Deaf and Sign Community Service

Denise is a community/pastoral worker and her role is to support the deaf community and their families (hearing and deaf). She visits people in their homes, outside in the wider community and every month organizes a Catholic deaf mass in a parish. This mass is celebrated in British Sign Language. She also teaches priests, deacons or other interested people liturgical signs.

Denise is CCRS trained (Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies) and can offer preparation for sacraments. She is a deaf advocate who focuses on inner and spiritual wellbeing. Alongside our working relationship with the Catholic Deaf Association, she is involved in coordinating national deaf pilgrimages and retreats.

We support people of all faiths and those of non-religious identity.

Damien supports the deaf community and their families (hearing and deaf) in his role as a community/pastoral worker, he visits Deaf people in their homes/care homes, in hospital, outside in the wider community and at local deaf centres. Deaf people can feel very isolated so visits can ensure they have contact with a fellow BSL user which helps to alleviate feelings of loneliness and stress.

Every month Damien is responsible for creating and distributing the ‘Deaf Monthly News’ leaflet which goes out to over 50 deaf people with news and information about monthly masses.

Damien is a qualified sign language tutor and teaches British Sign Language (BSL) in schools, businesses and to staff at Nugent. Comments from people who have attended the courses include…

“I really enjoyed the course and feel I learnt some good skills, wish it had been longer.”

“I enjoyed the sessions and can communicate with my colleagues.”

Damien creates signed videos for the Nugent website.

Our aim is to see deaf people and their families fully included in all aspects of society and treated with respect, dignity and above all equality.