By Chainarong Monthienvichienchai
BANGKOK, Thailand – Proclaiming the Gospel and providing pastoral care through sign language is not a “supplementary mission,” but the very pulse of the Church’s identity in the modern era.
This conviction served as the foundation for the annual retreat for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, held from Feb 14–15 in Samphran, west of Bangkok.
Organized by the Pastoral Department for the Deaf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (CBCT), in collaboration with the Diocese of Chanthaburi and the Catholic Association of the Deaf, the gathering sought to bridge the gap between the silent world and the sacramental life of the Church.
For Father Peter Bhuravaj Searaariyah, director of pastoral ministry for the deaf in the Diocese of Chanthaburi, the mission is encapsulated in a singular, poignant vision: “That we all can hear … even those who have no voice.”
“The common understanding is that deaf people are individuals whose voices are often unheard by society,” Father Bhuravaj told LiCAS News.
“In truth, every moment is an opportunity for us to listen to them with the heart of Christ. Proclaiming the Good News in sign language is the heart of the Church’s mission today.”
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