The Catholic Church in Thailand is stepping up efforts to strengthen pastoral care for the Deaf, beginning with a training program for seminarians at Fatima Minor Seminary in the Archdiocese of Thare-Nongseng in the northeast of the country. Fr. Peter Bhuravaj Searaariyah, Director of Pastoral Ministry for the Deaf of the Diocese of Chanthaburi and of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand, led the training program from August 22–24 with the support of the seminary director, Fr. Chatchai Nilkhet.
The sessions introduced seminarians to basic pastoral approaches for ministering to the Deaf, religious sign language terminology, participation in Thai Sign Language (TSL) Mass, and reciting the Liturgy of the Word in sign language.
Encouraged by the response, Fr. Peter plans to expand the training to other minor seminaries in the country, as well as to novices of male and female religious congregations. “The goal is to prepare future priests and religious to serve the Deaf with understanding and compassion,” he said. “There will be at least three sessions, each lasting at least two days,” he told LiCAS News.
The sessions at Thare drew strong engagement from seminarians, many of whom expressed a desire to deepen their knowledge of sign language for future pastoral work. A group of about 15 seminarians has already formed an online network to share resources, discuss Deaf culture, and explore how pastors can adapt to emerging challenges, including the role of technology in communication. Plans are also underway for in-person gatherings to strengthen the network.
Fr. Peter stressed that pastoral care for the Deaf requires more than language skills. “Many Deaf people live in isolation and feel excluded from opportunities hearing people take for granted,” he said. Effective ministry, he added, means listening attentively, building trust, and ensuring access to sacraments and community life.
He noted that some Deaf Catholics feel neglected by the Church, making it urgent to develop specialized pastoral care similar to that offered to migrants and travelers. The Deaf, he said, have talents and skills equal to those of the hearing but require ministers who understand their unique cultural and linguistic identity.
