KOLOA — As Kim Melchor was talking with a reporter Sunday morning about the Ohana Mass she just attended at St. Raphael Church, her 16-year-old son Josh walks by.
“I love you, ma,” he shouts with a big smile, not at all concerned with what anyone standing around might think.
His mom smiles back.
“That’s my son,” she says.
The Melchors have been attending St. Raphael’s nearly 20 years.
“We come every Sunday normally, but we usually stay outside of mass because when there’s so many people he gets overwhelmed,” she said.
Her son has special needs. He tends to be spontaneous. He walks around, gets up, he’s loud while mass is going on.
“Then he’ll blurt words out. It can be kind of embarrassing,” she said. “But with this mass he can be himself. He can sing when he wants to sing. He can sing loud, as we’ve all heard.
“And coming here, there’s not as many people, he can be loud, he can get up and go around, so it’s been nice to expose him to mass without having the pressure of keeping him quiet.”
“It’s just a little more relaxing to be able to bring your children, have them celebrate mass and not have to feel like something might happen,” she added.
St. Raphael, the oldest Catholic church on Kauai, marked the third anniversary of the Ohana Mass on Sunday.
“Praise God for this blessed ministry,” said Lorine Paden, Ohana Mass coordinator.
It’s a mass geared toward those with family members who have special needs. About 30 people attended the one-hour service, that includes the usual music, sermon, tithe and communion.
It’s described as being “for families with sons and daughters of unique abilities and intellectual disabilities that they may fully participate in worship where they feel accepted and welcomed.”
So if you make noise in the peaceful sanctuary, move around, disrupt service, no big deal.
Yvonne Pascua, appreciates the Ohana Mass. Some people at regular mass “don’t accept our special children,” she said.
“It’s always a good atmosphere, especially for our special children,” she said. “Here, they can participate. That’s why I like it.”
Teresa Morita usually attends the regular service but attended Ohana Mass.
“This one here is special, just the way it’s presented to us and how we accept it,” she said.
Father Danilo Galang’s sermon focused on servanthood. The Ohana Mass, in its own way, is about serving others.
“You are not afraid to empower other people,” he said.
Key to a servant’s heart is being generous with your time, talents and resources, Galang said.
“What is inside your heart?” he said. “Don’t forget to open your hearts.”
Afterward, during a celebration with food and drink, Galang said he was thankful for the Ohana Mass.
“We can cater to all our brothers and sisters, those who can’t join a bigger crowd,” he said.
Sunday’s was the final Ohana Mass of the year. The next one is Jan. 20.
Retired Deacon Manuel Pascua was involved with Ohana Mass from day one of planning. The idea was to branch out from the traditional service, “so the people can do what they want, they don’t have to worry about how the people act.”
“It’s great to have the people here, especially those who need special care,” he said.
Pascua suffered a stroke in January and retired as a deacon in May. His recovered has gone well and he enjoyed Sunday’s service.
“Every day is a different day,” he said.
