Christian
To be a Christian today is a bold choice. It is bold because it is a choice and a way of living to honor God and his creation.
Christians are followers of Jesus Christ. Some may ask why are Christians hated today and why were they hated at the time of Christ? What follows is a very brief summary of the tie of religion and the quest for power.
Very brief history of early Christianity
Lessons from our history note that emperors and rulers relied on religion to unite peoples. If they captured this aspect of life above all, as well as other facets, they had a kingdom. I.e. look at the early roman persecutions before 300 a.d. At this time, the emperor and lords demanded that everyone worship and offer sacrifice to a pagan idol. Simply said, the authorities indicate to which idol the people are to worship. If they worship it, they are part of the emperor’s kingdom. If not, the sword awaits them. Mind you, Christians were at this time not a publicly accepted form of religion. They were considered trouble makers and dividers. Why? Well this notion of Jesus Christ raising from the dead that prophecies and scriptures tell of, took place and is spreading.
As Jesus and the promised land of heaven echoes throughout regions and foreign lands, it makes every king shiver. Why? Because Jesus is not an acceptable form of worship. This means that whole hosts of people rejected offering sacrifice to strange idols. It means that their kingdom was not united. It means those who followed Christ were slaughtered wholesale. No different today whether be it a physical, political, emotional, or psychological death. Anyway, continuing on, as the persecutions continued it was the bishops, priests, and deacons who met the sword first before the rest of the faithful. Why? because these were the leaders spreading the faith. The rationale behind this is, If they kill them, they kill the resistance within the kingdom, and if they kill them and all other Christians, they have a united kingdom.
How was Christianity officially recognized?
How was Christianity officially recognized? Briefly, the emperor Constantine was outnumbered 5:1 in battle. One account suggests that in his sleep Christ revealed to Constantine that “with this sign” you will conquer. That sign being, the sign of the cross. So, Constantine ordered his troops to put the Sign of the cross on their shields and so forth. Just like in the Old testament, the Lord of hosts delivered his people from death and won victory. Part of the agreement between our Lord and Constantine was that he would ratify the Christians in the kingdom. Constantine was baptized on his deathbed. He is considered along with Charlemagne as a Christian Civil defender. These two people are recognized in bronze statues in the breeze way of the facade in St. Peter’s basilica in Rome.
More Christian history to be continued…
Our Catholic Deaf Community shares the same faith as those who gave their lives out of Christian witness. We aspire that in Orange County California we may spread the faith to peoples that know not Jesus Christ. To join our Deaf ministry crusade contact us.
Orange County Deaf Church
Orange County Deaf Church in the Catholic-Christian tradition was founded years before 1976. This is because before the Diocese of Orange was erected, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles covered all of Orange County. Once our diocese was officially launched the Deaf attended the same churches but under a different bishop. The faith, community, and ministry all being the same. We continue handing down the faith tradition from one generation to the next in American Sign Language (ASL). Our faith community is a beacon in California and in the United States. We continue to thrive despite all odds and adversities thrown at us.
Orange County Deaf Church
We value belonging in our faith community. Our communal relationship with one another is what matters. Moreover, our relationship with Jesus Christ is paramount. Being in a melting pot of cultures, we are a mixed cultural community yet with the same Lord and shepherd leading us. Jesus Christ holds us together as one people after his own heart. He gives us his welcome and fellowship. This is why we have and continue to have a stable and strong Deaf community.
Our focus on faith
Our faith in the Lord is second to none. We believe that the gift of faith is unique and must be preserved all our life long. No matter the external obstacles or persons who wish ill to try our faith, do we ever cling to our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Our Lord is good to reveal what happens to the good and just. He tells us that in psalm 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” RSV
We thank our bishops for supporting our Catholic Orange County Deaf Church. We salute them for funding this website through the pastoral services appeal. The pastoral services appeal raises money needed ministries and operations throughout the diocese. Without the generous benefactors throughout the diocese this new site would not have been able to happen.
With many people visiting our site and contacting us constantly we plan to address your questions, comments, and ideas for the future. The sky is the limit as to our Deaf outreach ministry. We are here to bring Jesus Christ to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in our diocese and beyond. If we are only able to introduce Jesus Christ in our online ministry to then lead others to their nearest Deaf church, mission accomplished.
Tags: Diocese of Orange, OC DeafWhy go to mass?
Why go to mass? A question we have likely uttered ourselves and still utter. ASL Catholic Media answers this common question. Children may say the same thing but may have less conviction about it. The aim in this videos is to end the grumblings of amongst teenagers and adults once and for all. The rationale should deter contrary thoughts that arise. Ideally so that we and they come to mass as frequent as we can. ASL Catholic Media delivers such videos in mother tongue of the Deaf, in sign.
