A Sensory-Friendly Mass Outdoors

After attending an outdoor Mass with their daughter, Dave and Mercedes Rizzo reflect on the support she has received and how far she has come over the years. 

Going to Mass almost always means that you go inside a church. Attending Mass outdoors, however, can be an option worth exploring. In fact, we’ve attended several interesting outdoor Masses over the years including a memorable sunrise Easter liturgy and even a Mass offered by Pope Francis outside in Philadelphia when he visited there. Most recently, we’ve attended an annual special-needs Mass in a nearby parish that takes place outdoors.  

Attending an outdoor Mass is a unique and delightfully different experience. It can throw a monkey wrench into the routine of a person with autism, though. Taking the time to prepare your loved one with special needs can help them to better appreciate the experience. 

Celebrating Mass Amid the Beauty of God’s Creation  

There are plenty of positives. In our case, the altar was set on the grassy lawn while we sat on tree trunks that were arranged under a canopy. The sun was shining and it was late summer. We could hear birds singing in the background as a sort of parallel choir. The beauty of God’s creation provided a prayerful atmosphere. One could have imagined Saint Francis and Saint Claire taking part.  

Mass is a social event, a shared liturgical experience of coming together as the Body of Christ. Sometimes parents can be hesitant to bring their special-needs children to Church mainly because of the desire to respect other parishioners and maintain appropriate reverence.

This Mass was tailored to special-needs families and was on a more intimate scale than a usual indoor Sunday Mass. This may have helped those with autism and other special needs from becoming overwhelmed. There were other modifications in keeping with the guidelines of our diocese sensory friendly Masses including softer music and shorter homilies.

Despite some fidgeting and occasional babbling noises, the people at Mass did very well. It was liberating for us parents, who have sometimes felt like sinking down low in the pew, hoping people wouldn’t see us. It is important for people with special needs but also for their parents and caretakers to carve out sacred space for themselves. This Mass was an excellent opportunity to do that and to remember the words of Saint Augustine: “My heart is restless, and it will not rest until it rests in Thee.”  

Reflecting on How Far our Daughter has Come  

Although this Mass was not held in our local parish, it will always hold a special place in our hearts. It was the parish where our daughter Danielle was welcomed into an adaptive catechesis program. In those days, we worried that we might not be able to attend Mass as a family since our daughter was young, newly diagnosed with autism, and would have what we used to call a “Mass Meltdown.” Some weeks it was exhausting to get through the Mass, and we didn’t always leave feeling prayerful and refreshed.

The catechetical program at this parish gave us hope when we needed it. It introduced Danielle to basic concepts of our Catholic faith. She was only about five years old at the time. And here she is now, at age 26, loving it. Through these 20-plus years, she has learned many things about our faith, including flexibility and adaptability. This is key for someone who thrives on routine.

To glance over and see her sitting on the folding chair that we brought, no longer fidgeting but acting prayerfully with reverence, we could not help but smile and realize how far she really has come. Now we are both hopeful and grateful. 

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Copyright 2025 David and Mercedes Rizzo
Images: copyright 2025 David and Mercedes Rizzo, all rights reserved.