Ministering to deaf Catholics
Father Paul Zirimenya is chaplain to the Deaf Community in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The community consists of more than 3,000 families. Father Zirimenya describes his ministry, and the needs and concerns of Deaf Catholics, in this series of responses to questions presented by Catholic San Francisco. Six weeks ago, on Dec. 6, Archbishop George H. Niederauer celebrated Mass at St. Benedict Parish in San Francisco, the home of the Deaf Community in the archdiocese. Father Zirimenya notes that the term Deaf in this article applies to Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind people.
Describe the scope of your responsibilities here in the archdiocese – pastorally, sacramentally, administratively.
The chaplain to the Deaf community provides for the sacramental care of Deaf and Deaf-Blind persons through making available signed/interpreted Masses and other sacramental/liturgical services. The chaplain also provides sacramental preparation for baptism, reconciliation, Eucharist, confirmation, marriage and anointing of the sick. In addition, the chaplain prepares Deaf and Deaf-Blind catechumens and candidates for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and special liturgical celebrations and participation at St. Mary’s Cathedral and events. Other responsibilities include recruiting and training catechists and volunteers to work with Deaf and Deaf-Blind individuals in religious education, pastoral visits and pastoral counseling. The chaplain also serves as an advocate for Deaf Catholics.
What do you find most fulfilling about your ministry?
I would summarize what is most fulfilling about my ministry in one word: PRESENCE with families preparing for and celebrating sacraments or rites. Experiencing both their joys and sorrows – I think that is the joy of any priest. Also, being able to reach Deaf people through sign language: Many Deaf Catholics have not had the opportunity to learn about their faith in their own language.
What do you find most challenging?
1) Geographically the Deaf are spread out; it is not always easy to get everyone together. Most families see me on a particular Sunday. Also, deafness is still the “invisible handicap.” A lot of efforts have been put in place but still, in some areas it is evident that the Church does not always recognize the needs of the Deaf. And there is also lack of interpreting services for Catholic Deaf people. It requires a lot of determination, preparation and commitment to interpret a Catholic Liturgy and there not a lot of interpreters that can do that but with God everything is possible and I am sure in future, more interpreters would be open to interpreting Catholic liturgy.
2) Most Deaf children are born to hearing parents who can’t sign and so, how do we expect them to learn their faith when it’s inaccessible to them in many cases? But today, they probably get more than they do in their whole lives because they’ve missed so much. I have great admiration for those Deaf Catholics who continue to attend Mass and practice the faith, even though they may not fully understand it.
3) People who stray away from the Church for some reason.
4) Homiletics: Many CODAS (Children Of Deaf Adults) are highly educated. Part of the reason is because their Deaf parents want to give them something they never got in life and the joy of any Deaf parent would be to see their child achieving their dreams. Some of them are holders of doctoral degrees in medicine and others are university professors. The challenge: How does a priest prepare a homily that will be informative and challenging to people at all levels of income and education?
5) In most cases members of Deaf parishes are not well equipped with the tools to raise funds.
Do you feel that discrimination against the Deaf is a significant issue – or, is this something that has lessened over the years?
There is still a feeling that Deaf people can’t do things, that doors are closed. But really, Deaf people can do anything. And so, sadly, yes, discrimination still exists. We have made major strides in San Francisco and many other parts of the country, especially with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) serving as a reference for fighting discrimination. Right now with the current economy, often Deaf people are not able to access workshops because of costs related to interpreter services. This is a social justice issue.
The 2008 annual report of the International Catholic Foundation for the Service of Deaf Persons stated: “Deafness is the hidden cross. Catholic Deaf persons are rarely recognized as part of the Church and tragically overlooked as a vital and life-giving community within our Church?” What are your thoughts on this statement?
I think from a Deaf person’s perspective, deafness is not a hidden cross but the societal attitudes are the cross. In other words, for many Deaf people, deafness is a way of life but it is the barriers in society that disable them – including barriers in our own Church. Thus, Deaf Catholics continue to be the “lost sheep” in the Catholic Church. Many Deaf Catholics have moved on to protestant Churches where interpreting services are provided and more access is provided.
Do you get a lot of assistance from non-deaf people who know sign language? Is there a need in the ministry for laity who know sign language? If so, where do they go for more information?
Hearing people who are fluent in sign language are a great help, we have a number of hearing people at St. Benedict who are vital in our ministry, people who would like to volunteer or get more information should contact me. St. Benedict Parish is not just a parish for Deaf people but also hearing people who are both signers and non-signers.
What are the thoughts on priestly formation in terms of meeting the needs of Deaf ministry? Is there adequate curriculum, teaching and pastoral training available for those entering the priesthood? What more could be done?
I would also love to see more commitment from the Church and the services for the Deaf. More commitment to training priests in sign language and serve Deaf Catholics. This will be so wonderful for the Church. The Deaf Catholic community is a significant part of the Church. We need to help them realize that they belong to the church and are part of the family. Deaf Catholics should be able to share their experiences to seminarians, share their experiences and difficulties of being included in the Catholic Church.
What options are available for parishes without a Deaf priest?
They have two options: 1) A hearing priest takes courses in Sign Language to prepare for Ministry with Deaf persons; 2) Deaf parishioners attend mainstream parishes, with interpreters available all over the diocese. In this case a lay person or pastoral worker is the Coordinator for Deaf Ministry. Sometimes their offices could be located at the Chancery or at one of the parishes.
Any thought on cultural issues in Deaf ministry? Are there particular needs for, say, Deaf Catholics from Latin America, or Southeast Asia, or Africa?
I have always been asked if Sign Language is universal and the answer is NO. I am an example, I arrived in the United States in June, 2000, having minimal knowledge of American Sign Language. However, I think a newly arrived Deaf person to the United States who is not fluent in American Sign Language will be able to communicate with a Deaf American through gestures, and normally Deaf people pick up other sign languages almost immediately.
Bear in mind that the level of education for Deaf people from other countries is sometimes low due to discrimination and being treated as second-class citizens. That doesn’t mean it is too late to learn, although it poses challenges when it comes to understanding Catholic faith. But I have learned that LOVE is the most powerful tool in our Catholic faith regardless of education.
Do you have contact information for people who want to know more about Deaf ministry, such as websites, phone numbers, e-mails?
Parish address: 1801 Octavia St., San Francisco, 94109; video phones: (866) 720-0102 or (866) 896-0968; Voice/Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD): (415) 567-9855; fax: (415) 567-0916; email: info@sfdeafcatholics.org; website: www.sfdeafcatholics.org. For a schedule of Mass times and faith formation classes, see http://sfdeafcatholics.org/MassTimes.htm.
Do you have any other thoughts and comments?
I want people, especially Deaf people, to know that God loves us, and God wants us to be with him. God gives us, the Church, different means to have a relationship with Him. Evangelization is very important, and we need to get the message through to everyone. We can make a difference through prayer. If a person is sick, bring them soup. Visit them. That makes a difference. That’s a miracle. We need to pray and care for one another to make a difference in the world. Everybody has the ability to make a difference.
From January 15, 2010 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
