Holy Angels Catholic Church of the Deaf Community Archangels Festival

On Sunday, October 2, the Holy Angels Catholic Church of the Deaf (HAC) hosted their annual Community festival at their parish in the City of Vernon. The event began with a Mass (in American sign language) led by Father Tom Schweitzer. Then, the impaired hearing faithful and their families attended to support and enjoy the angelical festivity honoring Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. 

Catholic Cemeteries and Mortuaries (CCM) were invited to participate in the festival. As a result, the CCM Community Outreach team had the opportunity to disseminate the importance of pre-planning and support HAC efforts to create a global and spiritual understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion for the Deaf community. 

During the event, CCM interviewed HAC religious community leader Joanna Hinojosa (with the help of a sign language interpreter), who expressed the mission and vision of HAC. Hinojosa said that the deaf faithful would like to open up an invitation to the Catholic community to join their efforts and help the deaf congregation. “We would like to invite people from other areas to get involved and support our community. We are the only Catholic Parish that has served the deaf community for over 35 years in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.” Also, Hinojosa added: “If you are a parent of a special child, we understand the struggles and the responsibility that we as parents must guide God’s special children. “ We are here to help the Deaf community and teach them about our Catholic principles and faith by using sign language. 

One of the essential values of the Holy Angels is their mission to the world. It begins in our Deaf Community and spreads overseas to every nation. Holy Angels members are involved in varied ministries, from simply helping with the church facilities to serving the poor in our local community.

The ministry, under the leadership of Pastors Father Brian Doran and Father Tom Schweitzer, both deaf, was in response to the call of Vatican II and its calling for greater participation in church and the need to evangelize an extensive community of Catholic Deaf People. Then-Archbishop Cardinal Roger Mahony Canonically established holy Angles on March 31, 1987.

Holy Angels Catholic Church of the Deaf fulfills the unique cultural and communication needs of the Deaf as a home to the pastoral, educational, and social center of the Catholic Deaf Community in the Los Angeles area.

Holy Angels Catholic Church of the Deaf Mass Schedules:
​Every Sunday at 4433 S. Santa Fe Ave. Vernon CA. 90058.
10:00 AM: For the signing community, in American Sign Language, with spoken English support
11:30 AM: Spanish Sign Language Mass
For more information, visit: www.hacofthedeaf.org