BY BETTY SCHOENBAECHLER

Special To The Bulletin

CONYERS--Seeking a closer relationship with Jesus and the opportunity to share ideas with others in deaf ministry, 28 deaf and hearing people gathered Nov. 21-23 for a regional conference of the National Catholic Office for the Deaf (NCOD).

The NCOD, a pastoral service for persons who are deaf or hearing impaired, is based in Washington, D.C. The conference, held at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, included those who work in deaf ministry in Southeastern states from West Virginia to Florida and Puerto Rico.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue, bishop representative on the NCOD board of directors, celebrated Mass for participants and spent time listening to their concerns.

In his homily, the archbishop said that God does not necessarily glorify believers by giving them things, but instead, "He often glorifies us through what He does not give us." He talked about St. Cecilia, whose feast day was celebrated, and how she left behind a new husband, future family and influence as a respected matron of the Roman state to answer God's call to martyrdom.

"Since the time of St. Cecilia, and all the courageous martyrs of the early church, our religion has faithfully and consistently taught us that we too can benefit by following the example of these heroic figures--not necessarily by having to offer our lives in order to live our faith--but certainly by offering up that which seems, in the eyes of men, to be suffering or deprivation, to be used by God as he sees fit for the benefit of the world in which we live," the archbishop said.

"That is why, if we offer our very selves to God as a pledge for our faith, then anything we lack--whether it might be good credit, good looks, good sight or good hearing--can become a positive force in the hands of God, who will willingly accept our generous sacrifice and turn it to the good of others."

He said that ministry to the deaf is not a special office established to satisfy someone's guilt nor is it an attempt to trivialize the burden endured by the deaf. Rather, he believes ministry to the deaf is a "participation in the school of martyrdom which leads its graduates to the most perfect profession of all, the glory which awaits us in Christ's own glory."

Following the Mass, which was concelebrated and signed by Father Rene Robert of St. Augustine, Fla., and interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL) by Nery Rodriguez of Miami, the archbishop offered his support in an informal question and answer session. He encouraged the deaf community to persist in seeking assistance from diocesan offices and said he was willing to meet with representatives to determine how he can help further their goals.

The conference was the first held in the region in more than 20 years. Ian Robertson, pastoral minister with the Archdiocese of Miami's Schott Center for persons who are deaf or disabled, helped plan and facilitate the conference.

"Primarily this weekend, we wanted to focus on the person of Jesus," said Robertson. "We really will not get anywhere in this or any other ministry without remaining firmly rooted in the cornerstone of our faith, which is Christ."

The conference opened with a prayer service and discussion of images of Jesus.

"We had everyone make a thumbprint on a piece of paper and attached a Polaroid photograph of each individual to the paper," said Robertson. "We talked about how each of us is unique and that no one else has our thumbprint. We put a candle near each photograph and, as we lit the candle, we reminded everyone that at our baptism God placed his thumbprint on us."

On Saturday the group opened with a prayer, "Canticle to all creation" where they were reminded of God's glory all around them and that his love never fails. A slide presentation showing scenes of things often taken for granted--a sunset, mountains, waterfalls, birds, children playing, a birthday party--reminded everyone to give thanks to God for his creation.

Robertson said that God calls believers to become closer to him through Jesus.

"Jesus always had compassion and felt strongly for the poor and those outside the community. Many times those of us in the deaf community feel that as far as the church is concerned, we are outside the main community--not for anything we have done, but because we are different."

"If we look to Luke's Gospel, we'll understand that no matter how bad our self-image or how bad our situation, we are included in the church because of Jesus. Even when you cannot get the resources you need for your deaf community, or when you cannot find someone to interpret a Mass, or if you have to travel six hours to find a priest who understands your language--you still have the right to be included. Perhaps the challenge for us is to find the way to make that inclusion a reality."

Robertson said that it's not a matter of hearing versus deaf or "deaf power"; the right to be included comes from baptism. "Imagine that each one of us is a brick that is added to a church as it is being built. When you take away some of those bricks--because there are no services in our language--the church becomes weak," he said.

Participants were split into groups and asked to write their own gospel, or "good news," to share later in the day. These personal gospel stories reflected the deaf's feelings of alienation, but also an understanding of their responsibility to communicate their needs better so they can become a more integral part of the church.

On Sunday workshops were offered in interpretive skills and prayer.

"This is the first conference held in this region in many years and it has proven to be very positive," said Robertson. "We will try to have another meeting like this one in two years that focuses on practical ways to improve services to the deaf."

