It’s been nearly 30 years since a Catholic Deaf Priest was ordained in the San Francisco Bay Area. In the video clip below, guest vlogger, Kata Strawn, Director of Religious Education at St. Joseph’s Center for the Deaf (located in Hayward, CA), invites the Deaf Community to acknowledge, celebrate and congratulate Father Paul Zirimenya, a native of Africa and current SF Bay Area resident, who will be ordained on June 9th, 2007 in San Francisco at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco, CA, at 10am.
On June 10th, at 10am, Father Paul Zirimenya will give his first Mass of Thanksgiving for St. Joseph’s Center for the Deaf Catholic Church at Holy Family Ethnic Mission. The address is 3880 Smith Street, Union City, CA 94587.
hi..
thanks for this information… im fr. peter miles sollesta… a filipino priest/religious of the congregation Little Mission for the Deaf (Piccola Missione per i Sordomuti)… an italian congregation that works solely for the deaf… we have contacts with Fr. Tom Coughlin and the and some other priest in ICD.. last time Fr. Micheal Medas and Fr. Thom (new hampshire) was came in our house in Rome and told us about Fr. Paul’s ordination… anyway… i would like to ask if i could avail fr. paul’s email address so i can make communications with him… in our congregation we also have an Congolese Priest (i.e. a priest for the Deaf) and also deaf nuns… anyway, i would be glad if you could forward me his email or if you could give him my contact address.
Rev. Peter Miles S. Sollesta, PMS
Left by fr. peter miles, pms on June 6th, 2007
Hi. Fr. Peter. I will send you his e-mail address to your personal e-mail. I’m glad you found this information and I’m sure Father Paul will enjoy hearing from you!
Blessings!
~ LaRonda
Left by LaRonda on June 6th, 2007
Please I will appreciate if Fr. Peter Miles Sollesta,PMS will get in touch with me> I have not heard from him for so long. Thanks! GOD BLESS!
Left by Fr. Elmer S. Empinado on February 28th, 2008
Is he the first priest to be ordained due to some rule or did no other deaf priests come forward to be ordained?
Left by Universal Life Church on March 6th, 2008
There was no rule. There are very few deaf men who choose and are approved for ordination. Fr. Paul was one of the first deaf men to be ordained in the bay area in nearly 30 years. For more information, Google the Diocese of Oakland and San Francisco.
~ LaRonda
Left by LaRonda on March 6th, 2008
Hi! Brother and Sister,
I apply to be seminary in the Philippines. I fail access the seminary. My uncle is Msgr. Jay of San Roque de Manila, Parish. He went two deaf priest and brother enter the seminary in the Philippines. For me, not sure enterance the seminary. I know the Filipino hearing priest did not accept the deaf priest. I feel sad because I am still service of the deaf church.
I pray my life of God. I don’t expectation come here in the Philippines.
I was Fr. Tom Coughlin and Fr. Minseo Park Lee. I talked about the access the Deaf Priest.
One day, i attended in the Church, San Roque de Manila, Parish. I meet Msgr. Jay. He good news about me. He will talked to Cardinal Rosales of Manila Cathedral Church. I feel suprise he is brave. He went presecen the two deaf person.
I am glad and grateful the Lord. why because for 4 years fail the seminary. today i am rest my life.
I still pray for deaf community in the Philippines.
I m not sure access the seminary for study in a priest.
But i don’t have sponsor scholarship.
Today I am still study Master in Arts, Psychology in University of the Philippines. but not yet i take a study Theology in seminary.
I feel hard working for the deaf service.
you will comment me: johnpaolo2006@gmail.com
Left by John Paulo on June 9th, 2008
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
My name is Hugo,Thai Catholic,29 y/o.I have graduate in Sign Language Interpreter Programme in 2002 and work for Deaf association and to be volunteer at Church.
Thailand is the Buddism country and we have Catholic for less 1 %.In 2002 I interest to telling my Deaf friends to come church on sunday,they are not catholic but interest to learn the catechism.Now we have 12 Deafs that convert into Catholic Church.
Now I studying in Christian Studies Programme at Lux Mundi Major Seminary in Thailand for 4 years(for now 4th year) and still work with the catholic Deaf community,we have only 1 interpreter (Myself) to work with this ministry in Thailand,very hard to find one who have real interest to serve in this ministry.
I interest to be a priest or religious life,I have interest the congregation that work for the Deaf.I ever see the website of Dominican Deaf Apostolate but my problem is English not good.If someone who read this message and know more about Deaf Congregation or Deaf community that I can practice more,please tell me or tell the priest who response this need.
Thank you so much for your kindness for Deafs in Thailand.
Hugo.
Interpreter and Catechesist Teacher of
Deaf Catholic Association of Thailand (DCAT.)
Left by Hugo on September 22nd, 2008
can you give me Fr. Paul’s email please?
because I am Deaf Acolyte which is belong to Oriental Orthodox, so i wonder if he can help me how to get successful to become a Deaf priest?
will you give me from his email?
prayerfully,
Acolyte Tigran Khachikyan, Armenian Apostolic Church of Burbank, CA
Left by Tigran Khachikyan on December 11th, 2008
I am trying to find a church in the Daly City area for my brother, who is
hard of hearing (90% loss of hearing). We just relocated from the
New Orleans area and he does not have a car so it would be difficult
to attend in Hayward or Vallejo areas. Any advice?? Much appreciated.
Left by Alice Lewis on March 26th, 2009
Alice,
Please contact Kata Strawn, Director of Religious Education at St. Joseph’s Center for the Deaf at Kstrawn@sjcd.org. She will point you in the right direction. If that doesn’t work, contact the Diocese of San Francisco and they will direct you to a church in your area.
Thanks.
LaRonda
Left by LaRonda on March 27th, 2009