First-Ever Deaf Eucharistic Congress Held
The inaugural Eucharistic congress designed specifically for the Deaf Catholic community convened from April 4–6, 2025. Over 200 Deaf Catholics gathered for this unique event.
The congress took place at the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Maryland. This location has previously hosted events for Deaf Catholics.
Event Focused on Deaf Community and ASL
Drawing inspiration from the National Eucharistic Congress, this gathering was centered entirely on the Eucharist and tailored for the Deaf Catholic community. Father Mike Depcik, one of the limited number of Deaf priests in the U.S., was instrumental in designing the event.
Key features included Deaf presenters, adoration, Mass, fellowship, and opportunities for confession with priests fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). All proceedings were conducted in ASL, emphasizing the importance of shared language for worship and connection, as highlighted by organizer Sister Kathleen Monica Schipani.
The congress addressed the significant lack of accessible church services in ASL, citing survey data indicating that 96% of Deaf individuals do not attend church for this reason.
Faith Expression and Community Building
Speakers noted the powerful way ASL facilitates engagement with faith. Father Sean Loomis described how ASL makes the Gospels particularly vivid. Presenter Jeannine Adkins, founder of the DeafCatholicMom digital ministry, spoke about the strong sense of family within the Deaf community and the shared desire to bring people closer to Jesus through the Eucharist.
Hopes for the Future
Organizers aim for the Deaf Eucharistic Congress to become an annual event. They hope it will grow and encourage greater participation and inclusion of Deaf Catholics within the Church, leading to what Sister Kathleen termed “a fuller expression of the body of Christ.”
