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Newly ordained hears, responds to call to be deaf priest - Catholic Online
When Paul Zirimenya was ordained a priest on June 9, he joined a select group called to service to the church through holy orders. Though this alone might set him apart from others within the church, he holds one further distinction that puts him in a class all his own. Father Zirimenya is deaf.
Father Zirimenya was born in Kampala, Uganda, the third of nine children. He was not born deaf, but became deaf in an accident when he was six.
Born into an interfaith family, his parents and siblings were Anglicans while others of his extended family were Catholic. He said his parents’ blessing regarding his decision to become a Catholic priest, however, was unconditional from the very beginning, and their encouragement has helped him complete his studies.
His journey to priesthood started after he graduated from Makrere College in 1999 with a degree in social work and social administration. He took a job as a teacher for deaf adults at the Uganda National Association of the Deaf in Kampala, the capital Uganda. While doing work to increase awareness of the needs of the deaf community, Father Zirimenya met Father Reiles Aloyse of the Missionaries of Africa. Father Zirimenya believes Father Aloyse felt a kinship with him because in his old age the priest had become hard of hearing. He encouraged Father Zirimenya to pursue a vocation.
"I had a lot of satisfaction and a witnessed a lot of changes among deaf adults," wrote Father Zirimenya of his time there. "There was this spiritual yearning on my part and their part and that is when I thought about priesthood."
Father Zirimenya said that after his initial conversations with Father Aloyse about the possibility of becoming a priest, he spoke with the priest about what he felt was a calling from God to do just that. Before moving to the United States, he took philosophy classes at St. Mbaaga's Seminary in Ggaba, a suburb of Kampala, to prepare for theological studies. It was at this time Father Zirimenya was formally accepted into the Catholic Church.
"Originally I felt my call was to become missionary priest, but eventually I was accepted to study for diocesan priesthood for the Archdiocese of San Francisco," recalled Father Zirimenya.
He enrolled at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Parish with two other deaf seminarians, Shawn Carey of the Diocese of Boston and Ghislain Bazikila of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The three men came at the invitation of then-archbishop of San Francisco, now Cardinal, William Levada. Cardinal Levada realized the American church needed priests to minister to deaf Catholics, Father Zirimenya said.
Because they are at different academic years, the three deaf seminarians have rarely taken classes together. This year, though, Father Zirimenya shared classes with both Carey and Bazikila. The three also meet during meals, when hearing seminarians often bring “white boards” to better communicate with them.
Sometimes the white boards or pads of paper are the only way to communicate, but some hearing seminarians have picked up sign language, said Father Zirimenya who can also read lips, although it can be difficult depending on the person with whom he is trying to communicate. "If you have a mustache, it's worse, even if I am proud to have one," he jokes.
In his pursuit of ordination, Father Zirimenya said he never encountered discrimination based on his disability. In fact, he found the opposite. His deafness draws people to him.
"There is some kind of awe if you are introduced as a deaf seminarian," wrote Father Zirimenya. "People are curious to know more about you."
His seminary years have not been without struggles. His deafness presented a number of challenges for himself and for St. Patrick's.
"I think it is one thing to accept a deaf seminarian and another to obtain the necessary logistics for formation," Father Zirimenya wrote. "It requires a lot flexibility, determination and patience on part of the archdiocese, the seminary faculty and the deaf seminarian himself."
Preparations included provision of an interpreter, who can work at times work long hours. Prayer times and Masses, along with many classes, are interpreted. Some classes are captioned.
Adjustment to an American education system was also hard work. "Honestly, I have kind of struggled academically, but God has helped me to maintain a reasonable GPA," admitted Father Zirimenya. "Over time I have learned what the professors wanted with my papers and I used the help of my classmates and the coordinator of deaf services whenever the going got tough."
Father Zirimenya recalled the trouble he had carving out time to pray with a hectic academic and formation schedule. Prayer, however, has been key to his remaining on the path to ordination. He encourages all candidates for the priesthood to pursue a healthy prayer life. ...
One problem Father Zirimenya never encountered was racism. He said the level of cooperation between members of various ethnic backgrounds was enough to reduce him to tears.
"This is the most diverse seminary I have ever attended and the best field education I have ever received," wrote Zirimenya, who has earned at master of divinity degree there.
Another area where Father Zirimenya feels confident is his speaking ability, having spent years in speech therapy. He made further strides during a pastoral year at Holy Family Parish in Concord, Mass., where he often assisted at Masses.
"That experience helped me become a better verbal reader and gave me practical experiences of working with hearing people and being a bridge between the hearing and deaf community," Father Zirimenya said.
In addition to Holy Name Parish, Father Zirimenya was assigned to the Office for the Apostolate for the Deaf based at the chancery in Brighton, a working class neighborhood in Boston. He spent the year alternating between Holy Family, the chancery and a parish for the deaf, Sacred Heart in Newton Center, Mass.
Fluent in English and his native Lugandan, in addition to both American and Ugandan Sign Language, Father Zirimenya said patience and humility helped him to achieve his goals during his studies to become a priest. He credits God with granting him both traits.
His mother and sister, whom he has not seen in seven years, will both attend his ordination. Father Zirimenya said he hopes to go back to his roots as a teacher of the deaf after ordination, and to work among ministries geared for the deaf. He would particularly be interested in working with the deaf who have other disabilities, like blindness.
He has words of encouragement for any deaf man pondering the priesthood: "To any deaf person or person with any disability who would like to pursue a call to serve God as a priest, I say, 'God loves you and welcomes you to participate fully in his salvation plan. Listen to him and follow your heart, and leave the rest to God.’"
