The Seoul Archdiocese is expanding its sign language Masses to make it easier for deaf parishioners to attend services at local churches. This initiative aims to reduce the inconvenience of long travel for deaf individuals and foster a community where both disabled and able-bodied members can practice their faith together.
Starting August 23, the archdiocese will provide sign language interpretation during the Sunday Mass at Eungchon 1-dong Church in Gangseo District at 11 a.m. Each week, two volunteers from the Epata Church, which serves the deaf community, will be assigned to provide interpretation.
The selection of Eungchon 1-dong Church as the new site for sign language interpretation was made with the accessibility needs of deaf parishioners in the Gangseo area in mind. The archdiocese currently offers sign language Masses at the Gaebong-dong and Haengun-dong churches as well.
Father Nao Jin, the archdiocese's special priest for ministry to the disabled, explained, "We are starting sign language Masses at Eungchon 1-dong Church to allow deaf parishioners living in the Gangseo area to practice their faith closer to home."
Archbishop Jeong Soon-taek emphasized that providing sign language interpretation goes beyond mere convenience; it is a practice that ensures the religious access rights of disabled individuals. He stated, "The reason deaf individuals struggle to participate in Mass is not solely due to their hearing impairment, but because of the lack of sign language interpretation. Assigning interpreters to parishes is a crucial step in helping deaf parishioners fully engage in their faith community."
He added, "We must understand disability not as an individual issue but as a societal challenge that we must address together. I appreciate Eungchon 1-dong Church for taking a significant step toward creating an inclusive community where disabled and able-bodied individuals can worship without discrimination."
The archdiocese's ministry for the deaf has been centered around Epata Church, which assists deaf parishioners in participating in Mass and religious education in their native sign language. Deaf priests Park Min-seo and Kim Dong-jun actively share language and culture with deaf parishioners.
The sign language Mass at Eungchon 1-dong Church is significant as it broadens the outreach of the ministry for the deaf, allowing them to attend Mass with able-bodied parishioners at a nearby church without needing to travel to a specialized parish.
On August 23, during the first sign language Mass at Eungchon 1-dong Church, Father Nao Jin will present certificates of appointment as "parish Mass sign language interpreters" to nine volunteers from Epata Church, including Kim Mi-hyun Agnes, on behalf of the archbishop.
The archdiocese plans to assess any improvements needed during the operation of the Eungchon 1-dong Church program before considering expansion to other parishes. However, due to a current shortage of sign language interpreters, securing additional volunteers remains a priority for future expansion.
An archdiocese official stated, "We will develop various pastoral measures to ensure that deaf parishioners are not excluded from their faith lives due to their disabilities and can fully participate in the Mass and community life in their local parishes."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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