April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
NEW MISSAL
How changes in Mass affect deaf Catholics
This Advent, as Catholics acclimate to different wording at Mass, some with hearing impairments must learn the corresponding changes in signing prompted by the new translation of the Roman Missal.
ASL is a completely different language than English, with its own grammar and word usage. Interpreters told The Evangelist it will take time to adapt to changes in the rhythm and order of words as they sign at Masses.
But for the most part, they said, the meaning of the prayers and responses is the same.
"There are not quite as many changes as you would expect," said Karen Smiley, a professional interpreter who signs at the 11 a.m. Mass at St. Vincent de Paul parish in Albany. "We [in the deaf community] have probably been less anxious than most of the hearing people. For most of us, we're going to be signing conceptually."
It's unclear how many deaf Catholics in the Albany Diocese might be affected by the changes. More and more people have cochlear implants, which can aid even some with severe hearing impairments to process sounds, according to Rev. James Clark, chaplain for the diocesan Catholic Deaf Ministry.
At one point in his 15 years as chaplain, eight parishes offered signed Masses. Many years ago, one parish even had a priest who could sign the liturgy. Currently, though, interpreters work or volunteer at a handful of churches - some, on an as-needed basis.
"Over the years, they go dormant as the deaf people don't make themselves known," Father Clark said of interpreters, who often learn ASL when they have children who are deaf. Eventually, the children grow up and many relocate elsewhere.
Father Clark is awaiting guidelines from the National Catholic Office for the Deaf. He plans to organize a class to advise on the ongoing implementation of the changes in the Mass.
Mrs. Smiley has watched YouTube videos featuring Deacon Patrick Graybill of the Rochester Diocese, who is deaf. She learned that the new line in the Penitential Rite - "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault" - equates to "I blame myself" in ASL.
The Nicene Creed's "consubstantial" means the same thing as "one in being with," so the ASL equivalent stays the same.
The people's part of the greeting at the start of Mass is another story. When the response was "and also with you," Mrs. Smiley would sign the equivalent of "same to you." Interpreters disagree about how "and with your spirit" might be signed. The deacon signed the equivalent of "inside your spirit" in the videos.
"Interpreters will be arguing about [the changes] for a long time to come," she said.
Mrs. Smiley is nervous about how the changes will affect hymns, whose metaphors have always posed a problem to users of ASL, a concrete language.
"Church-wide and worldwide conferences were pulled together to define some of these concepts," she said. "You want to be faithful [while] not giving out something that is completely meaningless to a deaf person."
An interpreter also needs to consider whether the deaf people in a parish were taught in a school for the hearing-impaired or mainstreamed, said Denise Safranec, who interprets for special occasions at St. John the Baptist parish in Valatie. She has also signed at St. Vincent's and at St. Jude's in Wynantskill.
"You constantly have to work on this," Ms. Safranec said. "It's not just the words; it's theology, everything that goes with it."
She attended a workshop in Rochester on the Mass changes with Deacon Graybill, but doesn't yet know how the changes will affect deaf people.
"I have trouble with even the older stuff," she admitted, referring to the Mass before the new Missal. "A lot of the concepts are very difficult even for hearing people to understand."
Karen Garofallou, a professional interpreter who signs at Catholic weddings and funerals, agreed. She was annoyed when she learned the Missal would be a more literal translation.
"I haven't really wrapped my brain around how I'm going to do this," said Mrs. Garofallou, whose parents are deaf. She hasn't signed at a Mass in a year, but noted, "Maybe it's not actually going to be as hard as I think."
Lisa Mariconti started signing to catechize her three daughters, who are deaf. She interprets on occasion at St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Delmar and Christ the King parish in Westmere, Albany. She also attended the Rochester workshop on ASL and the new Missal.
"It was awesome," Ms. Mariconti said. "They showed us all different ways to interpret the changes to the prayers. There's options, because the priest can choose the prayer."
Her daughters - ages 18, 14 and nine - are "just going with it." Ms. Mariconti started practicing this fall with them and a regular churchgoer: "We chuckle because we'll be going along and immediately start doing it the old way."
She plans to bring "cheat sheets" to Mass for a while, but doesn't anticipate a transition any more difficult than that facing Catholics in general.
"It's just different," Ms. Mariconti said. "It's a matter of breaking old habits. When you do something, it becomes a muscle memory. It's just going to take time."
250 X 250 AD
250 X 250 AD
Events
250 X 250 AD
Comments:
You must login to comment.