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http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com...?AID=/20060518/GPG0101/605180474/1207/GPGnews
The Rev. Guy Blair officiates using sign language, words
For the first time in her life, Marie Stapleford of Dykesville feels able to fully participate in Mass. She attends the Rev. Guy Blair's signed Mass at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church every Sunday morning.
"The format is simple," she said through sign and an interpreter, "but it has a point. It's nice to know what's happening. I like being able to meet other deaf people. This is getting me more involved. Right now, I do the newsletter for us."
She wouldn't ordinarily drive from Dyckesville to Green Bay for church, she said, "but with Father Guy, it's worth it."
The Mass is a celebration, albeit a silent one. Blair signs the Mass as he goes, but also speaks the Mass for those who don't know sign.
A seven-member choir signs the music to the accompaniment of a boom box.
For the readings, the lectors sign and Blair talks. For the petitions, everyone comes to the front and signs their prayer requests. If they don't also speak, Blair interprets. If they are too shy to come forward, Blair signs for them.
In other Catholic churches, people hold hands or raise their hands in praise during the Lord's Prayer. At St. John the Evangelist, everyone touches shoes to keep their hands free for signing. There is a special lectionary that makes it easier to proclaim the Scripture through sign.
"For us, it's been a very moving experience," said Barbara Stapleford. "Our daughter was born deaf. Now, for the first time in her life she is able to follow and appreciate the Mass. I love Father Guy's homilies. I get a lot out of them. He speaks simply, yet his message is profound."
Jean Laux met Blair when she was a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "I kept in touch with him over the years. When I got married, I had to have Father Blair do the ceremony. He came to Oconomowoc for us."
She and her husband, Rick, drive 45 minutes to get to Mass. "We discuss the homily all the way home.
"The Mass is not the same with interpreters," she said. The advantage to having the priest sign is that people can see the actions as well as the words. An interpreter stands off to the side and people either watch the Mass or the interpreter.
At the Consecration, the pinnacle of the Catholic Mass, for example, Blair lifts the bread and cup. When he sets them down, he signs and speaks the words of the Consecration.
Blair is holding workshops for lectors and Communion ministers on Saturday. "We can't allow one deaf person (minister Bob Kamasky) to take the responsibility for all of us. We have many good signers. Join. Support your community. We need your help," he said at a recent Mass. "After the workshop, I'll give you a free lunch — yes, free.
"Deaf doesn't mean crippled or handicapped. Two boys this morning volunteered to become Mass servers. If two boys can volunteer, you can, too," he said. His words were greeted by "silent" applause, as the signers all waved their hands in the air.
Blair arrived at St. John's in September from San Antonio, Texas, where he had been working in a hearing parish with 100 deaf members. Here, there are about 40 participating deaf members, but it is growing.
Blair wants "a true parish for the deaf — a parish where the deaf are prominently involved."
In fall, the parish plans to start religious education for the deaf, with an adult enrichment program and other programs to follow. "We can't do it all at once," he said. "It is difficult to find skilled, capable deaf people to lead the programs."
At this point, the deaf community isn't treated "like they are part of the Body of Christ. They're on the fringes. People say, 'Let us do it for you or to you.' I'm trying to establish something different here and letting them be part of the Body of Christ.
"Deaf people are really hungry for connection to the spirit and to understand God in their lives. I'm happy to be here and we'll work together — if the price of gas doesn't go so high that it keeps people from driving up here."
Blair, a native of Connecticut, met a deaf person for the first time when he was 10 years old. "My family was walking back from church and this lady on her front porch waved us over. She said, 'I see you at church every Sunday.' She asked me the definition of Resurrection. She explained that she is deaf and never hears the prayers or homily.
"I was overwhelmed by deafness. How did this lady get her faith?"
He eventually learned sign language and made deaf ministry part of his life as he joined the religious order of Sacred Heart priests. "I'll always be an outsider to the deaf community," Blair said. "I see myself as a bridge — different but equal."
The parish hopes to set up a bilingual/bicultural model here for the deaf, said Sue Perault, diocesan consultant for people with disabilities. "It will be much like St. Willebrord's is for the Hispanic ministry. We are one of a few in the country to have a deaf ministry."
