PM EDT
💻 Where: Free Webinar via Zoom
Register here to secure your spot https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HnbMudgQRcScwYOr926jVA
Join us for a vital conversation on su***de prevention. Dr. Karen Mason, Professor of Counseling and Psychology at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, will share insights on how clergy and congregations can provide support and hope.

“Did my son have less of God’s image than the rest of us because of his genetic deletion, chromosomal abnormalities, developmental delays, and other exceptionalities?

This isn’t the kind of question you say out loud in polite company—but it was one I wondered about, and I suspect others have too.”

From the CT archive: https://chrst.today/4zCfQ9d

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