Interpreted Masses offered

Two parishes in the Green Bay Diocese -- St. John Nepomucene in Little Chute and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Green Bay -- offer regularly scheduled interpreted Masses for deaf and hearing-impaired Catholics.

St. John last year started offering an interpreted Mass at 9 a.m. on the second and fourth Sundays of the month at the request of Kelli Schumacher, a parishioner and sign language interpreter.

Tom Kersten, liturgist and music director, provides Schumacher with the readings, songs, petitions and other materials well in advance of the Mass so she can interpret the liturgy clearly. If requested, Kersten also scheduled interpreters for Holy Days of Obligation or special Masses. The service is available by phoning him at (920)788-9061 at least a month in advance.

Beginning Oct. 1, the Little Chute parish is designating the first Sunday of each month as Fellowship Sunday that will include coffee, doughnuts and socializing after Mass.

St. John also has volunteered to host the Diocesan Lenten Gathering for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community in April of 2002. It will include a liturgy, family activities, reflection, and faith-sharing.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish has worked for a decade to meet the pastoral needs of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community. Carol VandenBush, religious education director, hires sign language interpreters for religious education classes and coordinates Mass interpreters with the help of sign language interpreter Carol Schleis.

This month, the parish began offering additional services. In addition to interpreter services at every 4:15 p.m. Saturday liturgy, Fr. Don Zerkel, a retired priest from Milwaukee, will simultaneously voice and sign Mass, enabling both "hearing" and the Deaf to worship together. Liturgies with Fr. Zerkel are scheduled Nov. 17 and 24 and Dec. 15.

Msgr. Jim Dillenburg, pastor at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, said, "The interpreters started as a once a month thing but then the parish thought if we're asked as Catholics to attend Mass weekly why not have interpreters every week?" That led the parish to ask Fr. Zerkel if he could help and he agreed.

"It's a blessing that we are able to offer such a Mass," Msgr. Dillenberg said. "We feel that the needs of the Catholic Deaf and Hard of Hearing community are being met with such Masses."

For more information about the Lenten Gathering or any Deaf Ministry efforts, phone Michele Stein at (920)437-7531, ext. 8288, or (920)437-9240 (TTY).