The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton hosted the Deaf Eucharistic Congress April 5, drawing 230 attendees from 25 states, Canada, and the UK. It was the first gathering of its kind by and for Deaf Catholics. Organizer Fr. Michael Depcik, chaplain for the Deaf ministry in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, national advocate for the Deaf Catholic Community, and one of the few Deaf priests in the world said it was the perfect place to hold the event.
“It is very fitting to host the Congress at this Shrine because Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, during her life, was very devoted to the Holy Eucharist,” said Fr. Depcik. “We need the Eucharist. We need Jesus.”
According to Fr. Depcik, 96 percent of Deaf people, including those who are baptized Catholics, do not go to any church because there are limited services for them in American Sign Language. He said it is his goal to have the Deaf Eucharistic Congress inspire attendees in their Catholic faith and appreciate the Eucharist. He said organizers also hope to bring awareness to the Church hierarchy about the needs of Deaf Catholics.
Addressing attendees in the basilica Fr. Depcik said,” It’s hard to be deaf and Catholic. There are not enough priests who sign. I know many people don’t understand our needs and we struggle. But don’t give up. We need to continue our faith. Jesus loves you. He wants to meet you every Sunday.”
Keynote speakers at the Congress were Jeannine Adkins, a pastoral worker in the Archdiocese of Kansas City and YouTube vlogger from Topeka, Kansas, and Patrick Graybill, an actor, poet, teacher and Catholic Deacon from Rochester, New York. Adkins spoke on “The Healing Power of the Eucharist” and Graybill’s presentation was titled, “Eucharist: Holy Ground.” Both gave personal testimonies about staying connected to faith through the Eucharist.
Sandra Goulart, an attendee from Michigan said she learned a lot from the presentations. “They are preparing everybody to communicate better. People think deaf people don’t know anything. We can show them in our own language how important it is to go to church.”
Alvera Nyabusa traveled from Ontario to attend the Congress. She agreed with Fr. Depcik that the setting was perfect. “I’m so inspired by Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s story. Going to Italy. Becoming Catholic [even] when her family was not supportive. So inspiring!”
Photo caption: Left to Right – Fr. Depcik, the crowd at the conference, presenter Deacon Patrick Graybill, and presenter Jeannine Adkins