Deacon Frank Myska and his wife, Elizabeth Myska, of Immaculate Conception Parish, both learned several years ago that they had disabilities, disabilities which have since gotten worse. That hasn\u2019t stopped them. Instead, they\u2019ve let their handicaps lead them into new ministries, ministries reminiscent of Pope Francis\u2019 call to go out to the peripheries and to live out Christ\u2019s mercy. Deacon Myska, diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis in 2012, gets around in an electric wheelchair. Mrs. Myska, a lawyer, legally blind since 2008, walks with a white cane.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m dealing with a segment of the population that I normally wouldn\u2019t think about,\u201d says Deacon Frank Myska, 60. \u201cNow I have to.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a participant in a program for the elderly, he says he\u2019s identifying with fellow participants\u2019 problems, not just empathizing.<\/p>\n
As a permanent deacon, he has an unusual opportunity for ministry.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do go out to the peripheries because I go to Summit,\u201d Deacon Myska says of Summit ElderCare, where he spends his weekdays. This Fallon Health program is called PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly).<\/p>\n
Tuesdays Deacon Myska joins an MS support group and a men\u2019s group at the Leominster site; the other weekdays he receives services at the Grafton Street facility.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2026Deacon Myska says he thinks he belongs at Summit. As a deacon, he reaches out to the Catholic population there. But they\u2019re not the end of his reach.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just interact with them,\u201d he says of other Summit participants. \u201cIn a way, I\u2019m evangelizing.\u2026 People open up to me.\u2026 I\u2019m not one for giving a lot of advice. I\u2019m there to be a sounding post.\u201d He shares their suffering, though he doesn\u2019t see himself as suffering, he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was almost a gift for me to be diagnosed with this MS,\u201d he says. \u201cThe Christian existence is one of suffering. Jesus suffered too \u2013 he died. Our job is to persevere through the suffering.\u00a0Having the faith that Jesus is walking with us, no matter what \u2013 it\u2019s really a wonderful support for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
..His assignment is at his own parish, Immaculate Conception, for his safety and convenience, he says. He no longer preaches there and doesn\u2019t prepare the altar, which he can\u2019t get to. But he distributes Communion from his power chair and does baptismal preparation, he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got the heart of a deacon \u2013 he\u2019s a man of service,\u201d says his pastor, Father Walter J. Riley. \u201cWe love him here. His presence is an asset.\u201d He\u2019s willing to do anything, and does what he can.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
There\u2019s more. Read it all.<\/strong> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A humbling portrait of a man in ministry that should be an inspiration to us all. From The Catholic Free Press in Worcester, MA: Deacon Frank Myska and his wife, Elizabeth Myska, of Immaculate Conception Parish, both learned several years ago that they had disabilities, disabilities which have since gotten worse. That hasn\u2019t stopped them. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":132,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-96806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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