Catholic deaf communities, Church leaders and pastoral workers from across Asia have gathered in Seoul for the fourth Asia Deaf Catholic Conference, which opened today and runs until 21 October.
The conference, themed “God saw that it was good” from Genesis 1:10, aims to strengthen the participation of deaf Catholics in Church life, promote Masses in sign language and improve access to the sacraments.
Previous conferences were held in Thailand in 2015, the Philippines in 2018 and Indonesia in 2023.
Among those attending the Seoul gathering is Father Joseph Thermadom, India’s first deaf Catholic priest, whose ordination in May 2024 was an important milestone for the country’s deaf Catholic community. A member of the Congregation of Holy Cross, he serves deaf Catholics by celebrating the sacraments in Indian Sign Language (ISL), helping people with hearing and speech impairments participate more fully in the life of the Church.
In an interview with AsiaNews ahead of the conference, Father Thermadom described ministry among deaf Catholics as one of the most neglected areas of Church life. He said the Church has a responsibility to welcome and serve deaf people, pointing to Leviticus 19:14, which warns against mistreating the deaf.
He outlined five forms of ministry available to deaf Catholics across Asia: churches specifically serving deaf communities, Masses celebrated in sign language by deaf or signing priests, Masses supported by sign language interpreters, services that deaf people attend without being able to understand, and situations in which deaf people are neither welcomed nor included.
According to Father Thermadom, Ephphatha Church in Seoul is the only dedicated deaf church in Asia. He said the conference offers an opportunity to examine the progress made in deaf ministry and address the challenges that remain.
He identified the growing number of deaf Catholics, the emergence of signing clergy, strong community ties and deep faith as important strengths. However, he also pointed to the limited number of dedicated ministries, insufficient support from some bishops, gaps in religious education and a lack of wider regional networks.
Father Thermadom stressed that effective pastoral care must go beyond translating spoken words into signs. He said sign language and deaf culture are closely connected, making it important for churches to provide spaces where deaf Catholics can worship, build relationships and feel a sense of belonging.
He also urged the Church to ensure that deaf people are not excluded from Mass because they cannot understand what is being said. Referring to Jesus’ words, “Ephphatha”, meaning “Be opened”, he said churches must become more welcoming and accessible to deaf believers.
Jude Luiz, head of the Catholic Deaf Association of India, and his wife, Mary, also shared their hopes for the conference with AsiaNews. They said they wanted to exchange knowledge and skills with other participants to improve pastoral support for deaf Catholics in India.
They expressed hope that deaf Catholics would be better equipped to support others and help unite their communities as one Body of Christ.
The conference seeks to strengthen cooperation among deaf Catholic communities across Asia and encourage practical steps towards a Church in which deaf people can participate fully in worship, receive the sacraments and contribute to the mission of the Church.
Based on reporting by Asia News.
