“It’s wonderful to be able to attend something like this, where you can be in a safe environment and learn straight from the priest,” said Patricia Lopez, mother of one of the Advent retreat participants. “Who better to get it from?”
The retreat was led by Father Tom Schweitzer, a deaf priest who is pastor of Holy Angels Parish, Los Angeles and Deacon David Rose who is hard of hearing. It began Nov. 30 with a focus on catechesis and continued Dec. 1 with evangelization presentations, an opportunity for reconciliation and Mass.
“It’s nice to know that there is a place for them to go, that the Church is involving the deaf and that we are here to reach out,” said Jessica Terriquez Greenwood, an ASL interpreter.
The retreat was a part of a series of workshops organized by the Holy Hands ministry to provide faith formation and evangelization opportunities in ASL to the deaf community in the diocese. The first session was held in October. The workshop series was organized in observance of the Year of Faith proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI.
Organizers surveyed members of the deaf community, asking them for input on topic ideas. The topics agreed upon included knowing more about the Catholic faith, Sacraments and the Mass. Each month Deacon Rose formulates a presentation on one of the given topics.
“We asked them what they want to learn and they said what it is to be Catholic,” Rose said. “They want to know how to bring people back to the Church and how to share their faith with others. This is what they want.”
The next formation session will be held January 11 from 5-7 p.m. at St. Catherine, Riverside.
Formation opportunities are also being held for the Signs of Faith Ministry, a ministry for ASL interpreters. The small group, which helps to provide ASL interpretation at six parish locations in the diocese, meets once a month to brush up on their signing, review religious terminology and learn about the Catholic faith.
For more information on Holy Hands Ministry or the Signs of Faith Interpretation Ministry, contact Teresa Rocha at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Paul Ventura at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Patty Lopez at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..