Personal Advocacy Service (PAS), the Archdiocese’s outreach agency which provides one-to-one friendships and support within many parishes for people with intellectual disabilities, has spent the month of July celebrating its 25th anniversary in the company of past and present families and friends.
Celebrations began with a Silver Jubilee cabaret at the Morley Recreation Centre in the company of Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB and Sylvan Albert, the mayor of the City of Bayswater.
Other special guests included Sr Eileen Casey, founder of PAS who travelled from Melbourne to be present, and previous director Leonie Reid.
Addressing those present, Archbishop Costelloe spoke of PAS being made up of “an extraordinary group of people doing extraordinary things”.
“Pope Francis is reminding us that if we don’t know how to meet with each other, to show care and support for each other, then we are not the kind of disciples the Lord would like us to be,” he went on to say.
A special inclusive liturgy at Infant Jesus Church in Morley then took place with Bishop Don Sproxton as main celebrant and Fr Sunny Abraham, Fr Vincent Glynn and Fr Michael Moore SM also concelebrating.
The liturgical celebration was specifically chosen so as to permit fuller engagement of people with intellectual disabilities.
It began with a procession, which included symbols of a candle, fresh flowers and a bird’s nest, each symbolising God’s life-giving presence within each person.
This was followed by sacred gesture and movement to God’s word. Many people present with intellectual disabilities actively participated in differing aspects of the liturgy from the welcome, to reading the Liturgy of the Word, leading the prayers of the faithful, preparing the altar and bringing up the gifts in procession.
Special visitors attended the liturgy from other Christian churches, as well as WA parliamentarian Alannah MacTiernan, Archdiocesan priests and religious, members of PAS’ board, and members of the Catholic Education Office of WA.
As the Mass concluded, Bishop Sproxton recognised that people had come from many parishes.
He encouraged everyone present to find ways to invite people with disabilities to contribute to the life of PAS and to the wider Church community.
“I am really very grateful to be in an Archdiocese that has something as valuable as PAS,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“This organisation is unique in the Church throughout Australia and is a wonderful testimony to the spirit of faith and communion here in Perth and across WA.”
For more information about PAS, visit www.paswa.org.au.