Holy Cross to Hold Workshop on Churches for the Deaf

WORCESTER, Mass. – On Saturday, December 7 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the Rehm Library, the College of the Holy Cross will host a workshop titled "Media Analysis of Audiocentric Churches 'for' the Deaf: Deaf Peoples' Relationship with Power in the Churches, and Interpreters' Role in It." This event is open to the public for a fee of $30. Registration deadline is November 26.

This open-ended group discussion will cover various relevant subtopics including the communication and cultural problems of church architecture, liturgy, hymns, and many other media. The interpreters' roles in dealing with these problems will also be addressed. The major goal of the discussion is to raise awareness of these issues and to strategize for possible solutions to problems. Remaining time will be devoted to hands-on problem solving activities and creative use of interpreters in potential ASL-culture affirmative arts including ASL poetry, gospel storytelling, role playing skits, and ASL Choir with body movements for greater expression in churches. All activities will be facilitated by the workshop moderator. Deaf participants are strongly encouraged to attend and participate.

Patrick "Pax" McCarthy will be facilitating the workshop. McCarthy is a native user of ASL. He earned his B.A. in psychology from Gallaudet University and his M.S. in Deaf Education from Western Maryland College. In his youth, he was an altar boy at the Baltimore Catholic Deaf Church. He is currently practicing yoga meditation with Christian ethics.

Made possible by a generous grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc., this event is part of a series of workshops related to religion in the deaf community. It will be presented in American Sign Language (ASL) only.

This event is co-sponsored by the Holy Cross deaf studies program, Holyoke Community College and the Northeastern University Interpreter Education Project.