The Rev. Guy Blair officiates using sign language, words
For the first time in her life, Marie Stapleford of Dykesville feels able to fully participate in Mass. She attends the Rev. Guy Blair's signed Mass at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church every Sunday morning.
"The format is simple," she said through sign and an interpreter, "but it has a point. It's nice to know what's happening. I like being able to meet other deaf people. This is getting me more involved. Right now, I do the newsletter for us."
She wouldn't ordinarily drive from Dyckesville to Green Bay for church, she said, "but with Father Guy, it's worth it."
The Mass is a celebration, albeit a silent one. Blair signs the Mass as he goes, but also speaks the Mass for those who don't know sign.
A seven-member choir signs the music to the accompaniment of a boom box.
For the readings, the lectors sign and Blair talks. For the petitions, everyone comes to the front and signs their prayer requests. If they don't also speak, Blair interprets. If they are too shy to come forward, Blair signs for them.
In other Catholic churches, people hold hands or raise their hands in praise during the Lord's Prayer. At St. John the Evangelist, everyone touches shoes to keep their hands free for signing. There is a special lectionary that makes it easier to proclaim the Scripture through sign.
"For us, it's been a very moving experience," said Barbara Stapleford. "Our daughter was born deaf. Now, for the first time in her life she is able to follow and appreciate the Mass. I love Father Guy's homilies. I get a lot out of them. He speaks simply, yet his message is profound."
Jean Laux met Blair when she was a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "I kept in touch with him over the years. When I got married, I had to have Father Blair do the ceremony. He came to Oconomowoc for us."
She and her husband, Rick, drive 45 minutes to get to Mass. "We discuss the homily all the way home.
"The Mass is not the same with interpreters," she said. The advantage to having the priest sign is that people can see the actions as well as the words. An interpreter stands off to the side and people either watch the Mass or the interpreter.
At the Consecration, the pinnacle of the Catholic Mass, for example, Blair lifts the bread and cup. When he sets them down, he signs and speaks the words of the Consecration.
Blair is holding workshops for lectors and Communion ministers on Saturday. "We can't allow one deaf person (minister Bob Kamasky) to take the responsibility for all of us. We have many good signers. Join. Support your community. We need your help," he said at a recent Mass. "After the workshop, I'll give you a free lunch — yes, free.
"Deaf doesn't mean crippled or handicapped. Two boys this morning volunteered to become Mass servers. If two boys can volunteer, you can, too," he said. His words were greeted by "silent" applause, as the signers all waved their hands in the air.
Blair arrived at St. John's in September from San Antonio, Texas, where he had been working in a hearing parish with 100 deaf members. Here, there are about 40 participating deaf members, but it is growing.
Blair wants "a true parish for the deaf — a parish where the deaf are prominently involved."
In fall, the parish plans to start religious education for the deaf, with an adult enrichment program and other programs to follow. "We can't do it all at once," he said. "It is difficult to find skilled, capable deaf people to lead the programs."
At this point, the deaf community isn't treated "like they are part of the Body of Christ. They're on the fringes. People say, 'Let us do it for you or to you.' I'm trying to establish something different here and letting them be part of the Body of Christ.
"Deaf people are really hungry for connection to the spirit and to understand God in their lives. I'm happy to be here and we'll work together — if the price of gas doesn't go so high that it keeps people from driving up here."
Blair, a native of Connecticut, met a deaf person for the first time when he was 10 years old. "My family was walking back from church and this lady on her front porch waved us over. She said, 'I see you at church every Sunday.' She asked me the definition of Resurrection. She explained that she is deaf and never hears the prayers or homily.
"I was overwhelmed by deafness. How did this lady get her faith?"
He eventually learned sign language and made deaf ministry part of his life as he joined the religious order of Sacred Heart priests. "I'll always be an outsider to the deaf community," Blair said. "I see myself as a bridge — different but equal."
The parish hopes to set up a bilingual/bicultural model here for the deaf, said Sue Perault, diocesan consultant for people with disabilities. "It will be much like St. Willebrord's is for the Hispanic ministry. We are one of a few in the country to have a deaf ministry."