Community Corner
St. Timothy’s Confirmation Class Includes Six Deaf Students From the Deaf Ministry
Of the 42 students receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Timothy in West Hartford this Saturday, April 26th, six students are from its Deaf Ministry, which works in conjunction with the American School for the Deaf. This will be the first time in six years that the Sacrament has been offered to Deaf young adults.
The high number of Deaf students is a sign that St. Timothy is once again taking the lead in providing religious education to people within the Deaf community, said Deacon Dennis Ferguson of St. Timothy. He explains that after the deaths of Monsignor Robert D. Bergin and Sister Maura Joseph Rose, RSM, whom he calls “two giants in the Deaf Ministry,” no one was equipped to fill the void. Since 1972, the two "giants" had instructed hundreds of young people in religious education using sign language.
According to Ferguson, over the last several years several parishioners have become active in revitalizing the Deaf Ministry at the urging of Fr. Henry Cody, pastor of St. Timothy, who has been promoting the need for assistance in this area.
Find out what's happening in West Hartfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“The word is spreading that St. Timothy is a welcoming parish with a signed Mass each week, and the Deaf community is responding,” said Ferguson.
He is quick to point out that Harford has been in the forefront of Deaf education since the founding of the American School for the Deaf in 1817, which was the first in the country, and is encouraged by the resurgence that is taking place.
Find out what's happening in West Hartfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Ferguson said all the students who are making their Confirmation on Saturday were able to participate in two retreats that included fully integrated activities for the Deaf and hearing students.
“It was wonderful to see all the students interacting with one another, and exchanging email addresses when the retreats were over,” said Ferguson. “There is no doubt that meaningful relationships began during these retreats.”
The Confirmation Mass will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Bishop Christie Macaluso at 4 p.m.
For more information about the Deaf Ministry, please contact Deacon Dennis R. Ferguson at (860) 965-0157 or ferguson@drflaw.com.
