Braga, Jul 15, 2019 (Ecclesia) – The Archbishop of Braga presided this Sunday at the ordination of the first blind priest in the country, Father Tiago Varandas, and highlighted the importance of this moment, as a challenge for society and also for the Catholic Church.
Speaking to ECCLESIA Agency, within the scope of the celebration that took place in the Crypt of the Sanctuary of Sameiro, D. Jorge Ortiga stressed that “being the first or the second” ordering of this kind “does not matter”, what remains is the statement that “ the call of God” is for everyone, regardless of the “limitations” of each one.
For D. Jorge Ortiga, welcoming Father Tiago Varandas must be a sign, above all, for all those who, in the midst of society, “still insist on exclusion”.
At the same time, it must constitute an interpellation for the Catholic Church, so that it promotes the “welcome of all”.
“For me it is also a sign that the Church lives inclusion, not just about inclusion”, added that Catholic official.
Born in Lamego, Father Tiago Varandas, 35, was born with congenital glaucoma that progressively took away his sight.
That fact did not stop him from pursuing his dreams and goals, which first involved a course in History and the mission of a teacher, and later on responding to the call to the priesthood.
“If he managed to complete the six years of Theology, he who already had a university degree, but had the vocation to follow this mission that God called him, of course he has all the conditions”, said José Carriço, one of the new priest’s relatives. , who was present in the ordinations.
“Basically, it's a wake-up call for consciences, to say that all people, whatever the disability they have, are valid in society, like everyone else,” he added.
“As he made a great effort to do what he liked, we decided, his mother wanted to organize an excursion and we gladly came here to visit him so that he feels comforted”, said Eusébio Monteiro Caetano, who knows the now Father Tiago “since he was little”.
Among family and friends, when invited to talk about Father Tiago Varanda, there is one quality that is always highlighted about the new priest: his willpower.
Something that was also underlined by D. Jorge Ortiga, who was convinced that Father Tiago will “carry out a very fruitful work in several areas”.
For now, the Archbishop of Braga envisages for the new priest the “coordination” of two departments, “Christian education for adults and people with disabilities”; also the care with “reception” and service to “confession”.
“The pastoral care of the disability is also a very important sector and it will certainly find the most adequate answers”, maintained D Jorge Ortiga.
On the issue of accessibility, the Archbishop of Braga admitted that there is still a long way to go to make the Catholic structures and monuments in the region more suited to the needs of people with disabilities or with greater mobility limitations.
“In many places these accessibilities are made, but for example in the Sé de Braga we still haven't been able to find a solution, we with the Ministry of Culture, to be able to create these conditions”, admitted that official.