By Tessa Gervasini
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 10, 2025 / 14:01 pm
Mark Rosing has been deaf for most of his life. As a young man, he struggled to grasp the homilies and readings during Mass, feeling disconnected from the spiritual experience. However, he soon realized that despite his hearing impairment, he was still able to receive the most important aspect of Mass – the Eucharist.
This past weekend, Mark and his wife, Kathleen, were among over 200 Deaf and hard of hearing Catholics from across the country who gathered at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg, Maryland for the first Deaf Eucharistic Congress. The event offered a unique opportunity for prayer and sacraments delivered in American Sign Language (ASL).
The Congress kicked off with guided tours of the shrine, where ASL interpreters led attendees around the basilica grounds. The 230 participants, including 200 Deaf or hard of hearing individuals, came together for Mass, confession, and speeches all presented in ASL. Eleven priests, some of whom were Deaf themselves, presided over the liturgies in sign language, ensuring that all Deaf attendees could fully participate.
(Editor’s note: The Deaf community often distinguishes between being “culturally Deaf” — signified by the uppercase “Deaf” — versus losing hearing later in life).
Reflecting on the event, Mark expressed a desire for more opportunities like this within the Catholic Deaf community. He believes that this Congress is just the beginning of greater inclusion and accessibility for Deaf individuals in the Church.
Mark also shared a personal connection with the event organizer, Father Mike Depcik. They had both attended St. Rita School for the Deaf in Ohio, where Father Depcik now serves as a chaplain for Deaf Ministry in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. As one of the few Deaf priests in the world, Father Depcik is dedicated to providing conferences and retreats for Deaf Catholics.
Did you know that there are fewer than 10 Deaf priests serving the entire Deaf Catholic population in the U.S.? It’s a staggering statistic that highlights the need for more representation and support within the community.
One priest who is making a significant impact is Father Mike Depcik. His message is simple yet profound, making it easy to share with other Deaf individuals the importance of the Catholic faith.
Recently, the Rosings attended the first Deaf Catholic Eucharistic Congress, where they shared their unique perspectives. Mark has been hard of hearing and Deaf with a cochlear implant for most of his life, while Kathleen is hearing and not fluent in ASL.
In his opening talk, Depcik drew a parallel between the life of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and the experiences of the Deaf Catholic community. He highlighted the hardships faced by Seton and how they resonate with the challenges of the Deaf community.
Kathleen shared that there have been moments of sadness and rejection within the Deaf Catholic community, similar to what Seton faced. Some parishes lack ASL services, leaving the Deaf feeling alienated.
At the congress, presentations were conducted in ASL, with speaking interpreters available for hearing attendees like Kathleen. This unique experience allowed her to see things from a different perspective.
Mark reflected on the congress, noting how the tables had turned for his wife. Usually reliant on interpreters in hearing environments, Kathleen was able to fully engage in the event.
The congress also featured powerful speakers like Jeannine Adkins, who shared how the Eucharist has been a transformative force in her life. It was a moving and beautiful experience for all in attendance.
