"Discrimination continues to be all too present at various levels of society; it feeds on prejudice, ignorance and a culture that finds it hard to appreciate the inestimable value of each person" Pope Francis said in a message for the Dec. 3 celebration of the U.N.'s International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Click here to read the full article from the Catholic Herald.

Watch below the video from the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life on people with disabilities.

The National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) announced that the Reverend Bishop Michael Burbidge accepted the invitation to serve as Episcopal Moderator for NCPD, effective January 1, 2022. “I have looked for opportunities to improve the way in which people with disabilities are able to participate in our Catholic Faith, particularly in the areas of the Sacraments, Catholic education and youth activities." Click to read the press release.
Bishop Burbidge released his 2022-2026 strategic plan, and one of the main goals is education accesible to people with special needs:

From local leaders

What does it mean to be pure in heart?  Is it to be holy as God is holy, to seek to do what is right and be righteous?  Is it to seek the truth in all things?  Is to strive not to sin, though the Bible says we are all sinners?  Is it to be like Jesus?

Thomas A Kempis in his book, The Imitation of Christ, offers over 250 pages of counsel and meditations on growing in the presence and likeness of Christ. 

St. Gregory of Nyssa said, “When the mist of sin no longer clouds the eye of your soul, you see the blessed vision clearly in the peace and purity of your own heart.”  Jesus seems to confirm this when he says, “The kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21)  When Phillip asked Jesus to show the disciples the Father, Jesus said, “Don’t you know me, Phillip, even after I have been among you such a long time?  Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”

The psalmist says, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit with me.” (Psalm 51:10)

Mother Theresa said she saw the face of Jesus in the poor and dying which she served in Calcutta. 

Over the last few years I have had the privilege of serving on the Board of Porto Charities, an organization that raises funds to support children with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the establishment of special education programs in the Catholic schools of the Diocese of Arlington.  Among the characteristics common to these children are joy, simplicity, and purity of heart.  Whenever I look at their big beautiful smiles, I see the face of God.

In many of these programs, the schools invite students from the general student body to serve as peer mentors to the students with disabilities.  Many of these peer mentors speak of the blessings that flow from their association with the students with special needs.  It seems that their joy and purity of heart have inspired several peer mentors to take up careers in special education.   

How can each of us seek greater purity of heart?

This post was written by Bill Dalgetty, a Porto Charities' Board member. To read his blog, Christ in Life and Work, click here.