Home

December 2001

Catholic Ministry with people who are Deaf or Hearing Impaired

CATHOLIC MINISTRY WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF OR HEARING IMPAIRED
has shared the premises with Emmanuel Centre since our beginnings in 1981. The Catholic Ministry itself grew out of the Catholic Association for Deaf and Hearing Impaired People of Western Australia which was established in 1972.

This Ministry seeks to make God's Word accessible to people who are deaf or hearing impaired. Its activities are varied and include:

Telephone Ministry

Information

Support

Counselling

Interpreting

Visiting & Befriending

Marriage Preparation

EUCHARIST

People who are deaf or hearing impaired can be assisted to take part in Sunday Eucharists by the use of overhead projection sheets of the Scripture Readings and printed sheets with the texts of the prayers and readings.

Week-end parish Eucharist is on -
Saturday night at 6.30 pm at
St Denis Church, Joondanna

This venue has overhead projections of the hymns and Mass Readings as well as Mass sheets and interpreting ministers (both sign and oral)

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF

Is a group of Christians from differing Church backgrounds of both Christians who are deaf and interpreting ministers who pray together, read the Scriptures, meet for a meal and also produce a Newsletter.

For Deaf Awareness Week the members of the Deaf Christian Fellowship organise ecumenical church services to both start the Week and for the finish of the Week. Six different Churches are now represented in this Fellowship.

At a time of great religious debate and argument it is very refreshing to be involved in this ecumenical fellowship. While respecting the differences in traditions and practices of individual churches, the members of the Deaf Christian Fellowship affirms the first place of Jesus in all Christianity.

SCHOOLS

People in the Deaf Ministry visit at Mosman Park School for Deaf Children. Stories of the Bible are shared with the children. People in the Ministry, including Father Paul, are supported by helpers from surrounding Parishes. It is a hope that the Catholic Ministry with People who are Deaf or Hearing Impaired will reach every non-catholic school where Catholic children who are deaf or hearing impaired attend.

AUSLAN CLASSES

Auslan (Australian Sign Language) classes are held each week for one hour at Emmanuel Centre, 25 Windsor Street, Perth. Classes are open to anyone who wishes to learn Auslan. There is no charge for these classes. For further information:

Tel: (08) 9328 8113 (voice) or

Tel: (08) 9328 9571 (TTY)

AUSLAN BIBLE TRANSLATION PROJECT

This project will make Australian history: the Bible will be the first book to be translated in Auslan (Australian Sign Language). There are 999,800 hearing impaired people in Australia, 42,000 of them use Auslan as their preferred method of communication. The Auslan Bible will let the people of Australia who are deaf finally 'see Jesus' in their own language.

Who will do it?

Native Deaf signers will be trained as translators for this Project. The translators will be appointed by the National Committee who represent the national community of deaf people.

Who is it for?

The Auslan Bible translation is for the people who are deaf or hearing impaired in Australia.

no subtitles!
no voice!
no sound!
Just for the deaf!

Auslan Bible Video

Auslan is a visual language, so it will need a visual medium to express it. Today's technology allows just that. Each book of the Auslan Bible will be produced on video.
The aim is to produce a Mini Bible in five years.

State Representatives on National Committee

Neil Woods
Carol Hammond
Geoff Scott
Barbara Harris

SHARING GOD'S WORD

School Visits for Children who are Deaf (A team of volunteers visits each week.)
Mosman Park

Young Adults who are Deaf (Camps are organised throughout the year for high school and older people who are deaf or hearing impaired.)

Aged people who are Deaf (Visits are made to nursing homes and hostels.)

Saturday Evening Worship and Fellowship (This group meets at 6.30 pm at St Denis Church, Joondanna and after services spends some time in fellowship usually at a local fast food outlet)

Christian Fellowship for people who are Deaf (Times to be advised)

Computer Access
Bible & Other Books on CDRom
Internet facilities

CATHOLIC MINISTRY WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF OR
HEARING IMPAIRED

c/- EMMANUEL CENTRE

25 Windsor Street
Perth WA 6000

Contact: Fr Paul Pitzen
(08) 9328 9571 (TTY)
(08) 9328 8113 (Voice)
(08) 9227 9720 (Fax)
E-mail: emmanuel2@iinet.net.au
Pager: 9480 5960
Use the Relay for TTY

Home

God with us