STONE HARBOR – Smiling from ear to ear, Kirsten Hooton couldn’t contain her excitement.
She had traveled more than 2,000 miles from Tucson, Ariz., to the Jersey Shore for a Deaf Catholic Retreat Weekend. She was feeling grateful.
“The relationships I’m building with others, and what I’m learning from them … the beauty of the beach, it’s all inspiring,” she said.
Finding out about the retreat from a Deaf Catholic group on Facebook, she was glad to be invited to participate, share her gifts and encounter the Lord. “This retreat has shown God’s love for me.”
The gathering, which was held at Villa Maria by the Sea Retreat Center from April 10-12, brought together 30 Deaf Catholics from nine states to “grow closer to God and find inner peace and happiness,” said Father Michael Depcik, OSFS, who led the retreat. The weekend event, held in American Sign Language, included Mass and the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Father Depcik, chaplain for Deaf Ministry in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, focused the weekend on the Blessed Virgin Mary’s main messages at Medjugorje, which call for a conversion to God. In her appearances to individuals in the Bosnia and Herzegovina village, she urged all to equip themselves with five “stones” to overcome the power of sin: fasting, prayer, the Mass, confession and Scripture.
Describing this last stone, Father Depcik said that diving into the Word of God can be intimidating, but transformation can occur if taken a little at a time.
“Go chapter by chapter, day by day. In this way, God will nourish you,” he said.
While reminding all that “the world doesn’t offer us the peace that Jesus wants to give us,” Father Depcik said this promise doesn’t mean a life without trial.
“Life in God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in them,” he continued. “If we’re open to the message of Mary, we’ll find inner peace to share with the world.”
After the presentation, Father Depcik noted the importance of the gathering for a community “that doesn’t always have access to what they need from the Church.”
“Here, we invite Deaf Catholics to feed their soul spiritually. Retreats like these motivate them to continue to have a strong faith and find peace,” he said.
“They all have a beautiful faith and support each other. In turn, it inspires and challenges me to support them,” he added.
Father Hugh Bradley, director of the Ministry With the Deaf and Persons With Disabilities for the Diocese of Camden, agreed about the importance of annual events like this for retreatants to “be renewed in their faith and grow together. Encountering other Deaf [Catholics], being able to share, means so much to them.”
The Diocese of Camden’s Ministry with the Deaf and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Deaf Apostolate hosted the weekend, with support from the Father John Foundation, a charity which funds care for the Deaf.
The day after the retreat weekend, Gov. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey officially declared April as Deaf History Month to honor the contributions, culture, and stories of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
“They all bring their unique gifts to the Church,” Father Bradley said.
Linda Trillo, from Toms River, often travels to Collingwood for Masses for the Deaf celebrated at Holy Saviour Church, Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish. On her fourth such retreat, Trillo said she always draws inspiration and motivation from the weekend.
“I learned from new friends, and felt God’s spirit and His peace and love,” she said. “I’m excited to go home and share His joy with others.”
Cryss Padilla, Deaf Apostolate coordinator for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, noted that the time together in Stone Harbor was vital. “Our access to [spiritual] information is limited, because there’s so few priests who sign,” she said.
“To have a priest [like Father Depcik] come here and sign really helps our faith,” she said. “Through him, we have access to the Church’s teachings. We can learn things that build and support our prayer life, and share and discuss that with each other.”
“The weekend was a good reminder that we’re still here, and that our faith is very important to us.”
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
