Deaf church

So a couple weeks ago I went to a Catholic church for the deaf with Heidi. I was really nervous because apparently it was in a shady part of town, plus I was afraid I wouldn't know what was going on, even though I'm Catholic and have probably been to a million Catholic masses in my life.

So we got there and sat down, and it was remarkably loud for a deaf church (not that I'd been to one before that, I just assumed it would be quieter...). For one, not everyone in the church was deaf, and I've found from my limited experience with deaf people that some of them make noises as they sign and mouth the words they are signing.

When the mass started, the priest, who was deaf, began telling a story about his recent medical ailments very animatedly (I know this because there was an interpreter with a microphone translating the mass for all us hearing people). His name was Ray, and he looked like a big teddy bear.

So anyway, everything was pretty normal, except all the responses were signed obviously. So I learned the sign for 'amen' pretty quickly. Everyone was very friendly (or as Heidi would say, conjugal) at the sign of peace, and by that I mean it literally took ten minutes. EVERYONE in the church got up and walked around and shook everyone's hand. it was crazy.

So, um, yeah, the end. :)