By Julia Train / Correspondent
STONE HARBOR – Deaf Catholics from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania spent a recent weekend in faith and camaraderie at the Villa Maria by the Sea Retreat Center.
Co-hosted by VITALity Catholic Healthcare Services Diocese of Camden and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the retreat weekend consisted of presentations, faith sharing, Mass and the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Father Joseph Bruce, SJ, led the retreat presentations. He is founder of the Deaf Catholic Archives, located at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. The archives provide insight into the history of Deaf culture and the experiences of Deaf Catholics practicing their faith.
Deaf since childhood, Father Bruce said the Deaf community is among the least-reached group in the Catholic Church. “I think it’s because the Deaf aren’t visible. You can’t see deafness, so sometimes it’s out of mind.”
In one of the retreat presentations the weekend of April 25-27, Father Bruce discussed the responsorial psalm that was to be said during the day’s Mass and the different ways to sign “Christ.”
“The Scriptures, we know, are God’s Word. We all agree on that. But for me, the psalms are my words to God because I feel like the psalms are expressing my thoughts,” he said.
Those who attended the retreat, which had as its theme “Mary and the Resurrection,” said the experience created a deeper understanding of their faith.
“I’m learning about the joyfulness of Eastertime and to really understand the Scripture readings. Sometimes, I can’t understand Scripture without a bit of help to go more deeply,” said Thomas Stankard, 77, of Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Collingswood. “I love meeting new Catholic people, and I enjoy the feedback and conversation. It makes me more connected to my faith.”
As a founding member of the diocesan Ministry with the Deaf, Stankard recently celebrated 43 years of supporting this community through helping to set up before Mass, signing the readings in American Sign Language and setting up parties and gatherings for when Deaf Catholics come together.
This was the second year the retreat was offered, and Stankard has attended both times.
Stella Kim, 50, from Plymouth Meeting, Pa., has also attended both years. “I need time to really encounter God. I need inspiration time, time to connect. The world is so distracting and so busy. So, I need to put that aside sometimes and really focus on my time to encounter God, to come before God and feel my relationship with Him and let that relationship grow.”
According to the National Catholic Office for the Deaf, it’s estimated that there are 2 million Deaf Catholics and another 7.5 million Catholics with hearing loss in the United States alone.
Kim said she often faces a communication barrier when attending Mass, and although the Deaf Catholic community varies in different states, it’s often difficult to find a church with an interpreter.
Where she lives, Kim drives 30 minutes to go to a Mass that has an interpreter. Once a month, she travels 40 minutes to attend Mass celebrated completely in American Sign Language.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s far for me. I’m committed to do that because I put Jesus first,” said Kim. “There are few priests that sign …With a priest that signs, I feel a direct connection. It’s inspiring to me.”
She said that having a priest who can celebrate Mass in ASL feels like full access, while a Mass with an interpreter feels like a three-way street.
Father Bruce says he would like to see more inclusivity within the Church, adding that he believes it’s a pastor’s job to reach out to Deaf Catholics. “When someone is baptized, that means they have rights through the Church: rights to access, rights to the sacraments.”
Father Bruce said that when he was growing up, he tried to hide his deafness. He said society often views those in the Deaf community as having less education. As such, when it comes to bridging the gap between the hearing and those who are Deaf, Father Bruce encourages the hearing community to take ASL courses, learn more about deafness and make friends with those who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
Kim agreed, saying she hopes faith leaders become more interested in the Deaf Catholic community and more motivated to learn ASL.
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