Need for audio loops so faithful can hear services

Sydney
4 August 2002

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Need for audio loops so faithful can hear services

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Need for audio loops so faithful can hear services

By Marilyn Kerjean

Many Sydney churches are still without audio loops, says Shirley Carroll of the Ephpheta Centre Team, the Catholic ministry for the deaf and hearing-impaired.

People who have been faithful parish members for 40, 50 or 60 years are often denied access to what is being said in church because their hearing is failing, she says.

They may find themselves isolated from the Church; indeed, many do drop out of parishes. Others may feel they are not part of the assembly and pray on their own while they are there.

Shirley says that churches that do have audio loops installed may need to make their congregation more aware of the fact by putting a sign near the door, on the pews or in the parish bulletin each week.

The Ephpheta Centre, based at Flemington, takes its name from Mark’s Gospel (Mk 7:34) which recounts that when Jesus healed the deaf man, he said: “Ephpheta” (“be open”).

Australian Catholics celebrate Ephpheta Sunday at the beginning of Hearing Awareness Week (August 25-31). A third of people aged over 65 suffer hearing loss of some sort.

The Ephpheta Centre Team will open a pastoral ministry conference at Kensington on September 6-8 to the deaf and hearing-impaired and those who work with them.

Fr Neil Brown and Fr Laurie McNamara, from the Catholic Institute of Sydney, will speak on the Church’s moral teachings with respect to stem-cell research, IVF, euthanasia and marriage.

Call 9764 4711, TTY (teletypewriter) 9764 4520, fax 9764 4722 or visit Ephpheta@bigpond.com.au