Theresa Travis, a blind D.C. resident who has spent much of her life advocating for people with disabilities, will walk down the aisle at today’s papal Mass as one of the service’s gift bearers.

When she talks about the event, held at Nationals Park with as many as 46,000 in attendance, a note of incredulity at this opportunity comes through in her voice.

“Sometimes you just can’t believe that it’s really happening,” she said. “I’ve presented gifts in my church, but a papal Mass, that’s really just something to behold.”

Travis was nominated to participate in the service because of her work with the Ministry for Persons with Disabilities, an organization that works with churches to recognize and address issues related to the disabled.

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She tries to persuade church leaders to voluntarily take actions such as purchasing large-print books and bringing Communion to the pew for the disabled. Travis suffers from retinitis pigmentosa and lost her vision gradually from childhood, she said.

She is now retired after 30 years at Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, an organization that seeks to provide quality lifestyles for the blind.

She was the organization’s director of rehabilitation.

A member of St. Gabriel’s Parish in D.C., Travis describes herself as a devout Catholic.

She said she had problems with some of the church’s strict rules as a child, and is glad that some things have changed. She said she is honored to be invited to such a massive event.

“It’s exhilarating, because when you think of the billions of Catholics in the world, how many have the opportunity to meet the pope and be right there with the pope?” she asked.