Opening the Doors of the Church–Ephphatha!

                                                        

                                                         By Donna Gilbertson

 As a returnee to the church with a profound hearing loss, and having used CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation, i.e. captioning) in business, educational, and entertainment sectors of the secular world as a valid communication access under ADA, I was discouraged to find out there weren’t any Masses using captioning within the Diocese.  After being gone for years and returning only to sit there in church feeling disconnected, especially during the Homily, unable to be part of it or understand it, was painfully alienating and isolating. I struggled to make sense of why I was attending Mass if I couldn’t understand it or connect to it.  I am not alone.  Many sources indicate that only 4 to 10 percent of people with hearing loss attend church. That means 90+ percent are church dropouts, or unchurched.  I knew it was God’s will to make His church accessible in sharing the Joy of the Gospel to everyone who walks inside the door.

Hearing Loss is Growing.  According to the Hearing Health Foundation, 20% of the US population aged 12 years and older have hearing difficulties severe enough to impact communication, which means they are not able to fully participate if the church is not accessible to them.  One in five Americans have a hearing loss (one in three after age 65), 60 percent of veterans have a hearing loss, and the number of people with hearing loss will double by the year 2030.  Currently there are 48 million people in the US with a hearing loss, an estimated 12 million being Catholic, since Catholics make up 24 percent of the USA population (Pew Research Center’s Religion  & Public Life Project).

CART is an interpretative text in verbatim of my native English language.  Words are being typed as they are being said, and presented on a screen in real time with a slight delay, as with any interpreting.  Most people don’t realize that 90 percent of those with hearing loss do not know sign language (which is not English in signs, as it has its own syntax and grammar.)  Captioning (CART or Remote CART) provides immediate access to my native English language.  Audio loops often don’t work or are not reliable enough for those with more severe and profound hearing loss.  CART is often used by the late deafened, the oral deaf, or those with severe and profound hearing loss to connect to an event in real time.

Through the Grace of God, the Pastor, Fr. Guest, at St. Theresa of Ashburn, Virginia, agreed to let my very special volunteer CART writer who offered her time and talent to write for me.  It was a breakthrough in having access to God’s Word.  It opened the doors for being able to connect to the Mass and enter into the faith more deeply.  Witnessing the depth of the integration between Word and Sacrament as a full and active participant, engaged and being part of the liturgy celebration of the Mass was a joyous occasion for me.  Having access to the Mass drew me closer to God like a mustard seed sprouting full bloom realizing the beauty the Mass offers each Sunday.  Like the Bible story ‘Ephphatha!’ in Mark 7:31-37 (be opened) with dual meaning –the physical deafness and spiritual one, Captioning brought it to full circle in coming home again.

Donna Linton, CART reporter of Amicus Reporting in Ashburn, Virginia, captions during the Homily of Fr. Thomas of     St. Theresa in Ashburn, Virginia, the Sunday of the Ascension of the Lord: "You will only fully explain the joy of God's love for you when you share it with others. Amen"

Since I was able to connect to the message of the Homily because of CART, not only was I able to feel God’s love myself, but to apply it to my life, in sharing God’s love for me with others.

St. Theresa is the first church within the Arlington Diocese to give CART (captioning) for the Hearing Impaired a try.  CART (captioning) support is provided for certain parts of the Mass that are not in the Missal, such as the homily, universal prayers, announcements, and any blessings being bestowed on the community.  For more information about this service, the Sundays it is being offered and the time, contact the office of St. Theresa.   Phone: 703-729-2287, Email:  Office@sttheresa-ashburn.com