Late Ms. Maria Dolores – A Lay Leader with a Difference!

Late Ms. Maria Dolores – A Lay Leader with a Difference!

Introduction

Recently I received an email from Fr. Albert Arrufat Prades, Frater’s intercontinental prelate. The message was this: “We have the bad news: Our intercontinental coordinator, Maria Dolores Vazquez, deceased last 22 February, 2014 in the Hospital La Fe of Valencia (Spain). We had gone to Africa to participate in their Continental Assembly. Then Dolores felt ill. She developed Pneumonia. When we arrived in Belgium we came to the hospital and diagnosed her. Then she was transferred to the hospital in Valencia, her city. After a month she died. She is now in the Father's mercy. It is very hard to explain that in this moment when we are all preparing for our Intercontinental Committee Meet in Slovenia in July 2014...”

In this context I would like to communicate to the readers of BBN about one of the lay Christian organizations called FRATER Intercontinental and its Coordinator late Ms. Maria Dolores Vazquez, a lay leader with a difference and an inspirational icon for all, especially to the persons of the differently-abled of our various continents.  

What is FRATER?

Fraternidad Cristiana Intercontinental de Personas con Discapacidad (Frater) is an international, private, faith-based association under the approval of pontifical council of laity since 1995. As a Christian movement, it is made up of, and managed by people with disabilities who have taken control of their lives, struggle to live in dignity, and accept to live together as brothers and sisters, in recognition of each another’s differences. The head office is located at Castellon in Valencia province, Spain. It welcomes everyone, without distinction, in a spirit of ecumenical and missionary openness. People without disabilities too join Frater once they accept and embrace the message of it.

Who was Maria Dolores Vazquez?

Maria Dolores was the native of Valencia, Spain. She was born on 15 March, 1955 with cerebral palsy that affected the mobility of the arms. With the support of her family she could develop a lively and active character that allowed her to be a happy and playful girl, although she used the left foot for what other children used their hands. Maria Dolores was considered a self-taught as she always liked drawing everything she saw and felt. It was from scholarship in the Mouth and Foot Association when she recognized that painting was one of the best means of expression to enhance and develop her qualities by placing them at service of others, and therefore she decided to make it her profession. Besides painting she had also other activities as music, writing and modelling clay. She also held a law degree from the University of Valencia. From 1970 she was associated with Frater and when she died she was the Intercontinental Coordinator. What a commitment of Maria Dolores for a noble cause!

Wonderful Works of Maria Dolores

Though Maria Dolores was seen initially as a ‘weak’ person due to her disability, but she made her weakness into greater strengths and excelled her with her left foot paintings. Well, it is worth admiring her paintings for a while and praise God for His marvellous works through Maria’s creative co-creations. Indeed Maria made the impossible things a POSSIBLE reality through her well disciplined determination. Great are your works Oh Maria Dolores! Praise be to God!

Great Sayings of Maria Dolores

·         With a deeper conscience and understanding I have always felt connected to the Church, because I believe in human dignity. The life God has given us is – or can become – beautiful, and is worth living in dignity, no matter what kind of disability a person has. A dignified, quality life is more easily achieved by working together as a team.

·         Each person is part of a unified whole. As people with disabilities, we strive towards improving our lives, together as a team.

·         Frater’s Founder Father Franco of France left the organization an important tool: PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS. So, encounter the person intimately like Jesus and demonstrate things differently. 

Conclusion

I take this opportunity as one of the recently appointed advisors and a core committee members from the Asian continent of Frater Intercontinental (India) to ignite the minds and hearts of our loving laity, brother priests and responsible religious personnel to think differently and to feel profoundly with the Church like our motivated Maria Dolores and to involve fully in the lives of the disabled persons of all types and categories who are part of the marginalized brethren of our global society by sharing the experiential knowledge of the person and message of our Incarnate – Crucified – Risen Son Jesus of Nazareth. Let us present the sufferings of today into our daily offerings through our service leadership by accompanying the suffering humans and other creations. May our merciful Father grant his Special daughter Maria Dolores eternal rest! May she, this time, celebrate her past earthly birthday in the present heavenly environment on 15^th March. Happy Birthday to you dear Maria Dolores!

Fr. Girish Santiago, SJ

For Frater Asia-India

Photos: Google
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