The Archdiocese of Sydney’s Synod, held at the beginning of May, highlighted areas where growth is still needed in liturgy, community and mission.
One testimony left a particularly lasting impression, drawing attention to the need for greater accessibility for Catholics who are too often overlooked.
Donovan Mulligan, Manager of Pastoral Care at the Ephpheta Centre, addressed the Synod and candidly spoke to the challenges deaf and hard of hearing Catholics face when accessing sacraments and participating in the life of the church.
Speaking to The Catholic Weekly in the days after, he said it had been important to “share the experience of a deaf Catholic person and wanted people to think about access to reconciliation.”
Recounting a recent visit to a confessional, he was confronted by barriers many hearing Catholics wouldn’t consider.
Unable to hear through the screen, he had to open the curtain slightly to see the priest’s face and lip-read what was being said – giving the priest a “rude shock.”
“I had to gesture to him, ‘I’m deaf, I’m deaf,’” Donovan said.
“Then I had to use my voice and hope the priest could understand me. So I did use my voice during confession and hopefully the priest did understand me.
“At the end of the day, I know God is listening to me anyway.”
When it came time for penance Donavan “had to say to him I need you to turn your face to look at me so I can read your lips.”
“But just leaving there, really made me think, wow, there’s a lot of deaf people, especially in rural areas and they need help and access.”
After sharing his testimony, several Synod members approached Donovan to thank him, admitting they had never previously considered the needs of deaf and hard of hearing Catholics.
“I thought it was really important for me to be there, to share that message, to make sure that the church can be accessible to everyone,” he told The Catholic Weekly.
Working quietly for decades to bridge that gap is the Ephpheta Centre, the Catholic ministry serving deaf and hard of hearing people across the Archdioceses of Sydney and Dioceses of Parramatta and Broken Bay.
Ephpheta Centre business manager Liz McDowell said it was established in 1979 “after many deaf Catholics left school and found themselves unable to access Mass, Reconciliation and other sacraments in parish life.”
Today, nearly 50 years later, the Ephpheta Centre continues to provide accessible liturgies, pastoral care and sacramental preparation for deaf and hard of hearing Catholics throughout New South Wales, to ensure they are not excluded from key moments of faith and family life.
“There’s a lot of isolation in the deaf community,” McDowell explained.
“We organise opportunities for deaf people to come together so nobody is left behind.
“We all have a responsibility as baptised, Catholic people to participate in our faith, and Ephpheta allows that to happen.”
The need is especially acute in regional NSW. Many travel hours to attend an accessible Mass because opportunities closer to home don’t exist. Others rely on livestreamed liturgies because attending in person is not possible.
“For hearing people, you can just duck into any parish for Mass, deaf people don’t have that flexibility,” said McDowell.
The Synod testimony also highlighted broader questions of inclusion within parish life.
Donovan noted that many churches were built decades ago, without screens to read from and with boxed confessionals. While some structural limitations remain difficult to change, he believes there are simple steps every parish can take immediately – aside from learning Auslan.
“People can still communicate even if they don’t know Auslan,” he said.
“You can use a pen and paper. Gesture. Point at things. Smile. Make people feel welcome.”
One example McDowell shared with The Catholic Weekly involved a priest who encountered a deaf parishioner before Mass.
Though unable to sign, the priest quickly printed copies of the readings, homily and PowerPoint slides.
“In that moment, the priest wasn’t able to sign the Mass, but what he did do was make that person feel seen,” she said.
As the church in Australia continues conversations about liturgy, community and mission, Donovan hopes deaf Catholics will no longer remain invisible within parish communities.
His testimony at the synod was not simply about accessibility but belonging.
“We just want people to feel that they’re welcome,” he said. “Not only included, but that they belong.”
