In 2013, while doing his “stage” in Liberia, Fr René faced a moment that would shape the rest of his life.
“Fr Gareth Jenkins sent us to teach catechism in Oscar Romero, an American NGO in Liberia. Together with my colleague seminarian Gerard Kofi, we failed — because we didn’t know sign language. The children were deaf. We spoke, and they didn’t understand. They signed, and we didn’t understand.”
That failure became a turning point.
“I said to myself, Lord, help me not to fail again the second time. That’s when I decided to learn sign language — not just as a skill, but as a life project.”
A Calling Takes Shape
While studying theology in Kenya, Fr René discovered an elective course called Sign Language for Pastoral Ministry.
“I learned it with gladness and happiness,” he recalls. “Out of that learning, I was able to set up the first Deaf Ministry of my life at Embulbul Parish — Mary Mother of God — and the ministry grew well.”
In 2018, after his ordination in Côte d’Ivoire, he was sent to Ghana. Inspired by his experience, he decided to begin again.
“Why not create something similar here?”
By November 22, 2020 — the Feast of Christ the King — at St. Francis of Assisi, the Deaf Ministry, was officially launched in Madina, Accra.
From a Tree to an Office
The beginnings were humble.
“At first, I had no office. I sat under a tree near the church, and that was my office. Parishioners later said, ‘No, Father, you cannot stay under a tree. Let us help you build a small office.’ And here we are.”
Today, Fr René works alongside a small team:
- A deaf secretary,
- A coordinator for the fish-farming project, and
- Another in charge of bead-making.
All supported by small donations and goodwill of parishioners.
“We are moving gradually, slowly but surely,” he smiles.
Building the Deaf Community
The ministry started with one-on-one encounters.
“I told people I was learning sign language. I met Mr. and Mrs. George, two elderly deaf parishioners who came to church every Sunday without an interpreter. When we greeted each other in sign language, they were so excited. Through them, word spread from hand to hand, and that’s how our group began.”
Faith, Formation, and Friendship
At the heart of the ministry is inclusion.
Every Sunday at 9 a.m., Fr René celebrates Mass with sign language interpretation so that deaf parishioners can fully participate in the Eucharist.
“Many of them had received what I call a baptism of favor — sacraments given without real understanding because no one interpreted for them. Now we take time to teach them the meaning of those sacraments.”
Beyond the spiritual aspect, the community engages in:
- Social gatherings,
- Creative projects like bead-making, rosary crafting, fish farming, and honey production,
- Training sessions with volunteers and professionals,
- Sign language classes for sustainability.
“If one day SMA sends me elsewhere, I want people trained to continue the mission.”
Challenges on the Journey
The ministry faces many challenges — especially financial and human resources.
“I am the founder, director, secretary, accountant, and interpreter — all in one. I’m training my deaf secretary, but we still lack professional support. Sometimes I depend on coins that parishioners throw in support.”
Despite these struggles, Fr René continues fundraising efforts, with a clear goal in mind.
A Vision for the Future
“We are targeting 200,000 Ghana cedis to buy land and build a Deaf Center — a place for training, job creation, and empowerment. Deaf people should not depend forever on others. God did not create anyone to be permanently helped. They too have gifts, skills, and potential. And they need to be empowered so that they too can fly on their own.”
This vision emphasizes inclusion, not isolation.
“I don’t want separate Masses for the deaf. They already face enough exclusion. If we have mass only for them, we will separate them more and more from the hearing community. We must worship together (deaf and hearing) — one body in Christ, hearing and deaf alike.”
A Ministry that Transforms Both Sides
The ministry hasn’t only changed the lives of deaf parishioners — it has transformed Fr René himself.
“Each time I communicate in sign language, I feel joy. It enriches my spiritual life because it fulfills the mission Jesus gave in Matthew 28: Go into the whole world ( to all ), preach the Good News, and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Gospel is for everyone.”
An Appeal to All
“The Deaf Ministry is not only mine — it’s for all of us. I appeal to everyone: learn sign language, even the basics. One day you might meet a deaf person, and that little sign you know could bring light and joy.”
This initiative sends us a simple but profound reminder:
The Gospel does not depend on sound, but on love made visible. In a world that often overlooks the deaf, in Madina they are not forgotten — they are family. And perhaps, in their silence, we too are invited to listen more deeply to God who speaks beyond words.
Brice Ulrich AFFERI
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