Why go to mass? The video above shares three important reasons.
Moreover, we go to mass to render our homage to God. We give him his just due. What? Two words for thought “Exitus” and “Redditus” Exitus is latin for coming from. Redditus is latin for returned or restored. In short due to the fall of adam man is unable to give to God proper homage. Thus all of humanity could not give God the honor he desires back. The paschal mystery of Jesus Christ thus restores man’s ability to give proper honor to God. It is only in Christ that man can do this. When we go to mass and give God his proper homage while being in the state of grace, we receive new life in us. We receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (grace) upon consuming our Lord’s body, blood, soul, and divinity. Thus common with God, the full circle is accomplished. #something to scratch your head about.
OC
Welcome to the Orange County Deaf Catholic Community website. OC Hard of Hearing and Deaf events are listed for your convenience. We are one of the biggest CA Deaf communities and we are still growing! California Deaf residents state that they find our community warm, full of zeal, and strong. Why? OC Deaf ministry is strongly supported by our Bishops, priests, and deacons. There are a myriad of priests that serve our community and we are very grateful to them.
Our new website has many unique features. An awesome feature is the ASL mass finder. We are continually adding more churches to the map as we come aware of them. Try it when you travel and when you want to recommend a church to friends or family. Simply enter the city or address that you are staying and press enter. A list of the nearest churches will display.
OC Deaf Church
Our Orange California Deaf community is multicultural. We have a mix Korean, Mexican, Filipino, Anglo, and Vietnamese Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons. Currently there is a demand for Spanish masses before or after the Deaf religious program occurs. This benefits family members who speak Spanish and do not know American Sign Language. What is a blessing is that we are able to do that at our parish. So, please consider joining us if that is question in the back of your head.
Opportunities for ASL students and student interpreters are available to serve the Orange County Deaf community. Students can enlist to receive service hours for school or college. We kindly ask that such students be practicing or baptized Catholics. If any such student has been away from the church they may find our confession schedule to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.
Deaf ministry opportunity
ASL hymn videos are a big hit on the internet. As of yet our community is preparing to reach into this wonderful evangelizing opportunity. Our observations and feedback indicate that the Deaf love interpreted music videos. The ratio to ASL music video hits to an ASL catechetical video is well over 500:1. For example one ASL catechetical video may reach one to two thousand views, while an ASL music video will get fifteen to thirty thousand. That is astronomically different. We feel that emphasis in this ministry will attract more Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons to our faith community. This is so to lead all souls to Jesus Christ.
One of our ministerial goals is to be the leader in Orange County and California. We thank all OC Hard of Hearing and Deaf parishioners. Moreover, we thank any and all California Deaf residents who visit us every week. Feel free to check our Deaf OC and CA Deaf events calendar.
OC Catholic
Welcome to the OC Catholic Deaf community. Our community is composed of Orange County Catholic Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and hearing persons. Our OC Catholic Deaf community has a rich history. In the early years of our Orange County diocese the Deaf community was present. In fact, the Deaf were present in the archdiocese of Los Angeles. So, the southern California Catholic Deaf community has always had a home in Orange.
What we believe: We profess in our parishes with one familial voice in our Creed that we are One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. As the Second Vatican Council prayed, “Christ is the light of humanity; and it is, accordingly, the heart-felt desire […] that, by proclaiming his Gospel to every creature, [we] may bring to all men that light of Christ which shines out visibly from the Church,” Catechism of the Catholic Church, 748. Our mission as your local Diocese is to do just that. Learn more about our beliefs as Catholics here.
Come explore our Catholic Social Teachings by visiting our Life, Justice, and Peace webpage here.
If the Lord is calling you out of the boat and inviting you into the Catholic Church, please click here to locate a Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program at your local parish.
Join our OC Catholic Deaf community today. Orange County Catholic. OC Catholic Deaf. Orange County. County of Orange. Southern California Catholic Deaf.
Tags: OC Deaf CommunityDeaf
Deaf or Hard of Hearing persons undergo a degree of hearing loss/ deafness. This deafness is not a disability. Many think it is but it is not. Most of the time Deaf person think being named disabled is an insult. But with regards to religion being called Catholic is a badge of honor at least in our diocese. Religion in our community is taken seriously because it fulfills and exceeds cultural norms.
“Deaf” and “deaf”
What is the difference?
We use the lowercase deaf when referring to the audiological condition of not hearing, and the uppercase Deaf when referring to a particular group of deaf people who share a language – American Sign Language (ASL) – and a culture. The members of this group have inherited their sign language, use it as a primary means of communication among themselves, and hold a set of beliefs about themselves and their connection to the larger society. We distinguish them from, for example, those who find themselves losing their hearing because of illness, trauma or age; although these people share the condition of not hearing, they do not have access to the knowledge, beliefs, and practices that make up the culture of Deaf people.
