The Wellington Catholic Deaf Association is sending a Dominican nun to conferences in Hamburg and Manchester — with a large act of faith.
Wellington-Hutt Valley convenors of the Association, Bernard and Nancy Hill, say they don’t yet know where the money for the trip is coming from. “We’re making an act of faith that it will come from somewhere.”
The Dominican nun is Sister Mercedes Griffin, who is involved in religious education for those with impaired hearing. She will attend international conferences in Hamburg at the beginning of August and at the Manchester Polytechnic from August 11 to 16.
Theme of the Manchester meeting — “Towards a Living Eucharist” — will focus on building a practical RE programme for the deaf in the context of family, school and community. Speakers will include experts from around the world.
Sister Mercedes said: “The local association thought it was of tremendous importance to have someone at the conferences and in addition to fund raising in the archdiocese, we hope for support from other Catholic Deaf Associations in New Zealand, and from sympathetic individuals.”
Sister Mercedes, with fellow-Dominican Sister Gemma, has been involved for the last two years on an extended apostolate to the deaf in what are now the Wellington and Palmerston North dioceses. Their work has been largely concerned with continuing education and formation of hearing impaired people, especially with adults and adolescents.
Sister Gemma is at present completing a course at the National Pastoral Institute in Melbourne.
Sister Mercedes said: “A lot of work is in helping to develop suitable liturgies and sacramental programmes, and in finding catechists who can work with deaf people.”
On her way back from the conferences she hopes to meet others involved in similar work, and also visit training institutions.
The local Deaf Association is also sending out feelers to find how they could co-operate with others labouring under disabilities — such as the crippled, the blind and the intellectually handicapped: What Sister Mercedes describes as “the wounded members of the Mystical Body.”
Those wishing to donate funds towards the attendance at the conference may contact Mr Barry Ward at Box 1290, Wellington.
Picture: Mr Barry Ward, a committee member of the Wellington Catholic Deaf Association, presents Sister Mercedes with a cheque of $30 from the committee, towards her trip to Europe.
