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CV NEWS FEED // Holy Angels Catholic Church of the Deaf in Vernon, Los Angeles, has become a vibrant spiritual home for the Deaf community, blending faith and accessibility to create an engaging worship experience.
The church, established in 1987 by then-Archbishop Roger Mahony, is dedicated to creating a space where Deaf Catholics can fully participate in Mass through American Sign Language (ASL), visual aids, and other practices, according to Angelus, the Archdiocese’s official newsletter.
Led by its longtime pastor, Father Tom Schweitzer, who is himself Deaf, Holy Angels ensures that every aspect of the Mass is accessible. Volunteers support the service with ASL interpreters, captions, and visuals, even incorporating tactile elements like vibrating drums to help the Deaf and hard-of-hearing parishioners feel the music. The parish also broadcasts Mass via Zoom to reach those who are unable to attend in person.
Holy Angels also serves as a center of community support and connection, Angelus reported. Deacon Tomas Garcia, a permanent deacon and psychologist, works closely with parishioners and families, offering support and guidance to families struggling to connect with deaf children.
Through family workshops, the church helps Hispanic families learn ASL and deepen their relationships with Deaf children. Staff member Hilda Jimenez, who has multiple Deaf family members, offers guidance to parents as they learn to navigate Deaf culture and build stronger connections with their children.
Angelus highlighted the story of Joanna Hinojosa-Martínez, whose mother brought her to Holy Angels nearly 30 years ago, seeking a place where her Deaf daughter could truly connect with a faith community.
From her very first Mass, led by Father Schweitzer, Martínez felt understood and embraced. The church’s accessibility transformed her faith experience, which had previously been hindered by a language barrier that left her feeling disconnected and uninterested—a concern for her mother.
“It felt like home,” she told Angelus. “The Deaf became my role models, and they became my leaders.”
Martínez went on to become the music and liturgy director at Holy Angels in 2022, nearly 30 years after first attending Mass there. Her appointment was a natural progression, as the church had long been a second home to her. “I got married here, and my daughter was baptized here,” Martínez shared.
Though she has since stepped down from her official role, Martínez continues to play an integral part in the church’s ministry. She volunteers regularly, working alongside a dedicated group of five to six volunteers to ensure the Mass is accessible to all.
Their tasks include creating PowerPoint presentations with captions and visuals, managing video screens, and coordinating visual cues with the priest and the team to guide the congregation.
“We have a person responsible for managing the lights because it’s visually important for Deaf people to know where to focus,” Martínez said. “It’s all about visual cues and visual information; for the Deaf, the eyes are the windows to our soul.”
