FOR DECADES, DEAF Ministry has been part of the Diocese of Orange. For the last few years—after the churches returned to “normal” when pandemic restrictions were lifted—the ministry has been led by Fr. Steve Correz, who concurrently serves as pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fullerton. He is assisted by Fr. Scott Allen and coordinator Larry Lopez. Together, they have assembled a core group of priests fluent in American Sign Language and are working to expand access to the Word of God for Deaf and hard-of-hearing Catholics throughout the diocese.
DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PARISHIONERS PARTICIPATED IN THE MAY 13 MASS USING AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE. PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
“Proclaim a joyful sound and let it be heard!” The words from Isaiah 48:20 opened the entrance antiphon last month as about 60 Deaf and hard-of-hearing worshipers gathered for Mass in the small chapel at Christ Our Savior Church in Santa Ana. They answered that call not with shouts or song, but with their hands, their eyes and their hearts.
ABOUT 60 DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING WORSHIPERS GATHERED ON MAY 13 FOR MASS IN THE SMALL CHAPEL AT CHRIST OUR SAVIOR CHURCH IN SANTA ANA.
The Deaf Ministry’s mission goes far beyond American Sign Language at Mass. The goal is to build a true community for Deaf Catholics throughout the diocese, one that includes all the sacraments, Sunday Mass and the fellowship that nurtures faith.
“We want to rebuild and sustain the program through technology, including websites and newsletters, and by establishing an endowment through the Orange Catholic Foundation to cover costs,” said Fr. Allen. “More importantly, we want to bring back the full faith formation program for anyone seeking closer union with Christ and His Church.”
FR. SCOTT ALLEN CELEBRATES MASS FOR THE DEAF COMMUNITY ON MAY 13 AT CHRIST OUR SAVIOR CATHOLIC CONTINUES ON PAGE 11 CHURCH IN SANTA ANA.
At present, the ministry is centered on Sunday Mass at Christ Our Savior. Expanding in-person services is costly, so the ministry is also exploring emerging technologies to reach more people and build a strong donor base to support the work. For many members of the Deaf Catholic community, that work is deeply personal. Omar Oregel, 35, is a research engineer at Edwards Lifesciences. Born deaf, he has been a part of the ministry since childhood. After receiving First Communion, he became a lector, inspired by his older sister Jasmine, who is also deaf.
“I wanted to be like her, to serve the Deaf community in worship and to make my mom proud,” he said. Today, he helps lead community responses as older parishioners step aside and a younger generation begins taking on leadership roles.
Oregel remembers how difficult attending a hearing Mass once was. Before smartphones, apps and captioning tools, Deaf worshipers often had to rely entirely on a missal, struggling to keep up with the readings and the rhythm of the liturgy.
“It was very overwhelming for us to even show up to Mass,” he said. “We always felt there was a delay — when to stand, when to sit.”
Technology has transformed that experience. Worshipers can now download readings in advance from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, use captioning tools to follow along, and even read a priest’s homily if an interpreter is unavailable. What was once isolating can now feel accessible and immediate. That sense of progress reflects the larger hope behind Deaf Ministry’s renewal: not simply to make Mass understandable, but to make every Catholic feel fully included in the life of the Church. In Santa Ana, the joyful sound of faith may be silent to the ear, but it is unmistakable to the soul. For more information, visit occatholicdeaf.org