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.
Palm Sunday Year C + ASL
Palm Sunday Year C + ASL is shared with us by our friends at ASL Catholic Media and Fr. Mike Depcik. Subscribe to their channels to discover more great Catholic content in American Sign Language.
Our Sunday Hope Vlog: Fourth Sunday of Lent
Our Sunday Hope Vlog: Fourth Sunday of Lent is given to us by Fr. Sean Loomis from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Keep up the good work!
Is Baptism in fact the only way to salvation?
Is Baptism in fact the only way to salvation? ASL Youcat answers this question in American Sign Language.
World Day of the Sick Mass
World Day of the Sick Mass will be celebrated on February 12th at 10am at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA. Many who bear the burden of physical ailments are more than welcome to attend this sacred mass. Every year the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community attends. The Diocese has a elite cadre of ASL interpreters to select from. Our ASL Interpreters have been going strong serving the Deaf community for over 25+ years. One interpreter of ours knows at least three languages including ASL that we know of. So, please come the World Day of the Sick Mass.
It may be an opportunity for members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community to join the Order of Malta.
The mass will most likely be multi-lingual. If English, Spanish, Vietnamese, or Sign Language is your mother tongue, we got you covered. God so loves all of us that he wants you to draw us to himself.
Sleep well tonight and rise in the morning. Bringing your heavy cross, back ache, broken heart, and stress at the feet our Lord Jesus Christ. May we receive our Lords peace and healing tomorrow as we go to the World Day of Sick Mass.
Deaf Church Where?
Deaf Church where? You can find a Deaf Catholic parish almost anywhere in the United States of America. Moreover, there are Catholic parishes supporting the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Ireland, United Kingdom, Singapore, Spain, Mexico, Argentia, Italy, Poland, Germany…etc to name a few. You will be able to find in such dioceses around the world prominent Deaf ministries and Deaf pastoral workers. To find a Deaf Catholic parish near you, you need simply to click on the link above. Simply enter your address or city to which the nearest parish will present itself. Deaf Church where? Will help you by clicking the link above to find your nearest Deaf Catholic congregation. Another place where can find information about Deaf Catholic parishes in the United States is at the National Catholic Office for the Deaf.
On our site and at the NCOD we pray that you will be able to find the nearest Deaf Catholic worship service in your area. We hope that you are welcomed by a team of Deaf ministers and/or hearing ministers who understand Deaf culture. We especially hope that you will share this website resource with your friends, family members, coworkers, and classmates. Help us build a better Deaf Catholic ministry! With Deaf Church Where? We can pin point and direct you and those whom you care about to the nearest Catholic Diocese and parish. Some parishes have interpreters and others have priests who sign the mass completely in ASL. We are all thankful for the interpreters or priests who communicate in American Sign Language to give us the word of God and the precious body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Be assured by clicking the above link you can find the answer to your own question: Deaf Church Where?
