NEW BRUNSWICK – More than 50 deaf and hearing impaired Catholics from all five dioceses in the state gathered for fellowship and support at the New Jersey Catholic DeaFest on March 19 at Rutgers University’s Catholic Center.
The keynote speaker of the event was Kate Slosar, a board member of the National Catholic Office for the Deaf. She is co-director of Ministry With the Deaf and Persons with Disabilities, Diocese of Camden.
“We are very happy to have our new pastoral worker,” said Deacon Tom Smith of the Archdiocese of Newark’s pastoral ministry to the deaf. “Before she started, we only had pastoral workers who could hear. Kate is our first deaf pastoral worker.”
Slosar showed a video of people performing John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change” in American Sign Language.
“We’re waiting for the world to change,” she said in American Sign Language, as her words were translated into spoken English and typed on a screen. “I know many of you may want to be the same as other people. We educate again and again and again, and they still don’t get it.”
Four things essential for life are earth, fire, water and air, she told the audience. But they are not the only things needed for life. “Something is missing,” she said. “What is missing is faith.”
Together, the first letters of water, air, fire, earth and the “ritual” of faith spell “WAFER.” The wafer is the host in holy Communion, she said.
“Our faith lives really incorporate Communion,” she said. “We come together as a community” to focus on Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
“Sometimes deaf people don’t feel connected to the families that they’re born into,” she said. “We show support for one another.” The community of the church can provide valuable support as well, she said.
“It’s important to go to Mass,” she said. Receiving the sacraments and going to confession can be difficult if the priest does not understand American Sign Language, but it is important to find ways to communicate.
“How much time do we take up to pray to God?” she asked. She encouraged attendees to pray the rosary daily and fast regularly.
She showed a photo of Mount Tabor and explained that during Jesus’ time, Jews believed that God lived at the top of the mountain. “They still leave the top of the mountain untouched,” she said.
Slosar told the story of the Transfiguration and how God’s voice was heard saying, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
“When we’re waiting for the world to change, we have to give that up,” she said. “We can change the world by living our faith.”
Finally, she showed a video of people performing Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” in American Sign Language. While performers signed the refrain to the song, “You are beautiful, no matter what they say,” images of negative words about deaf people crumbled.
“You are all beautiful,” Slosar said.
Msgr. Joe Goode of the Diocese of Paterson celebrated Mass in the chapel at the Catholic Center, and workshops on “Catholic Symbols,” “The Prodigal Son” and “Road to Recovery” were presented.
Attendees also visited information booths displaying information from the state Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Deaf Senior Citizen Housing, American Sign Language Interpreter Referral Service, International Catholic Deaf Association, National Catholic Office for the Deaf and International Catholic Foundation.