According to Carol Padden and Tom Humphries, in Deaf in America: Voices from a Culture (1988):
“Hard of Hearing”
“Hard-of-hearing” can denote a person with a mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Or it can denote a deaf person who doesn’t have/want any cultural affiliation with the Deaf community. Or both. The HOH dilemma: in some ways hearing, in some ways deaf, in others, neither.
Can one be hard-of-hearing and ASL-Deaf? That’s possible, too. Can one be hard-of-hearing and function as hearing? Of course. What about being hard-of-hearing and functioning as a member of both the hearing and Deaf communities? That’s a delicate tightrope-balancing act, but it too is possible.
“As for the political dimension: HOH people can be allies of the Deaf community. They can choose to join or to ignore it. They can participate in the social, cultural, political, and legal life of the community along with culturally-Deaf or live their lives completely within the parameters of the “Hearing world.” But they may have a more difficult time establishing a satisfying cultural/social identity.
Deaf Life, “For Hearing People Only” (October 1997).
One may posit that those with hearing loss are atheists, agnostic, and moral relativists. This point of view is taken from a spiritual perspective. Many believing Christians are quick to point out that they have a disability; that is, not turning to God. Failing to give back to God breaks the commandments. Particularly, one of the first three commandments.
What we do and how we give back to God is through the sacraments. Particularly in attending mass, confession, and Eucharistic adoration on a regular basis. Our community thankfully does not suffer spiritual deafness. Rather the opposite. We listen and cater our lives to God’s word. We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
The Catholic religion is not of disability but one of ability. It’s a faith stemming from God’s love toward us, and vice versa.
Diocese of Orange
Welcome to the Diocese of Orange Deaf community website. To be clear we are the Diocese of Orange in California. Our official diocese name is the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange (RCBO). The first cathedral is in Orange, our current one is Garden Grove.
Diocese of Orange Vision
Our vision is to establish and support dynamic, vibrant parishes and schools which welcome all to live the Gospel with faith, joy, charity and unity. The Diocese encourages each person to have an active life of faith that is integrated and woven into the fabric of their daily lives through the community and sacramental life of the Church.
Our Values
We value working collaboratively together “with humility, gentleness, and patience, maintaining our unity in the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Together we seek: To worship by listening actively to the Word, praying for the needs of all, actively participating in the liturgy, and receiving God’s grace in the Sacraments. To evangelize by the way we share our lives and treat each other. By the Gospel that we share, and the strength we find in our community of faith.
Our Mission
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19- 20. We are diverse Catholics united in Christ. We follow the Gospel’s call, live out our faith and share our lives in service to others.
RCBO
With 57 churches, 5 centers and 35 schools within our diocese, we have a seat for you.
Our vibrant community of 1.3 million Catholics is on a journey of faith together – growing closer to God and another as we explore, experience, and share the mystery of Christ. Under the leadership of Bishop Kevin W. Vann, the OC Diocese works to establish and support dynamic, vibrant parishes and schools. Welcoming all to live the Gospel with faith, joy, charity and unity. We joyfully welcome you as part of this journey!
Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange (RCBO) supports you in your faith journey. Our ministers attend frequent conferences. Why? to sustain and enhance our intellectual, pastoral, human, and spiritual pillars of formation. This is so because we cannot give what we do not have. Our team of ministers thanks the bishops of the Diocese of Orange for supporting us to support you.
We hope to see you around in the Diocese of Orange in California! Our Deaf community is welcoming, and at the same time willing to teach you sign language. So, this is a win-win. Give to God by going to church and learn at the same time, which is why most people who attend our services pick up the language quite fast.
Catholic ASL
The Diocese of Orange has Catholic ASL resources at your fingertips. Search among our Christian ASL database in the links above to find what you are looking for. Catholic American Sign Language videos are posted every week. We train Christian American Sign Language ministry leaders. Our ASL Church liturgies attract many from all over the Greater Los Angeles area.
Catholic ASL
Do you know that you can find a Deaf Church near you? Catholic Churches that support the Deaf and Hard of hearing can be found in our custom directory.
The definition of the word “catholic” is universal. ASL is short for American Sign Language. You can find a church universally in sign language almost anywhere in the word. Check it out!
Those of you residing in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, and San Diego you can see our mass times here. Anyone who wants to find an online Catholic Deaf church service can click here.
