By Sr Christine Masivo, CPS
According to the Vatican’s Fides news agency, a simple pastoral initiative has grown into a meaningful mission of inclusion in Madina, a suburb in Accra, Ghana, for deaf and hard-of-hearing Catholics.
Led by Fr René Yao of the Society of Africa (SMA), the St Martin Deaf Ministry is helping to ensure that the Gospel reaches everyone, especially those who are overlooked in society.
He officially launched the Pastoral Care of the Deaf in Madina, Accra, in November 2020, which has become a vibrant ministry serving a growing group of the deaf and hard-of-hearing faithful.
“At first, I did not have an office. I sat under a tree near the Church. Later, parishioners pointed out that I could not work under a tree and helped me set up a small office,” recalls Fr Yao.
In a statement to Fides, Fr Yao explains that small donations and the generosity of the parishioners help him to sustain the activities of the St Martin Deaf Ministry that he founded.
Inclusion lies at the heart of the pastoral effort, which combines spiritual accompaniment with social engagement and educational initiative.
Inclusive parish community
The ministry of Fr Yao integrates the deaf parishioners fully into the life of the Church in all activities. Sign language courses are also offered to parish members to promote communication and ensure the long-term sustainability of the ministry.
These efforts help to create an environment where the deaf and hearing parishioners can interact freely, building a community grounded in mutual understanding and respect.
His pastoral vision emphasizes unity rather than separation.
“I do not want to separate Masses for the deaf,” he explains. “They already experience enough exclusion. If we celebrate a Mass just for them, we separate them even further from the hearing community. We must pray together as one body of Christ.”
Through this commitment, the St Martin Deaf ministry continues to witness to a Church where everyone, regardless of ability, has a place at the table of the Lord. – Vatican News
