Through Advent with our PWD Brothers and Sisters

by Clyde Ericson Nolasco

photos by Jewell Erika Nolasco

How can I ask the audience to listen when they can’t? How can I show them photos if they can’t see? How can I ask them to recite if they are unable to speak?

These were my hesitations when I was asked to facilitate the Advent Recollection of our PWD brothers and sisters of Don Bosco Makati last November 30, Saturday. It was not my first time interacting with the group. I had previously facilitated recollections for the PWD community and their volunteers. I was their program director during the 2019 Archdiocesan PWD day celebration. However, it has been a while.

The preparation felt like designing my lesson plan for students with different learning styles. I had to consider the auditory learners, visual learners, kinesthetic learners and the reading/writing learners.

Each day leading up to the recollection felt like an Advent journey in itself — a time of preparation, anticipation, and reflection.

The day finally arrived. As expected, it was attended by “different learners.” I proceeded with what I had prepared.

We recalled the Liturgical Year, which guides our worship, prayer and the life of the Church. We continued with our discussion about the Advent Season, the season of preparation — not only for the celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas but also for His prophesied second coming.

I ended my sharing by challenging our PWD brothers and sisters to respond to the call of the Synod. I highlighted some key points from the Synod of Synodality’s document titled, “The Church is our Home.” 

Although it is not exclusively for PWDs, it holds special significance. The document was produced in September 2022 when the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life with the General Secretariat of the Synod invited 30 persons with disabilities from 20 different countries to answer reflection questions hoping to promote a more inclusive church. Their thoughts were considered in finalizing what to be submitted for the final document of the Synod.

During this Advent season, we are invited to embrace three key actions:

1. Inspire others with our story - With the November 2017 report from the World Health Organization (WHO), people living with disabilities make up around 15% of the world’s one billion population. While “all of us are in the same boat,”  some face stronger waves and darker storms. Sharing our stories, even our small wins, may inspire them during their rough times. 

2. Participate in spite of barriers - The Church is committed to being inclusive for all – for the children, the youth, the elderly and even to those with physical limitations. Everyone is welcome. Let us participate actively in Church activities – in prayer and in public worship regardless of challenges we face.

3. Change “them” to “us” - The Church constantly reminds us that every baptized person is a “temple of the Holy Spirit” and is therefore equal in dignity and grace. We are asked to look at everyone with the same gaze. No one is less because of their disability. Instead of referring to “them” (different communities or groups), let us see ourselves as “us” (as one community). We are called to live alongside each other as children of God.

At the end, I invited everyone to recall the “Belen” (the Nativity Scene). It depicts the Holy Family – Mary, Joseph and Jesus. But also includes the angels, the humble shepherds with their animals and the foreign magi. A simple yet profound picture that reminds us that Jesus is for everyone regardless of status, background or even ability.

This Advent, let’s journey together to Jesus reminding ourselves that everyone is welcome, even those Persons With Different gifts (PWDs).