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Wilkes-Barre native to help deaf grasp pontiff’s message | Wilkes-Barre News | timesleader.com - The Times Leader
While thousands of Americans try to catch a glimpse of Pope Benedict XVI as he makes his first visit to the United States, one Wilkes-Barre native will be on the stage next to the Holy Father.
Eileen Colarusso, who works for the Archdiocese of Baltimore as coordinator of deaf ministry, will sign for the hearing impaired on stage Thursday as the pope celebrates Mass at Nationals Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Colarusso has signed at other large events – for bishops, archbishops and Cardinal William H. Keeler, but never for a pope. Mary O’Meara, executive director of the Center for Deaf Ministry in the Archdiocese of Washington, approached Colarusso about the task.
“When she asked me to interpret, I never thought we would be on stage so close to the Holy Father.”
Colarusso, a 1984 graduate of Bishop Hoban High School and 1988 graduate of Bloomsburg University, has been interpreting for nearly 20 years.
“I am hopeful I will get the chance to meet Pope Benedict,” Colarusso said. “I am a little nervous!”
She bought a new outfit for the occasion – a black suit. Traditionally, interpreters wear a solid color while on stage so that it contrasts with their skin so signs can be seen clearly.
“For platform events such as this, it is best to use black … for my skin color is very light.
“And yes, I purchased it just for this occasion.”
Colarusso, who has relatives in the Wyoming Valley, started out as an educational and freelance interpreter. She began interpreting liturgies in a Catholic parish in 1993, then moved to Maryland in 1994.
“I continued to interpret liturgies and began working part time for the Archdiocese of Baltimore as coordinator of deaf ministry in January 1997.” Colarusso began working there on a full-time basis in 2005.
A group of about 25 deaf people from the Archdiocese of Washington and Baltimore will attend the Mass; one member was chosen to serve as a gift bearer.
“This is what it is all about. This is why I do what I do,” Colarusso said. “To make sure the deaf community has access to all aspects of life within the church.”
She says it is essential for her to have the text of the Mass before hand, so that she can go over it, and make sure she can interpret it the best way she can. She has to be familiar with different languages so she can properly interpret each word.
Colarusso is a board member of the National Catholic Office for the Deaf, and works with national and international organizations for the deaf and hearing impaired to ensure the deaf community has its rights as baptized Catholics.
She works with O’Meara on projects for the hearing impaired, such as retreats, events and workshops for interpreters. Most recently, the two helped with a DVD for the deaf ministry that won a national award.
The pontiff will be in the United States until Sunday, making several stops around the country. Colarusso will only sign at the Mass in the nation’s capital.
“I have interpreted large events before, although with more than 45,000 people expected, this is by far the biggest,” she said.
While thousands of Americans try to catch a glimpse of Pope Benedict XVI as he makes his first visit to the United States, one Wilkes-Barre native will be on the stage next to the Holy Father.
Eileen Colarusso, who works for the Archdiocese of Baltimore as coordinator of deaf ministry, will sign for the hearing impaired on stage Thursday as the pope celebrates Mass at Nationals Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Colarusso has signed at other large events – for bishops, archbishops and Cardinal William H. Keeler, but never for a pope. Mary O’Meara, executive director of the Center for Deaf Ministry in the Archdiocese of Washington, approached Colarusso about the task.
“When she asked me to interpret, I never thought we would be on stage so close to the Holy Father.”
Colarusso, a 1984 graduate of Bishop Hoban High School and 1988 graduate of Bloomsburg University, has been interpreting for nearly 20 years.
“I am hopeful I will get the chance to meet Pope Benedict,” Colarusso said. “I am a little nervous!”
She bought a new outfit for the occasion – a black suit. Traditionally, interpreters wear a solid color while on stage so that it contrasts with their skin so signs can be seen clearly.
“For platform events such as this, it is best to use black … for my skin color is very light.
“And yes, I purchased it just for this occasion.”
Colarusso, who has relatives in the Wyoming Valley, started out as an educational and freelance interpreter. She began interpreting liturgies in a Catholic parish in 1993, then moved to Maryland in 1994.
“I continued to interpret liturgies and began working part time for the Archdiocese of Baltimore as coordinator of deaf ministry in January 1997.” Colarusso began working there on a full-time basis in 2005.
A group of about 25 deaf people from the Archdiocese of Washington and Baltimore will attend the Mass; one member was chosen to serve as a gift bearer.
“This is what it is all about. This is why I do what I do,” Colarusso said. “To make sure the deaf community has access to all aspects of life within the church.”
She says it is essential for her to have the text of the Mass before hand, so that she can go over it, and make sure she can interpret it the best way she can. She has to be familiar with different languages so she can properly interpret each word.
Colarusso is a board member of the National Catholic Office for the Deaf, and works with national and international organizations for the deaf and hearing impaired to ensure the deaf community has its rights as baptized Catholics.
She works with O’Meara on projects for the hearing impaired, such as retreats, events and workshops for interpreters. Most recently, the two helped with a DVD for the deaf ministry that won a national award.
The pontiff will be in the United States until Sunday, making several stops around the country. Colarusso will only sign at the Mass in the nation’s capital.
“I have interpreted large events before, although with more than 45,000 people expected, this is by far the biggest,” she said.