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September 04, 2006
In the silence
We are not the problem, we are the solution," says Fr Thomas Coughlin, a deaf Honolulu priest who has founded the Dominican Missionaries for the Deaf Apostolate with five other deaf men.
Deaf since birth, it was Fr Coughlin's lifelong dream to start a religious community where sign language is the primary means of expression at both the eucharistic table and the dinner table, according to the Catholic News Service.
Fr Coughlin was one of five men who made their first profession of vows as Dominican Missionaries for the Deaf Apostolate last week at St Albert's Priory in Oakland, California.
"Necessity is the mother of invention," he told the Hawaii Catholic Herald, newspaper of the Honolulu Diocese.
"I saw how badly we need a religious community of deaf priests and brothers dedicated to a deeper spiritual life and the deaf apostolate in the language of signs and the deaf culture milieu."
The five men pronounced their vows before Oakland's Bishop Allen H Vigneron, who formally recognised the new community in 2004.
ht
Posted by Amy Welborn | Permalink
Comments
From the article: "Deaf since birth, it was Fr Coughlin's lifelong dream to start a religious community where sign language is the primary means of expression at both the eucharistic table and the dinner table, according to the Catholic News Service."
Isn't it necessary to SPEAK the words of the various prayers at Mass? Especially the consecration? I know in the Old Rite there was specific instruction on this.
Anyone out there know if 'signing' the canon is valid????
Posted by: Matthew at Sep 4, 2006 4:12:00 PM
I think that would depend on your definition of "speak." Sign language is, after all, a language.
I think it would be difficult to sign while holding the host and chalice, though. Presumably a priest must speak with his mouth at that point, his hands being otherwise occupied.
Posted by: JaneC at Sep 4, 2006 5:48:46 PM
Is one any less speaking because one cannot be heard?
"Isn't it necessary to SPEAK the words of the various prayers at Mass?"
Does the rite say "speak aloud?"
If ones mouth formed the words but no sound came out would that be considered "speaking," I wonder?
Is a priest with complete laryngitis, or recovering from dental surgery or whatever not able to "say" privately, if he tried would it be invalid?
I'm not arguing, I'm asking, I have no knowledge or opinion.
"I saw how badly we need a religious community of deaf priests and brothers dedicated to a deeper spiritual life and the deaf apostolate in the language of signs and the deaf culture milieu."
I can see the need for such a community, and apostolate, but not necessarily for deaf priests, per se.
Posted by: Gadfly at Sep 4, 2006 10:15:47 PM
As an almost deaf (hard of hearing) priest studying ASL, this community looks very inviting. I mat check them out. Thanks Amy!
Posted by: Father Ethan at Sep 5, 2006 11:33:05 AM
Tip o' the hat to Fr Coughlin, of whom I have mixed memories from my happy 5 months as a novice at the convent in San Leandro, but what passed for conversation - in ASL - at the dinner table our prior presided over made Donald Duck look professorial. Sad but true.
We all want our catholic deaf to have good priests. So let's pray!
I for one am relieved that Father Coughlin's apostolate, a very personal project, with - in my view - a relaxed, lower-the-bar attitude to formation, is not the only way of religious life available to the deaf.
Posted by: francis toms at Sep 5, 2006 4:58:53 PM