When Paul Zirimenya was ordained a priest on June 9, he joined a select group called to service to the church through holy orders. Though this alone might set him apart from others within the church, he holds one further distinction that puts him in a class all his own. Father Zirimenya is deaf.
Father Zirimenya was born in Kampala, Uganda, the third of nine children. He was not born deaf, but became deaf in an accident when he was six.
Born into an interfaith family, his parents and siblings were Anglicans while others of his extended family were Catholic. He said his parents’ blessing regarding his decision to become a Catholic priest, however, was unconditional from the very beginning, and their encouragement has helped him complete his studies.
His journey to priesthood started after he graduated from Makrere College in 1999 with a degree in social work and social administration. He took a job as a teacher for deaf adults at the Uganda National Association of the Deaf in Kampala, the capital Uganda. While doing work to increase awareness of the needs of the deaf community, Father Zirimenya met Father Reiles Aloyse of the Missionaries of Africa. Father Zirimenya believes Father Aloyse felt a kinship with him because in his old age the priest had become hard of hearing. He encouraged Father Zirimenya to pursue a vocation.
"I had a lot of satisfaction and a witnessed a lot of changes among deaf adults," wrote Father Zirimenya of his time there. "There was this spiritual yearning on my part and their part and that is when I thought about priesthood."
Father Zirimenya said that after his initial conversations with Father Aloyse about the possibility of becoming a priest, he spoke with the priest about what he felt was a calling from God to do just that. Before moving to the United States, he took philosophy classes at St. Mbaaga's Seminary in Ggaba, a suburb of Kampala, to prepare for theological studies. It was at this time Father Zirimenya was formally accepted into the Catholic Church.
"Originally I felt my call was to become missionary priest, but eventually I was accepted to study for diocesan priesthood for the Archdiocese of San Francisco," recalled Father Zirimenya.
He enrolled at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Parish with two other deaf seminarians, Shawn Carey of the Diocese of Boston and Ghislain Bazikila of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The three men came at the invitation of then-archbishop of San Francisco, now Cardinal, William Levada. Cardinal Levada realized the American church needed priests to minister to deaf Catholics, Father Zirimenya said.
Because they are at different academic years, the three deaf seminarians have rarely taken classes together. This year, though, Father Zirimenya shared classes with both Carey and Bazikila. The three also meet during meals, when hearing seminarians often bring “white boards” to better communicate with them.
Sometimes the white boards or pads of paper are the only way to communicate, but some hearing seminarians have picked up sign language, said Father Zirimenya who can also read lips, although it can be difficult depending on the person with whom he is trying to communicate. "If you have a mustache, it's worse, even if I am proud to have one," he jokes.
In his pursuit of ordination, Father Zirimenya said he never encountered discrimination based on his disability. In fact, he found the opposite. His deafness draws people to him.
"There is some kind of awe if you are introduced as a deaf seminarian," wrote Father Zirimenya. "People are curious to know more about you."
His seminary years have not been without struggles. His deafness presented a number of challenges for himself and for St. Patrick's.
"I think it is one thing to accept a deaf seminarian and another to obtain the necessary logistics for formation," Father Zirimenya wrote. "It requires a lot flexibility, determination and patience on part of the archdiocese, the seminary faculty and the deaf seminarian himself."
Preparations included provision of an interpreter, who can work at times work long hours. Prayer times and Masses, along with many classes, are interpreted. Some classes are captioned.
Adjustment to an American education system was also hard work. "Honestly, I have kind of struggled academically, but God has helped me to maintain a reasonable GPA," admitted Father Zirimenya. "Over time I have learned what the professors wanted with my papers and I used the help of my classmates and the coordinator of deaf services whenever the going got tough."
Father Zirimenya recalled the trouble he had carving out time to pray with a hectic academic and formation schedule. Prayer, however, has been key to his remaining on the path to ordination. He encourages all candidates for the priesthood to pursue a healthy prayer life. ...
One problem Father Zirimenya never encountered was racism. He said the level of cooperation between members of various ethnic backgrounds was enough to reduce him to tears.
"This is the most diverse seminary I have ever attended and the best field education I have ever received," wrote Zirimenya, who has earned at master of divinity degree there.
Another area where Father Zirimenya feels confident is his speaking ability, having spent years in speech therapy. He made further strides during a pastoral year at Holy Family Parish in Concord, Mass., where he often assisted at Masses.
"That experience helped me become a better verbal reader and gave me practical experiences of working with hearing people and being a bridge between the hearing and deaf community," Father Zirimenya said.
In addition to Holy Name Parish, Father Zirimenya was assigned to the Office for the Apostolate for the Deaf based at the chancery in Brighton, a working class neighborhood in Boston. He spent the year alternating between Holy Family, the chancery and a parish for the deaf, Sacred Heart in Newton Center, Mass.
Fluent in English and his native Lugandan, in addition to both American and Ugandan Sign Language, Father Zirimenya said patience and humility helped him to achieve his goals during his studies to become a priest. He credits God with granting him both traits.
His mother and sister, whom he has not seen in seven years, will both attend his ordination. Father Zirimenya said he hopes to go back to his roots as a teacher of the deaf after ordination, and to work among ministries geared for the deaf. He would particularly be interested in working with the deaf who have other disabilities, like blindness.
He has words of encouragement for any deaf man pondering the priesthood: "To any deaf person or person with any disability who would like to pursue a call to serve God as a priest, I say, 'God loves you and welcomes you to participate fully in his salvation plan. Listen to him and follow your heart, and leave the rest to God.’"