At the beginning of Mass this evening, the priest said that there were two young men being initiated into the church during the service. I always love being a witness to such an event – it invigorates my faith. I noticed a woman at the front who was interpreting in sign language. I took a look at the first few pews where the young men and their friends and family were sitting. There were several young people and many children. It was clear that the majority of the group was deaf. Some of the adults were praying along in sign language. In the congregation, I noticed many of the young children fascinated by this new demonstration at the front of the church and tried to mimic the movements. The priest is also able to communicate with sign language and when he spoke, he used it as well. When it came time to baptize the young men, the whole group made their way to the church entrance where the Baptismal font is located. The young men appeared to be twins – or at least brothers. They were each wearing a brown garment. The priest entered and stood in the large font. The two young men removed their brown robes signifying the removal of sin and entered the font as well. They knelt as the priest baptized them and poured the water over their heads. Then came time for Confirmation. They remained in the font as the priest anointed each of them with the sweet smelling Chrism oil; sealing them with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The newly Baptized then went to dry off and returned wearing a new white robe, symbolizing how Christ has made them clean and new. They came to the front of the congregation and the priest explained that the two were in fact deaf and showed us all how to applaud in sign language. The young men beamed as they saw the support and happiness from all those around them. It was very moving. The priest continued with the prayers in both audible words and sign. Then it came time for the two young men to receive their first Holy Communion. I could see the joy on their faces as they returned to their seats and knelt to pray. At the end of Mass, there was one more round of applause for the new Catholics. It was hard for me not to clap, but again a thing of beauty to be a part of everyone cheering in sign language and seeing the happiness it brought to the young men. I thought about the senses that we have and the tradition of celebrating the Sacraments in the church. Even though these young men could not hear, they were able to experience the fullness of the initiation with the rest of their senses – they felt the water rushing over their body, they could smell the sweet fragrance of the oil, they could see the transition from brown to white as well as see the words used, they could understand what was happening with their minds, and they received Christ through the taste and consumption of Holy Communion. And even more than these, there is our spirit. That encounter they had today goes way beyond human senses, words, body and mind. It brought tears to my eyes as I felt the excitement right along with them.

I Found God today in sharing an experience of two unique young men being initiated into the Faith.