The Deaf Love Music - They Just Appreciate It in a Different Way

Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
6 Nov 2009

Margaret and husband Brian with their three children, l to r are Jason, Rosanna and Cecilia

Contrary to popular belief, the deaf not only love music but have favourite composers and favourite hymns, and for the Ephpheta Centre's Signing Choir, one of their all time favourites is "Here I am Lord."

As Signing Choir Leader, Margaret Johnston told the Charitable Works Fund's Newsletter which launched its November appeal, the deaf "hear" music by feel and vibration. 

"People don't realise how much the deaf love music - we just appreciate it in a different way," she says.

Margaret, the mother of three hearing children and proud grandmother to two hearing toddlers, has been profoundly deaf for most of her life.

"I grew up in Lismore and at five suffered an attack of the mumps which left me deaf in both ears," she says, pointing out that it is rare for someone to become deaf this way. "I was fitted with hearing aids and attended normal primary school and high school with my three brothers and sisters. Back then there were other extra aids to help the deaf in rural Australia so lip reading was a top priority."

Determined to cope in a hearing world on leaving school Margaret found a job with the Australian Taxation Office in Lismore. Later, promoted to Assistant Supervisor of the ATO's Word Processing Unit, she was transferred to Sydney where she met Brian who worked on the same floor.

"Brian was also profoundly deaf and had learned to sign at St Gabriel's School for Deaf Boys when he was growing up," she says.

The pair fell deeply in love but Margaret admits that at first communicating was difficult.

"I used lip-reading and oral communication while Brian used sign language," Margaret explains.

The solve the problem, Margaret took lessons in Auslan, Australia's sign language for the deaf.

At the time of their marriage, Margaret was an Anglican but after Brian introduced her to signed Masses at the Archdiocese of Sydney's Ephpheta Centre, she converted to Catholicism.

"Meeting Brian and attending signed Masses changed my life and brought me closer to God and my faith," she says. "At these Masses I gained a much better understanding of the Lord as Ephpheta always had a 'signing' priest or an interpreter who signed for us."

Since then with the developments and advices in technology, the Ephpheta Centre has the full Mass on powerpoint which the 500-plus deaf community in Sydney can easily follow.

"At our Masses we always remain seated so the deaf can see the priest or interpreter as well as the overhead powerpoint," Margaret explains with a smile.

Although Margaret's and Brian's three children, Cecilia, Rosanna and Jason, are able to hear, they have attended Masses for the deaf virtually since they were born.

"They say attending a Mass for the deaf gives them a real insight into their faith," Margaret says, proud that her children have grown up in two worlds. "Each of them has a real understanding of deafness and Rosanna is now studying to become a professional interpreter."

CODAs as "Children of Deaf Adults" are called, play an important role at Ephpheta, particularly when it comes to the Signing Choir.

"We sign our hymns with music at our special Masses such as the Christmas Vigil, the Easter Vigil and the Ephpheta Masses for the deaf which are held at different churches across Sydney each Sunday. There are eight of us in the Signing Choir and when we sign, we use music too, so those with some hearing can enjoy the sounds as well. But as I cannot hear at all and consequently cannot follow the rhythm of the music, I need a CODA to point to the words in time with the music so I follow her lead and sign with the rest of the Choir copying my sign," she explains.

The Signing Choir rehearses regularly, usually at the home of a choir where Ephpheta's community worker, Rosemary Lipman, a professional interpreter and CODA goes through each hymn and helps choose to best signs to translate its deeper meanings into sign language.

"To sign a hymn takes a lot of hard work and patience," Margaret says, adding the choir needs to know why hymns it will be signing at least a month in advance so that accurate interpretations and the best signs for particularly phrases or words decided. Then they have to learn the hymns.

"Imagine trying to remember the signs for five different hymns for one Mass!" Margaret says, laughing.

Currently there are eight members of Ephpheta's Signing Choir whose ages range from the early 20s to the over 60s.
 
"Some people still equate deafness with being dumb. But we're normal. The only difference is, we can't hear. We marry, we have children, we hold down jobs, we watch our children grow up - and like everyone else, we grow old," Margaret says. "Not being able to hear doesn't mean we don't want to be fully involved. Which is why the Ephpheta Centre is so important. Without Ephpheta, I would be lost. So would my family and many of my friends."

Reprinted from the Charitable Works Fund Newsletter to launch the fund's November 2009 appeal. For more information on the Fund and to donate log on to www.sydneycatholic.org/charity/

For more information on the Ephpheta Centre, log on to www.ephpheta.org.au or call 9708 1396