April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
MOVING FORWARD
Diocese working to maintain deaf ministry
ASL-interpreted Masses still available at parishes
Diocese working to maintain deaf ministry
After leading the deaf ministry for nearly two decades, Father Clark passed away in early October. In a previous interview with The Evangelist about the meaningfulness of the ministry, he said that "it says something about who we are if we're willing to make the effort. We have to be about what we preach."
Deacon Brian Kelly, a seminarian studying for the priesthood for the Albany Diocese at Mundelein Seminary in Illinois, noted that he had known Father Clark since childhood and that Father Clark had urged him to learn American Sign Language (ASL).
While in the seminary, Deacon Kelly was pressed to take Spanish immersion, a method of learning that completely engages the student in the language. Instead, with the guidance of Father Clark and the approval of then-Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, he was able to take ASL immersion classes at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.
ASL courses
Gallaudet was the first higher education institution specifically designed for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Deacon Kelly attended the university during the summer three years ago, then again the following summer.
"You're thinking you're going to have someone speaking to you in English," he said, but the ASL immersion courses launched right into sign language. "It was a shock."
In such a different environment, "you're going to feel like the minority," he added. "They use a lot of pictures and acting. It intrigued me."
Though how he'll use his basic ASL skills after his priestly ordination next June is yet to be seen, learning sign language has helped Deacon Kelly "as far as wanting to spread the Gospel in a different way. When I went to Gallaudet, one of the teachers had said that [a lack of interpreters is] the number-one reason why a lot of people who are deaf don't go to Church. That kind of shocked me."
A decade ago, Father Clark estimated that there were about 600 families in the Albany Diocese with members who were deaf or hard of hearing.
Open the doors
"There's this closed door for deaf people in the Catholic Church," Deacon Kelly told The Evangelist. "Communication is so limited, based on your priest not knowing what you're trying to communicate."
Karen Garofallou of Corpus Christi parish in Round Lake works to bridge that communication gap. She began interpreting the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass at the parish a few years ago, during Father Clark's time as pastor.
Both of Ms. Garofallou's parents are deaf. She grew up amid Schenectady's deaf community. She felt she should step up and offer her ASL skills to the parish: "When I was a kid, I remember going to Masses where there would be a priest that would sign.
"Having the background and the interest in the Bible has definitely enhanced my work as an interpreter," she noted. "When it comes down to interpreting for the deaf, it's a clearer interpretation, because I know what I'm interpreting."
Ms. Garofallou studies the weekly readings when she is going to interpret a Mass, finding the meanings for herself as well as parishioners who are hard of hearing.
"I really feel the Holy Spirit when I'm interpreting," she said. ASL is"my native language. I get to use my native language to worship."
More ASL Masses
The 11 a.m. Sunday Mass at St. Vincent de Paul parish in Albany is interpreted by Denise Day or Kareen Smiley. "We're very lucky" to be able to offer a Mass with ASL, noted Ms. Smiley. "About 15 years ago, we had a pool of six interpreters;" now, the parish has just two.
Many parishes aren't able to hold interpreted Masses every weekend. At Christ the King parish in Westmere, Albany, interpreted Masses are offered every other week, said LouAnn Cleary, director of music and liturgy.
Although Christ the King only has two or three families with a member who has hearing difficulties, Ms. Cleary said, the parish still wants to meet their needs: "These are the things we need to do as a Church. These people want to worship. We have to give them the opportunity to become part of the assembly."
Connecting with deaf Catholics is "a matter of going out into the community," Ms. Smiley told The Evangelist. "That's hard to do."
St. Michael the Archangel parish in Troy offers an interpreted Mass the first Saturday of every month at 4:30 p.m. Sister Katherine Arseneau, CSJ, parish life director, said St. Michael's has had a hard time getting deaf or hard of hearing people to attend it, but "I think there are people out there. We want people to feel welcome. We pride ourselves on hospitality."
All of the parishes agreed that losing Father Clark has left a hole in the deaf ministry for the Albany Diocese. However, the parish leaders said they're eager to continue his mission of inclusivity, equality and hospitality.
(Learn more at https://sites.google.com/site/albanydeaf.)[[In-content Ad]]
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