‘My goal,’ Sister Olivine says, ‘is to see deaf people treated equally to hearing people. We need to train deaf people to become leaders in our church.’
Sister Olivine interprets at a nuptial Mass for a deaf couple at St. Ignatius Church, 1981.
Words couldn’t convey the dying man’s sense of happiness to Sister Olivine Fiola, a member of the Missionary Oblates of the Sacred Heart and Mary Immaculate (m.o.).But by signing, Sister Olivine knew that the deaf and blind man was at peace in his last moments of life. Sister Olivine had been with him at the hospital for the previous 24 hours and had just given him Holy Communion when he smiled and signed “peace” to her. “He died not long after,” she remembers. “I had promised him I would be there.”
“Being there” as friend and advocate of the deaf community in
In the early days of her ministry, Sister Olivine often made pastoral visits to deaf adultsand families in their homes. She chuckles, remembering how children often called out, “The church is coming to our home!”
Times change; today, the Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church of the Deaf has signed Mass every Sunday at the Manitoba Centre of the Deaf, where retreats, catechetical instruction and sacramental preparation programs are offered to hearing impaired adults and children—in addition to pastoral home visits. Mass is also offered once a month in the personal care section of the facility for residents unable to attend Mass in the downstairs location.
“Since the Centre opened and our Catholic Church came here,” Sister Olivine says, “we’ve seen an improvement in the lives of deaf people. They are not as isolated as they once were when they were treated as if they had no feelings, and as lepers in Jesus’ time.”
At a gathering after Mass this past Lent, Sister Olivine with deaf parishioners. Also shown in photo, in back, second from right, Elena Martin, coordinator of St. Francis de Sales Manitoba Catholic Church of the Deaf.
Saint Francis de Sales church office provides a daily Catholic presence to visitors and residents at Deaf Centre
This is an exciting time for Sister Olivine. November 2010 marked the 35th anniversary of Deaf Centre
One of her hopes was realized when two members of the Saint Francis de Sales deaf community came forward asking to become associates of her order, the Missionary Oblates of the Sacred Heart and Mary Immaculate. “My goal,” Sister Olivine says, “is to see deaf people treated equally to hearing people. We need to train deaf people to become leaders in our church. Our new associates show my goal is being met.”
Catholic Missions In Canada helps meet those goals. “Our church,” she says, “needs people like Catholic Missions In Canada’s donors. Their financial help and prayers provide opportunities for deaf people to live happy lives on earth and for eternity.” “We are all brothers and sisters created by God. May God pour blessings on Catholic Missions In Canada’s donors for following Christ’s teachings and improving the lives of deaf people.”
Anne Hanley is publications and communications officer at Catholic
