Girls work to foster inclusion in their faith community

Eleanor Steele and Julie Peterson may be teenagers, but senior citizens and people with disabilities are never far from their thoughts. Earlier this year, when they saw the chance to apply for a grant to help fix accessibility problems at their churches, they jumped into action, detailing in their application their communities’ needs and how they might be addressed.

Their efforts paid off when Pathways Awareness awarded their small churches in New Mexico $1,000 through its Open Hearts, Open Minds initiative. The money was used to build a ramp at one church and place accessible parking signs at the other.

Eleanor, 17, and Julie, 16, who are cousins, go to church together and take turns attending the two churches: Our Lady of Light in Cubero and Our Lady of Sorrows in nearby Seboyeta. The two attend St. Pius X High School in Albuquerque.

“Pathways Awareness was important to us because it was all about openness and community outreach, particularly to people with disabilities,” Eleanor said. “That’s a very important issue, especially in our community: bringing everyone into the church family and making them feel so welcome.”

The reaction in the community has been positive, the girls said.

“Everyone is excited that young people are going out and trying to help,” Julie said. “Previously it’s been more the elders in the community who have been reaching out to get things done. I think it inspired people to say, ‘Hey, everyone can try to do their part.’ ”

Sister Ellen Corcoran, pastoral administrator for the two churches, saw a story about Pathways Awareness in Extension magazine and encouraged the two girls to get involved because, “We are all part of the Body of Christ.”

“Without everyone here we are missing a part of who we are. We want all to feel welcome, to feel a part of the community,” Sr. Corcoran said. “The older members of the parishes are the ones who have kept the faith alive and are passing it along to the younger generations, and it’s our duty to honor that.”

The parishes used the grant money to put in a concrete ramp outside Our Lady of Sorrows, which was built in 1820. The ramp allows wheelchairs and people with crutches and walkers to avoid stairs. They also bought signs to mark reserved spaces for those with disabilities at Our Lady of Light.

Some of the money was reserved to be part of bigger projects, as both churches still have needs. For example, the parking areas and nearby streets are dirt, gravel or rough pavement. They are difficult to navigate with a walker, wheelchair or cane. Bathrooms are not fully accessible, carpeting is frayed and some stairs have not been ramped.

The parishes are trying to raise funds to pay for the added improvements because, as Julie says, making sure everyone can get to church is crucial for building faith.

“When we’re inspired to go to church we’re gathering for something great, something to believe in,” she said. “With more people attending, it means more people are coming together, and we all have something in common, our faith. You’re together in a community of Christ, and it’s a sense of belonging.”

If you would like to learn more about Pathways Awareness, visit their website or call 800-955-2445.

“The Mission Spirit” is a new feature meant to highlight young people’s efforts to get involved in assisting Mission America. If you know a young person you would like to see featured, please email magazine@catholicextension.org.