Signs of worship:
Interpreted Masses bring God’s Word to deaf
By Christina Leslie
Correspondent
The Catholic Mass is celebrated using many different tongues so that all might equally share in the beauty and mystery of the liturgy. The Diocese of Metuchen offers opportunities to worship in 10 spoken and one entirely silent but expressive language: American Sign Language.
Approximately 5.7 million deaf and hard-of-hearing Catholics live in the United States, according to the National Catholic Office for the Deaf Web site (www.ncod.org), The Catholic Deaf Ministry offers sign language interpreted Masses at three locations on a regular basis and at special liturgies such as the recent chrism Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Metuchen.
Tevis Thompson, program coordinator, explained the differences in spoken vs. signed Masses. “ASL is a conceptual language. English idioms such as ‘it’s raining cats and dogs’ don’t translate,” she explained. Homily interpretation can vary, but the liturgy itself is identical to that for the hearing. “The readings and prayers at a deaf Mass are exactly the same; there is no extra narration,” she said.
Prayers and Bible passages need not be spelled out word for word, however, for the interpreter uses a shorthand gesturing system for frequently-used person and place names. “Facial expressions and body language is important in how the message is conveyed,” Thompson said. “They can convey anger, joy and wonderment.”
Thompson became interested in signed interpretation in her childhood after the birth of her deaf younger sister, then later switched careers from sports medicine to signed interpretation and has been the program’s coordinator since the spring of 2001. The Wilmington, Del. resident commutes 180 miles round trip to interpret Masses and events in the diocese, but expressed only gratitude at the opportunity to share the liturgy with deaf congregants. “It started out as a job, but it began to mean more to me,” she said, citing her marriage to a Catholic man and conversion as an adult. “It came from my heart.” Our diocese’s offering of Masses in ASL impresses the interpreter with its implicit message. “The Americans with Disabilities Act specifically excludes religious organizations and private clubs, so the diocese by law is not required to provide this service. But they do, which speaks volumes for their commitment to their people.”
Msgr. Joseph M. Curry, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Spotswood, is ASL-literate and involved in the deaf ministry from his days as a seminarian nearly 25 years ago. “My spiritual director in college was involved in the deaf ministry in Scranton and took me to Gallaudet University (a university for the deaf and hard of hearing) in Washington, D.C. for a month,” Father Curry recalled.
“ASL is a whole different language, one of concepts and context,” the priest explained. “The people wondered in the beginning if it would lengthen the Mass but quickly accepted and began to learn some signs like ‘hello’.” Father Curry
instituted signed interpreted Masses in Spotswood and found both the hearing and deaf congregates just as welcoming. “The deaf people are so, so patient,” he smiled. “They will try to teach you a sign 1,000 times until you get it.”
Msgr. Curry speaks and reads signed interpretation and has presided at the sacraments of first penance and marriage within the deaf community. Even after a quarter century of signing, Curry still learns new signs from his deaf congregants. “A signed Mass is a beautiful Mass; it uses the whole person,” he avowed.
Father Curry illustrated the beauty and simplicity of signed interpretation by proclaiming a word often heard during this liturgical season. Placing his two fists close to his chest, the priest then moved his arms upward as they traced circles in the air, finally opening his hands as if releasing doves. “Alleluia,” he signed.
Common liturgical signs:
God: The hand is raised to the heavens and then downward in a sign of respect.
Jesus: The middle finger of one hand touches the middle of the palm of the other hand then this action is repeated with the middle finger of the other hand. This action indicates the wounds in Jesus’ hands after he was nailed to the cross.
Catholic: The U handshape makes a cross on the forehead.
Mass: The two F handshapes touch one another and pull upward.
Worship: The V handshape represents the legs of a person. It is brought into a kneeling position on the palm of the other hand to show that one is in awe of another.
Signed/Interpreted Mass schedule
Immaculate Conception Church
18 South Street
Spotswood
Every Sunday at noon Mass
St. Peter the Apostle Church
94 Somerset Street
New Brunswick
First and third Sundays of the month at 11 a.m. Mass
St. Ambrose Church
96 Throckmorton Lane
Old Bridge
Second and fourth Sundays of the month at noon Mass
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law