Robertson said it became clear that there is a great need for improved communication to deaf Catholics, so the Southeast Atlantic Region of NCOD is planning to publish a newsletter by the first quarter of 1998. They are working to compile names and addresses of the deaf in the region.

One estimate is there is roughly one deaf Catholic for every 1,000 hearing Catholics. While the deaf make up a small number, Robertson pointed out they are still a vital part of the church community.

Overall there are very few people who work with the deaf in the Catholic Church. Only three dioceses in the Southeast Atlantic Region employ people dedicated to working with deaf Catholics. All three are in Florida. "Unless deaf people have somebody available to them--a priest or pastoral worker--their access to church is little or nothing. Consequently, many do not go. Others are turning to other churches that provide a variety of services available for the deaf," said Robertson.

"The deaf community is always going to be small," he continued. "It's hard to convince a bishop or diocesan personnel to employ someone to work with the deaf based on the numbers. But I think it needs to happen, and like Archbishop Donoghue told us, we will not get discouraged and we will continue to seek services for our community."

Arvilla Rank, the executive director of NCOD, said that approximately 50 percent of people who hear attend church, but only 10 percent of the deaf.

"There is a big need for religious services to be accessible to the deaf community. Sometimes people think that by providing an interpreter in Mass, the deaf's needs are being met. With an interpreter, everything is coming to the deaf through a third party. It is important for them to have direct communication, so we need more priests who are fluent in ASL."

Rank, the first deaf executive director of NCOD, said that the deaf need greater access to other church services, from religious education to RCIA instruction. "One size does not fit all in the deaf community. We have a wide range of needs, just like the hearing community."

Lynda Von Kanel, an interpreter for St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Alpharetta and Sandy Springs resident, agrees that the deaf need more than just interpreted Mass.

"There are so many different aspects to church life that should be open to them--whether they want to belong to the Knights of Columbus, attend a gathering for Right to Life or have a meaningful reconciliation without having to write their confession or use an interpreter," she said.

Von Kanel, who was inspired to work with the deaf after reading about Helen Keller, said she often is asked how she feels about interpreting for sometimes very small groups. In response, she related a story from the Acts of the Apostles where Philip met an Ethiopian along the road, and shared the good news of Jesus. "It didn't matter that this was only one person. He took the time to tell the whole story of Jesus and his resurrection. Likewise, I believe the deaf, whether one or 50, are worth our time. I love signing and hope to be doing it all my life."

Like other interpreters, Von Kanel considers herself part of the deaf community in which she ministers. "This is a small ministry and sometimes it gets kind of lonely. This conference was a good opportunity to be with others in the deaf community and draw support from one another. It's nice to know you're not alone."

Melissa Delgado, a young deaf woman from Miami, came to the conference to learn more about God, so she can use the knowledge in her ministry to deaf young adults. "This has been a wonderful experience for me," she said before Mass started. "I still have goosebumps from the morning presentation."

Another deaf minister, Sherry Williams of Greensville, SC, came to connect with other members of the deaf community and to bring new ideas back to use in her ministry to other deaf Catholics. "We often feel very isolated. We don't have a place to gather and it is very difficult to find a priest who can sign. The solution is to reach out to young seminarians because we really need more priests who can sign."

Williams teaches at the South Carolina School for the Deaf. She has a four-year-old foster son who is deaf and is concerned about how he will receive his education in the Catholic faith.

The NCOD national office has resources for purchase or rent to churches and diocesan offices. The office was started in 1971 following an International Catholic Deaf Association convention where participants agreed the Catholic deaf ministry needed a national voice that might express the spiritual needs of deaf Catholics and support pastoral workers.

By 1973 a national steering committee consisting of priests, sisters and lay pastoral workers had been elected and met to develop the organization's constitution and by-laws. In 1976 the office moved to Washington. Through grants and other fund-raising efforts, the NCOD developed religious education materials for deaf children, published a book, Signs for Catholic Liturgy and Education, and two booklets on the sacraments and on reconciliation.

The NCOD continues to act as a clearinghouse for information concerning ministry with Catholics who are deaf. The office continues to pursue funding for projects such as leadership workshops for Catholic deaf leaders, for interpreters in religious settings and for catechists working with deaf children and youth.

The NCOD office can be reached at (301) 577-1684 V/TTY; (301) 577-4184 TTY; or (301) 577-1690 fax.