CV NEWS FEED // Catholic Charities Kansas City-St. Joseph (CCKCSJ) has been making significant strides in supporting the Deaf and hard of hearing community through the efforts of Rhonda Scott, its deaf services coordinator.
The Catholic Key reported that under Scott’s leadership, CCKCSJ offers interpreted Masses at multiple parishes throughout the Diocese, ensuring that Deaf individuals can fully participate in worship. In addition to these services, the organization also hosts Thompson’s Table, a community brunch aimed at fostering fellowship and support among the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
According to the Catholic Key, Scott, along with fellow interpreter Becky Turner who has been involved with the ministry for 37 years, also provide interpretation for special events and pastoral visits, including weddings, funerals, and other ceremonies. They also teach American Sign Language (ASL) classes, helping others learn to communicate effectively with the Deaf community.
Scott shared with the Catholic Key that growing up, she assumed that “all Catholics could go to church, get baptized, married, and participate how they chose to in the Catholic Church.”
However, after meeting a Deaf student in high school, she realized that was not necessarily everyone’s path.
“That was my first experience with the fact that not every Catholic had the choice of participation,” she told the Catholic Key.
