Religious Education
The Diocese of Orange in California offers religious education for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Our Sacramental religious preparation program is in American Sign Language. Our parishioners are Deaf, Deafblind, Hard of hearing, and hearing. We support those with disabilities who know American Sign Language. Our community supports those who have family members who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. We offer ASL and deaf culture classes as needed.
The demographic population in California is ethnically mixed, but this truly enriches our faith community. We respect and honor ethnic cultural traditions all the while advocating for Jesus Christ and His Church. Our approach to education is to assess each person to see which kind of instructional method will most likely work. For some it is strictly 1:1, for others it is in a group setting. We create individual education plans upon request or need. Everyone is different and has different aptitudes for learning. We get it.
Program
Our program meets weekly on Sunday before or after mass. Our schedule is posted and given to parents, sponsors, and those participating usually in the fall. We committed to the teachings of the church and follow a lengthy process of formation. Why so long? Because, to withstand and deter evil in this world takes time, training, and discernment. Discipleship is life-long. There is no end. A few initial years in our eviternal existence is nothing in comparison to the big picture.
Be assured that we will cover pressing dogmatic and moral theological questions. Yes, we methodically answer the tough themes, questions, and objections that the devil would like all of us to believe. The difficulty, opportunity, and treasure is to know why all of the Catholic Churches teachings promise happiness, joy and fulfillment. Contrary to popular and sinful rationale of our time does the Church offer answers to make us happy, or happy again.
Join
Join our community by registering. We keep in contact with email, newsletters, and blog/vlog posts. Retreats are frequently requested because we seek the Lord and vice-versa. We have retreat offerings for only men and only women and coed as they appear.
Our bread and butter program deals with sacramental preparation. We offer First Communion, Confirmation 1 & 2, RCIA, and baptism classes for parents and Godparents.
Church
Why come to church at all? Going to church is a safe harbor for our soul. God overshadows the church to allow us to rest in him. It is a place and time to be one together. Outside the church is disunity and chaos. God our creator, protector, and shepherd soothes our being. He gives us exactly what we need, Him!
We are created to know, and our intellect never stops inquiring about things, let alone God. Our religious education program aims to reveal God’s saving plan for all of us and prepares souls to receive him via the sacraments.
Visit our community in-person and subscribe to our social media channels.
Tags: ASL Catholic, Catholic Deaf Community, Catholic Deaf Community California, Christian Deaf Community Orange County, Orange County ASLASL Sign for Catholic
ASL Sign for Catholic. These four words encompass what our Deaf Church lives and breathes. We communicate in American Sign Language. We are the light of the world as followers of Christ to all. It appears to many of us that the world is deaf. It does not listen to words and teaching of Christ as the way, the truth, and the life.
ASL Sign for Catholic
Being a follower of Christ involves carrying our cross. What better way than to show to the world the cross we carry than on our foreheads. For our intellect or mind gives command to our actions and words. We intentionally follow the Lord and the way of life he led to become more like unto him.
Want to know more signs? Check out the rest of the resources in our website. Better yet, visit us on Sundays.
The video to the left demonstrates how to sign the word Catholic in ASL. Why is it done this way? In Lent we receive ashes on their forehead. The dark ashes worn by the faithful on ash Wednesday is a indicator that someone is likely Catholic.
The picture below is an Ash Wednesday comical relief.
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 ASLWho belongs to the Catholic Church?
Who belongs to the Catholic Church? The Diocese of Orange in California offers faith formation classes and sacramental preparation. The Diocese of Orange Catholic Deaf Community spreads the work of ASL Youcat in evangelization.
Tags: ASL Catholic, Catholic Deaf Community California, Catholic Faith ASL, Catholic Faith for the Deaf, OC Deaf, OC Deaf ASL, Orange Catholic Deaf, Orange Catholic Deaf Community, Orange County ASL, Orange County DeafGospel for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Gospel for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Tags: ASL catholic videos, Deaf Catholic Media, Diocese, Diocese Catholic, Diocese Deaf, OC Deaf, OC Deaf ASL, Orange Catholic Deaf, Orange County ASL, Orange County Catholic Deaf, Orange County DeafSt. Andrew Kim
St. Andrew Kim is depicted here in this video in ASL. More videos of the saints can be found here.
Tags: Catholic Deaf Community, Catholic Faith for the Deaf, Deaf Catholic Saint Stories, Deaf Community Orange County, Deaf lessons, Deaf Spiritual Resources, Diocese of Orange, OC Deaf ASL, Orange County ASL, Orange County Catholic Deaf, Orange County Catholic Deaf Community, Orange County DeafSt. Paul
St. Paul depicted in American Sign Language for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Catholics. For more videos of such kind please check them out here.
Tags: ASL Catholic, Catholic Deaf Community, Catholic Deaf Community California, Catholic Faith for the Deaf, Catholic Saints ASL, Catholic Saints in American Sign Language, Christian Deaf Community Orange County, Deaf Catholic Saint Stories, Orange Catholic Deaf Community, Orange County ASLSt. Augustine & Monica
St. Augustine & Monica depicted in American Sign Language for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. These great videos are Deaf ministry stepping stones. To find more videos of the kind click here.
Tags: ASL Catholic, Catholic Deaf Community, Catholic Deaf Community California, Catholic Faith ASL, Catholic Faith for the Deaf, Catholic Saints in American Sign Language, Christian Deaf Community Orange County, Orange Catholic Deaf, Orange Catholic Deaf Community, Orange County ASL, Orange County DeafSt. Elizabeth Ann Seton
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton depicted in American Sign Language for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. This and other similar videos are great discussion starters in any Deaf Ministry. To find more videos of the same, click here.
Tags: ASL Catholic, Catholic Deaf Community, Catholic Deaf Community California, Christian Deaf Community Orange County, OC Deaf, OC Deaf ASL, Orange County ASL