St. John's is blessed to have a large community of deaf and hard of hearing parishioners. Father Guy Blair conducts masses with sign language for the deaf and hard of hearing, and many members of this community give freely of themselves by participating during mass as lectors or members of the signing choir.
Deaf Community Newsletters
- August 2008 (PDF)
Quotes from Father Blair on working with the deaf community:
“All privileges should be open to deaf Catholics,” he said. “They should be included as full members of the Body of Christ. This includes involving them in services as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, greeters and ushers.”
“Deaf people are always being ‘done to’ or ‘done for,”’ he explains. “But this is their church, and I am here to serve them.”
“I love working with deaf people,” he said. “When I first started, I thought I would bring God to them. But what has happened is that they have shown me God — a very patient God.”
Auditory Aids
St John's is able to provide auditory aids for the hard of hearing. In addition to offering signed masses and a signing choir, St. Johns is proud that we are able to offer parishioners the use of these auditory aid devices.
We utilize devices
manufactured by Listentech.
You can view their website here, or download a product brochure from them by
clicking on this link.