by Marybeth Sproull

It’s common to see a squirming child during Mass and to smile. Perhaps you offer a prayer for the parents doing their best to corral the child’s energy. Some children outgrow their Mass wiggles, but some retain for life that inability to focus or sit still. It’s not something they can control. There’s something more

complex in some families’ lives—a disability.

Children with autism, elderly adults with dementia, and others with a mental difference can face challenges during Mass that may lead to their families deciding not to return. Mass can be overstimulating: there’s the incense, lengthy homilies, loud music, and bright overhead lights. When families feel disruptive, or even, unfortunately, unwelcome, they sometimes stop attending Mass.

So, Lisa Averion, Associate Director for the Office of Persons with Disabilities in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, created the Sensory Friendly Mass initiative. She is passionate about this topic, as many of her children live with disabilities, including a daughter with Down syndrome. Averion’s dedication is driven by understanding; she’s advocating for her family and families like hers.

A Mass in every traditional sense, the Sensory Friendly Mass differs only in what is external to the heart of the liturgies—the environment. Bright overhead lights are turned down or off, use of incense is minimized, the piano replaces the organ, homilies are shorter, and almost everything is spoken rather than sung. And attendees are allowed to bring things to fidget with. The calmer atmosphere from these slight adjustments benefits many.

The St. Gregory the Great Family of Parishes already celebrates Sensory Friendly Masses at St. John Fischer Church on the first Sunday of the month. It’s a well- attended Mass, and Averion says she receives positive feedback from all attendees. St. Philip the Apostle Church in Morrow is building a sensory friendly room, where Mass can be viewed but the audio

will be quieter, and those present can move freely about the room. Averion believes it will be a great help to the community.

Education is key to this initiative, said Averion. The more that people understand what the Sensory Friendly Mass is and how it benefits all of God’s children, the easier it will be to include throughout the archdiocese. She wants to spread the knowledge and awareness of this Mass’ benefits to both those with sensory challenges and the whole community.

The goal is to make the sacraments available for everyone, Averion said. She wants parents to know, “You are not a burden to the Church if you ask for accommodations for your children to receive the sacraments.” She hopes the Sensory Friendly Mass will empower parents to bring their differently-abled children back to the Mass and sacraments.

You are not a burden to the Church if you ask for accommodations for your children to receive the sacraments.

“We need to welcome our brothers and sisters with disabilities, to bring them into the folds of the Church and of Christ. They can’t necessarily help themselves, but we can make small changes to respect their dignity and bring them to the sacraments,” Averion said.

October is Respect Life Month, and, according to Averion, this initiative fits perfectly into what the Church teaches to be “pro-life.” While she and her office support families with disabilities, she also enables support groups for caregivers, helping them find resources within the archdiocese. If you or a family you know needs disability support, contact Lisa Averion at [email protected]. ✣

This article appeared in the October 2025 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.