“Is God deaf?” That is the question once posed to me by a deaf child. It might seem like a simple “yes” or “no” question that could be answered with a little theologizing, but to me the real challenge was in understanding what the child needed to learn from that question. What exactly did he want to know?...
I failed to respond to this existential question, coming from an innocent young deaf child. His inquiry challenged me to instead reflect and ask a series of my own questions: Who is God for the deaf? How can deaf people know God if they cannot understand the language of hearing people who speak about God? Who will help their understanding of God when so few of us (Religious) know how to communicate in their language?
I had learned sign language during my formation years because I was assigned to an apostolate for the deaf. At that time, my knowledge of sign language was limited to just basic communication, and I really did not have a complete mastery of signing skills. But I later became involved with the Welcome Home Foundation, Inc. WHFI is a non-government organization that helps deaf people through offering temporary residential programs, pre-school and educational resource programs, adult education and vocational services, and even religious instructions through Catechesis for elementary and high school students. This center is a place where deaf people can learn, grow, communicate and even live together without being marginalized or discriminated against.
The Foundation has a special interest in “providing spiritual, educational, physical and economic opportunities for our differently-abled brethren.” WHFI endeavors to address the needs of the deaf community as people strive to become self-sufficient, active and relevant members of society who can reach their own dreams and potential.
Being involved in the ministry for the deaf is very much like going to any foreign mission. One must learn to speak the language, discover and accept the differences of culture, be open to dialogue and be able to journey in all aspects of the life experiences of the people.
Learning Sign Language is not easy. It is not enough to just learn the mechanics of it: one needs to learn how to visually express the signs with emotion. In verbal communication, we hear voices that use varying tones to communicate a point. But in Sign Language we need to “see voices and use expressions for tone,” in order to effectively communicate a point. It is sad to realize that there are so few of us who can see the voice of the deaf.
Of course as a priest, I am involved in the religious ministry at Welcome Home Foundation, Inc. I am focused on the sacramental ministries, but likewise on the special religious education of deaf children, and the formation of deaf catechists. In this work, I often ask myself, “How can I help a deaf child understand and believe in God? How can I help them see God in their daily struggles of life, and grow in their faith? How can I convey to them that God does not abandon when they are being criticized, bullied or laughed at because of their disability? How will I help them believe that the God of the hearing is also the God of the deaf?—and that He is indeed listening to them...” This is indeed a great challenge!
In this journey, I have realized that sympathy and compassion is not enough. This is a ministry that must understand and address the fact that deaf people also seek and deserve respect, acceptance and equal opportunity to live in their wider community. That is the goal of my advocacy in this mission assignment.
In most missionary situations, it is helpful to have the support of lay persons in the community because they can help us put forward our message in culturally familiar terms. It is no different working here in the Philippines within the deaf community, where I have focused on training deaf adults as catechists for the young students. Hearing people might be able to learn Sign Language and communicate it well, but fully understanding all the nuances and struggles and experiences of being deaf is an invaluable asset for these important teachers to possess.
Training young adults and transforming them into catechists requires a lot of patience. We don’t just hand over the job of Catechism. We must make the training and lessons relevant to their daily experiences, and we have to consistently monitor their learning process and assist them in making their lessons. But it is so rewarding when you get to witness the Gospel values instilled in their hearts and minds, and then see them applying everything they’ve learned to the teaching of catechetical lessons in ways that the deaf children will truly understand.
I have realized some interesting and touching insights from the ways that our deaf catechists relate themselves to God. In one lesson on God’s Creation, the catechists referred to being “Created deaf, in the image of God.” They were not created broken or impaired, but were instead created with a purpose. What a powerful perspective! It brought to mind the question of the little boy who asked me if God was deaf. I think he wanted to know if God was “like him,” because he wanted to know if God understood him and accepted him. So we must strive to incorporate this perspective into our teaching: that regardless of individual circumstances, we are each created in God’s image, and He hears us in whatever way He created us to communicate with Him.
“From heaven the Lord looks down and observes the children of Adam. From his dwelling place he surveys all who dwell on earth. The One who fashioned together their hearts is the One who knows all their works.” (Psalm 33:13-15)
Currently, the deaf catechists of Welcome Home Foundation, Inc. are also helping the local parishes of Negros Occidental by giving workshops to non-deaf parish catechists. They are sharing their way of teaching Catechesis in order to show others how to make God’s words come alive visually.
The participants are catechists who teach in the schools and in their parishes. Where before the hearing would interpret God’s words in Sign Language to the deaf, our deaf catechists from WHFI are today interpreting God’s word for the hearing.
In Welcome Home Foundation, Inc., Christ is the center of the ministry. The Eucharist is always a place to celebrate our faith together, where God’s words and prayers come alive not only in Sign Language, but also in Braille readings by those with visual impairments, and with music from other members with mobility or other physical challenges. WHFI is a special place of worship for many people with various physical challenges. Here, people with disabilities have a place where they can gather around the table of the Lord without seeing, hearing or feeling any discrimination from the people around them. This gives them an important and special way of expressing their faith, where all can actively participate. It is a meaningful way of celebrating the Eucharist indeed! It gives witness to the fact that everyone has a place at the table of the Lord.
There is certainly more work to be done for the inclusion of people with limitations or special needs. In the Church and in our communities around the world we must continually ask ourselves if we are likewise ready to journey with them in order to realize that inclusion. Your support enables us to continue our missionary efforts along those lines here in the Philippines. May we all continue to promote the inherent wonder and value of every person, created in the image of God.
Fr. Arturo T. Arnaiz, cicm, is a Philippine native who joined Missionhurst-CICM in 1994, and was ordained in 2000. Assigned in the Philippines since 1998, Fr. Arturo is currently working at the Maryshore Retreat Center in the diocese of Bacolod, capital city of the province of Negros Occidental in the Philippines, and serving as the chaplain for Welcome Home Foundation, Inc.
