About Us

The National Catholic Office for the Deaf is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to pastoral ministry with deaf and hard of hearing persons.  NCOD serves 5.7 million deaf and hard of hearing Catholics through its pastoral ministry and through its special advocacy to bishops, pastors and families with children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

In the last several years, deaf and hard of hearing people themselves have increasingly assumed leadership roles and responsibility for their own destiny.  This grassroots movement among deaf and hard of hearing persons has had a profound effect on the institutions that serve deaf and hard of hearing persons.  NCOD takes pride in providing continuing opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing Catholics to become spiritual leaders in the Catholic deaf community.  Never before has there been more hope for deaf and hard of hearing people to achieve their potential as sons and daughters of our loving God. NCOD is grateful for its special, unique role enabling Catholic persons who are deaf and hard of hearing to have rich, full and rewarding spiritual lives.

NCOD Mission

Spread God’s message through the support of the deaf and hard of hearing pastoral ministry so that we may all be one in Christ.

  • Raise the national consciousness concerning deaf and hard of hearing people’s position within the Catholic Church
  • Encourage deaf and hard of hearing persons to be active in ministry
  • Provide pastoral training opportunities
  • Share communications, religious education and pastoral training resources
  • Develop and disseminate religious education materials
  • Provide an annual pastoral conference
  • Collaborate with other organizations with a similar mission
  • Publish Vision, a national magazine
  • Support the national Deaf Cursillo Movement

NCOD Offers

  • Shared opportunities for religious education, retreats and renewal programs, among other deaf and hard of hearing Catholics.
  • Specially adapted resource materials in ASL or open/closed captioning that make a Catholic spiritual life accessible to Catholic children and adults who are deaf and hard of hearing.
  • Ongoing professional training for pastoral workers. VISION, a magazine that links the community of deaf and hard of hearing persons and those who serve them.
  • Assistance to Catholic parents with deaf and hard of hearing children, especially those who can not access religious education and services for their children.
  • Training and opportunities for Catholic deaf and hard of hearing persons to meet the religious and spiritual needs of other Catholic deaf and hard of hearing persons.
  • Workshops for professionals who wish to serve the spiritual needs of persons who are Catholic and deaf and hard of hearing.
  • Annual conferences where pastoral workers and deaf and hard of hearing Catholics can share their experience, support each other, and enrich their understanding and information about Deaf ministry.

NCOD Pastoral Week

Pastoral Week is an annual conference for pastoral workers who work with the deaf and hard of hearing Catholic community.  This conference is also attended by interpreters and lay Catholics involved with or interested in Deaf Ministry.  The content provides professional development opportunities as well as spiritual growth for attendees.  The location of Pastoral Week is different each year to allow for deaf communities throughout the United States to experience this unique blend of fellowship and faith.

Deaf/Hard of Hearing Ministry

A pastoral ministry offers deaf and hard of hearing Catholics services and support that fosters spiritual development in their own language, American Sign Language (ASL) and provides access to the Church’s pastoral care.  This ministry is sensitive to and incorporates aspects of deaf culture to meet the unique needs of this population.  Diocesan offices that address ministry to persons who are deaf and hard of hearing and/or persons with disabilities as well as individuals interested in promoting deaf ministry are encouraged to become members of NCOD and benefit from its specialized expertise.

National Catholic Office for the Deaf

7202 Buchanan St.
Landover Hills, MD 20784
info@ncod.org

VP: 301-841-8209

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About Us

Membership

Pastoral Week