Richard Harries, Director of Caritas Westminster, reflects on joining the Caritas Deaf Service on the annual Catholic Deaf Association’s pilgrimage to Walsingham.
As the coach weaved its way down the narrow country roads on the last leg of our journey to Walsingham, I had to laugh at myself. What on earth was I doing here with the Caritas Westminster Deaf Community? My knowledge of British Sign Language (BSL) is rudimentary at best. When Ian finger-spelled his name to me:
I didn’t understand!
But of course it wasn’t about me, and it wasn’t even about communication. It was the annual Catholic Deaf Association pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, and we were all here for a higher purpose. Nevertheless, I couldn’t help playing the day-tripper and snapping a few photos; the weather was glorious and the location spectacular.
After a short Service of Reconciliation at the Church of the Annunciation in Walsingham itself, we gathered ourselves – and Our Lady on her processional bier – and made our way on foot along the old railway line, the ‘Holy Mile’ to the Catholic Shrine, stopping at regular intervals to pray (another opportunity for me to embarrass myself with my amateurish signing!).
Finally, we had Mass at the Catholic National Shrine and Basilica of Our Lady. It was a beautiful service, with a homily from Father Paul Fletcher SJ, Chaplain to the Catholic Deaf Association, that was in turns hilarious and deeply moving (and luckily for me, given in spoken English as well as BSL). As the coach made the long journey back to London, I reflected on my day out with the Deaf Community, and on their generosity and forgiveness for my poor signing skills.
And my signing skills really are poor. Indeed, as the sun went down on this glorious pre-summer day, I found myself reciting in my head that wonderful line from the last verse of Christina Rossetti’s In the bleak midwinter: “What can I give Him, poor as I am? … Give my heart.” My heart, yes, but also a commitment to return to Walsingham with the Caritas Deaf Service next year, and a commitment to learning BSL properly in the meantime.
Will you join me?
The Caritas Deaf Service works to enable individuals who are Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing to participate fully in the life of the Church. It does this by running regular Signed Masses, Bible Study sessions, social events, trips and pilgrimages tailored to the needs of the Deaf Community.
Support the Caritas Deaf Service here.
