Communing In Silence

Deaf people gathered near the front of the papal Mass at Athletic Park in Wellington yesterday as interpreter Rachel Locker translated for them.

One of only three fulltime interpreters for the deaf in New Zealand, she said it was one of the hardest jobs she had done because of the religious language.

“I’m not a Catholic, but that is part of being an interpreter.”

Rachel Locker began her work as an interpreter a year ago, after completing a course run by the Association of the Deaf.

She works a five-day week covering anything from going to the doctor to court work, and is on call fulltime for any emergencies.

Photo captions: Locker interpreting the papal Mass for the group of deaf people at Athletic Park yesterday while Pope John Paul II blesses the communion wafer during Mass.