ASL Church
A big component of any Deaf Church is the use of American Sign Language. This includes parents of Deaf children. Family members of the Deaf are in most ways obligated to know ASL anyways. Language within any culture is cherished or sacred. It is the language that they relate to God and the manner in which they yearn to know God through.
We realize that many have relatives that are Deaf and do not yet know ASL. Attending our services, retreats, and other public gatherings increases your language receptivity skills. “Little by little” as the idiom goes. In no time our Deaf community will support you in your ASL language quest. Over a couple years you will be up-to-speed and converse fluently in Sign Language.
Catholic American Sign Language
In addition to already being fluent in ASL or if you are learning the language you will find that there are different signs for biblical terms. Yes, nearly every Christian denomination has it’s own version of biblical terms. Why? Because the signs used denotes the underlying theology. i.e. Catholic American Sign Language signs will be different than most protestant or baptist churches. Some Christian ASL signs are the same i.e. “sin”. What is more interesting is the differences between national Catholic sign languages. For example, the Catholic ASL sign for God is a bent open-B arching above the head with your dominant hand. In Italy, LIS is the sign language use there. For God, it is simply the index finger of your dominant hand pointed upward. International Catholic sign language signs are different but, underlying the same theology.
What is even more odd or confusing is to find non-denominational churches using the same signs other non-American Catholic countries are using. For example, non-denominational Christian American Sign Language for a term may be the index finger pointed upward like the Catholics in Italy do. But the question remains as to whether their notion or understanding of the triune God is the same. Interesting huh? Welcome to the Church! At any rate we welcome you to our ASL Church.
Tags: Catholic Deaf Community, Catholic Faith for the Deaf, Orange County ASLMay the Month of our Mother Mary
“May the Month of our Mother Mary” is given to us by ASL Catholic Media and St. Josemaria institute.
“May the Month of our Mother Mary
In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo celebrates Mother’s Day by meditating on our Mother Mary, and why we should turn to her powerful intercession, especially in the Holy Rosary. He also reflects on the theology behind repetitive and intercessory prayer, and St. Josemaria’s suggestions for how to honor Mary in the month of May.
What you will hear:
– How Mary anticipates the needs of others in the Gospels
– How becoming children of Mary leads to becoming children of God
– Why we should turn to our Mother Mary’s powerful intercession, especially in the Holy Rosary
– How we are missing out on graces from our Lord when we don’t ask for them
– The theology behind repetitive and intercessory prayer
– St. Josemaria’s suggestions for how to honor Mary in May
Quotes: “We are in the month of May, which is arguably the most beautiful month of the year… therefore it is very appropriate for us to celebrate this month as the month of Our Mother, in fact, we celebrate Mother’s Day for very good reason in the month of May. ”
“For the unceasing prayer of a just man is of great avail.” (James 5:16)
“Think bigger than favors just for me; think of the Church, think of souls, think of conversions, think of vocations, vocations to celibacy, vocations to marriage, vocations to the priesthood, vocations to religious life, … for people who desire to take their baptismal call seriously. We need a lot of those people, the laity…. We need to ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers through the intercession of Mary, especially this month.”
“Yes, [the Rosary] is repetitive, but it shouldn’t grow old. And, I think, the Lord wants us to repeat it, because he wants to test our desire. He wants to make our desire deliberate and make it grow.”
“Mary lived with her eyes fixed on Christ, treasuring his every word: ‘She kept all these things, pondering them in her heart’ (Lk 2:19; cf. 2:51). The memories of Jesus, impressed upon her heart, were always with her, leading her to reflect on the various moments of her life at her Son’s side. In a way those memories were to be the “rosary” which she recited uninterruptedly throughout her earthly life.” (St. John Paul the Great, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, no. 11)
ASL Catholic Media provides instructional content about the Catholic faith in American Sign Language. Whether you are Deaf, hearing, a Catholic or non-Catholic, all are welcome!”- ASL Catholic Media YouTube post
Tags: American Sign Language, Christian Deaf Ministry, Christian Deaf Ministry Videos, Sign Language, VideosEucharistic Miracles Scala Italy
Al Alvord shares with us the Eucharistic Miracles Scala Italy edition. These Catholic Christian Deaf videos are in American Sign Language for everyone to enjoy.
“The miracle occurred in Scala, Italy. Sr Maria Celeste Crostarosa and Fr. Alphonsus Maria Liguori founded the Monastery named Most Holy Redeemer. On September 11 1732, Fr Alphonsus placed the Blessed Sacrament with the Host and it was exposed to public for three months. Every Thursday, they noticed Christ’s face appeared in the Host. The other nuns and people were witnesses. Christ’s face in the Host appeared only every Thursday, not other days for three months in row.”-Al Alvord Youtube page.
