Signs of faith: Mass with Pittsburgh’s Catholic deaf community

From The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a rare glimpse at an unusual way of worship:

The 11:30 Sunday Mass at St. Mary of the Mount Catholic Church begins with the usual greetings and an unusual request — that parishioners remain seated during the hymns and other parts of the liturgy where they normally would stand.

That’s so members of the Catholic Deaf Community, who form an integral part of the service, can see their colleagues as they sign the prayers, hymns, Bible readings and other parts of the liturgy. In fact, it’s so the hearing members can see them, too.

During the hymns, members of the blue-robed Deaf Choir stand in front of the church and sign the lyrics. During Scripture readings, one hearing person reads the text out loud while a deaf person signs.

“We don’t hide our sign language,” said Michael Bobanic, who serves on the Catholic Deaf Council and commutes from Aliquippa. He’s one of many deaf worshipers who come from miles away to take part. Usually dozens of deaf worshipers attend in addition to hearing worshipers, organizers say. “We feel very comfortable coming here,” Mr. Bobanic said through an interpreter.

While some parishes in the Pittsburgh area have a certified interpreter to translate what’s being said during Mass into American Sign Language, St. Mary hosts the diocese’s only fully signed Mass, with leading roles played by deaf worshipers throughout.

“This is where they can worship in full,” said the Rev. Walt Rydzon, senior parochial vicar at St. Mary and longtime chaplain to the Catholic Deaf Community.

Read more. And check out the video below.