ASIA/SOUTH KOREA – Mission with the deaf, through video in sign language
Seoul (Agenzia Fides) – The announcement of the Word of God and catechesis to deaf children and adults makes use of new media tools such as videos, in which sign language is used: this is the initiative of the “Korean Catholic Pastoral Research Institute” which produced and distributed to Catholic communities, parishes, associations and schools the sign language version of the “Catholic Video Doctrine”, filmed catechesis that can and is used in the pastoral care of the deaf throughout the country.
The Korean Catholic Pastoral Research Institute, which operates under the aegis of the Korean Bishops’ Conference, has commissioned the Busan Catholic Mission for the Deaf, led by Father Cho Jo-hee, to translate and produce the sign language videos for this specific work. Numerous deaf people and volunteers participated in the sign language interpretation, thus completing the deaf version of the 47 episodes of the “Catholic Doctrine in Video”, already used as an auxiliary manual for evangelization and catechesis in all the dioceses of the country. The videos have subtitles and graphics, and were made in collaboration with the “Catholic Peace Broadcasting” organization, which took care of the video shooting, graphics, editing and technical supervision.
The Bishops’ Conference of Korea wanted to support the work of sign language translation, to respond to all these community realities where deaf people are often marginalized, above all for lack of adequate means; the aim is to give them the opportunity to listen to the Word of God and to reflect on it, with the presentation of the fundamental contents of the Christian faith.
“Some deaf people, who have communication difficulties, end up moving away even from the sacraments, while these videos are a sign of attention for them and can help them feel fully part of the community”. They themselves must become aware that they are children of God, loved by him”, we note at the Busan mission.
The Korean Catholic Church also has the first deaf priest in Asia, Father Min Seo Park, ordained a priest in Seoul in 2007. After 14 years of commitment in Seoul, in pastoral care and apostolate with the deaf, Father Min Seo Park is now a missionary in Landover Hills, Maryland (USA), where he continues his mission of proclaiming the Gospel to the deaf
(PA) (Agenzia Fides, 23/1/2023)
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