Deaf community gathers for Mass with bishop at Cathedral

 A special Mass for approximately 140 deaf persons and their families was celebrated on Saturday, Aug. 9 at Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral by Bishop Earl Fernandes.

Concelebrating were Father Mike Depcik, OSFS, chaplain for the Deaf Ministry in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and Father Dave Cornett from the Diocese of Steubenville. Other priests in attendance were Father Charles Onumaegbu, chaplain for the Deaf Ministry in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and Fathers Elias Udeh and Joseph Thomas from the Diocese of Columbus.

The Mass was the culmination of six months of intense planning, mostly by Kathy Hodges, the interpreter for the Deaf Ministry at New Albany Church of the Resurrection.

Ministers of the Word included John Hodges (a hearing person), accompanied by interpreter Bob Donaldson-Pirc (a deaf person); Kathy Hodges (hearing), accompanied by interpreter Meredith Burke (deaf); and Yvette Peterson (hearing), accompanied by interpreter Jeff Prince (deaf).

Father Cornett proclaimed the Gospel and Father Depcik offered the homily in ASL (American Sign Language) at the ambo. 

“The Deaf Catholic community was grateful for the Mass with the bishop because this showed them (the congregants) that the Diocese of Columbus acknowledges their presence within the Church,” Father Depcik said afterward. “Due to their invisible handicap, the deaf frequently are overlooked in the Church. People who organized this Mass and the dinner that followed did a fabulous job.”

Deaf couple Georgia and Robert Garrison have been married for 30 years. They attend New Albany Church of the Resurrection, which has an active deaf ministry.

“We would like to thank Bishop Earl Fernandes, Father Mike Depcik and Father Dave Cornett for celebrating this Mass for the Deaf at St. Joseph Cathedral,” Georgia said. “It was a blessing to see ASL used at the Mass. Everyone did a wonderful job. Dinner (in the cathedral undercroft after Mass) was lovely. … It was especially beautiful to see Father Depcik preach the homily in ASL.”

Her husband, who is a tactile interpreter, added, “I was one of the interpreters for a deaf-blind man for the Mass and dinner reception. I am deaf myself. I always like to learn more about the Catholic Church even though I am a Baptist. My wife has been Catholic all her life. Thank you, Bishop Fernandes, Father Mike and Father Dave for celebrating the Mass for the Deaf.”

Denise Cordonnier and her husband, Aaron, of Russia, Ohio, are deaf. She is a Christian and her husband and their four hearing children are Catholic.

“The Mass for the Deaf in St. Joseph Cathedral was so beautiful and wonderful,” Denise said. “We enjoyed watching Father Depcik and the other priests using sign language to help us gain more of an understanding of God through our language, ASL. It was a good opportunity for all deaf people to understand the Bible/God’s Word better, as well as to socialize and feel included.”

A voice interpreter was provided during the homily offered by Father Depcik, who used ASL, for those who didn’t know sign language.

“It was an honor to attend the Mass for the Deaf,” said Diane LeMay, a medical doctor and consecrated virgin who is a member at Church of the Resurrection. “This community of differently abled brothers and sisters in Christ represents a beautiful part of the Kingdom of God, alive and rich in faith. Watching them sign during the Mass was a wonderful reminder of what one Body of Christ looks like today. It was humbling …” 

Meredith Burke of Grove City attended the Mass with her hearing family. Burke, who is deaf and has cerebral palsy, graduated from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. — the only four-year liberal arts college for the Deaf with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in deaf (cultural) studies. She returned to Ohio after teaching disability studies and deaf community courses for 2 ½ years at Georgetown University. She will begin a faculty position at Ohio State University teaching American Sign Language and deaf culture this fall.

“I have to say it brought such joy to have had the opportunity to be there, watching the Mass being conducted in ASL,” she said. “It felt like home.”

She said she participated in a pilgrimage for the deaf and disabled in Rome and Assisi during this Jubilee Year of Hope.

“It was amazing to witness people both in Rome, Italy and in Columbus, Ohio, signing, participating in the Mass, and being very happy to share this special time with each other,” she said. “It showed me that the Deaf Catholic Community in central Ohio is hungry for Jesus and for the Mass to be in their language.

“I also attended the dinner (in the cathedral undercroft) following Mass. I can say that socialization after Mass is very important for the deaf community because many of us live so far from each other.”

Bishop Fernandes was elated that so many people were present in the congregation.

“The Jubilee Mass for the Deaf was a blessing and a joy,” he said. “Jesus came to bring glad tidings to the poor, but you don’t always have to have lots of music and a loud message to proclaim the joy of the Gospel.

“I was happy to welcome the hearing-impaired and their families to the Cathedral of St. Joseph. Our Church is an inclusive one, and our diocese is one that participated in the National Catholic Partnership on Disability. I wanted to remind all those who participated, including their families, that they are always welcome in the Church and in our cathedral. Personally, as their bishop, I wanted to be close to them.

“Father Mike Depcik preached about the need to pray and to come to Mass every Sunday. I was elated, not only at the attendance, but also at the gratitude of those who attended. I was impressed by their desire for fellowship and their warmth at the reception which followed. Everyone was genuinely happy to be together. I was just as impressed by how many volunteers were there, willing to give themselves over to serving the deaf community.”

Bishop Fernandes indicated that he’s searching for a priest who knows ASL to serve in the diocese.

“For far too long, this portion of the Lord’s flock has been neglected,” he said, “but soon we will be able to provide for them. Truly the whole event was yet another grace of the Jubilee Year.”