A question to ponder…

[Dandelion_Wine]

I attended my buddy’s church this past weekend. They seem to have no qualms about doing things the way they want.

They have a deaf ministry there. At the 9am Mass, there is a woman who signs for the deaf community. Pretty cool actually.

They also have a deacon who is deaf.

Well this past Sunday, I happened to be looking down when the Gospel started to be proclaimed. Imagine my surprise when I heard a woman’s voice. I looked up and the deacon was signing the Gospel and although I couldn’t see her, I assumed it was the woman signer who was ‘interpreting’ for us hearing people.

My initial reaction was – Whoa. But at the time I didn’t know for sure that the deacon was deaf.

Afterwards I asked my buddy’s wife and she said he was deaf. She also mentioned on occasion that he signed the homily.

All of that seems pretty cool but I’m not sure where I fall with the woman speaking the gospel (partly because they seem to try and do whatever they can to be different and bend the rules for ‘legit’ reasons). I mean after all, the pastor doesn’t know sign except for the amount that they incorporate into the Mass. Is there any rules/regulations for special cases like this? This can’t be the first time in the history of the Church that something like this has been done.

What do you all think?

 

[Catholic2003]

I don’t know how this applies to infirm deacons:

Canon 930 §2 A priest who is blind or suffering from some other infirmity, may lawfully celebrate the eucharistic Sacrifice by using the text of any approved Mass, with the assistance, if need be, of another priest or deacon or even a properly instructed lay person.

 

[mommy]

Wow, I’ve never encountered anything like that, does an interpreter count as reading the gospel? Very interesting question.

 

[asquared]

the deaf interpreter must be specifically trained in translating the gospel, there are many resources for this. someone who is a sign interpreter is not necessarily qualified to translate the liturgical words and actions. it is indeed permissible for a qualified lay person to assist the priest or deacon in proclaiming the gospel or carrying out other liturgical action (except the consecration and prayers proper to the priest of course) in case of infirmity or handicap. we are fortunate in this diocese in having persons who have this training. They also teach the deaf in the two public schools that deaf children are assigned to, and are trained catechists, one is a former seminarian, all have received special training in translating liturgy and scripture. Signing the readings is perfectly acceptable, analogous to broadcasting them on TTY or other device that assists hard of hearing, or providing braille or recorded bibles for the blind.

 

[Dandelion_Wine]

asquared:

the deaf interpreter must be specifically trained in translating the gospel, there are many resources for this. someone who is a sign interpreter is not necessarily qualified to translate the liturgical words and actions.

I guess I just assumed she was reading the Gospel text and just following along with the deacon and not necessarily “interpreting” what he was signing.