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Deaf community celebrates unique ministry program to peers

The Ministry Formation Program for Catholic deaf persons celebrates its 30th anniversary on Sept. 15, 2024 at St. Francis Borgia Deaf Center’s weekly Mass for deaf Catholics. This is the only program in the United States for deaf Catholics seeking certification in deaf lay ministry and the Archdiocese of Chicago is the only diocese offering this certification program. (Cyndy Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Father Joseph Mulcrone, director of the Archdiocese of Chicago's Catholic Office of the Deaf, speaks in American Sign Language during Mass. The Ministry Formation Program for Catholic deaf persons celebrates its 30th anniversary on Sept. 15, 2024 at St. Francis Borgia Deaf Center’s weekly Mass for deaf Catholics. This is the only program in the United States for deaf Catholics seeking certification in deaf lay ministry and the Archdiocese of Chicago is the only diocese offering this certification program. (Cyndy Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Participants kneel during Mass. (Cyndy Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Father Stephen Opoku, a priest from Ghana in residence at Mary, Undoer of Knots Parish, Chicago, prays the eucharistic prayer in American Sign Language. (Cyndy Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Massgoers sing in American Sign Language during Mass. (Cyndy Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Massgoers greet a man from Poland in American Sign Language. (Cyndy Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Ian Robertson, director of the Ministry Formation Program, speaks to participants. (Cyndy Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Minette Sternke, an alumni of the program and president of the National Catholic Office of the Deaf, speaks to participants. (Cyndy Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)
Women look over pictures of program graduates and posters about the program. (Cyndy Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic)

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