Diocesan seminarian’s call to priesthood includes service to Deaf community
Seminarian Michael Marincel. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)
WALTHAM, Mass. — Some would call it serendipity, others would call it a full circle moment, but if you ask seminarian Michael Marincel, it was the gentle hand of God guiding him to his calling.
It all began with a question to eight-year-old Marincel before Mass at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church in Lewisville. “I remember my pastor asking me if I was going to be a priest when I grew up,” he said.
It was that casual question from Father Assaad ElBasha, MLM, that put priesthood in the youngster’s mind of future possibilities. It stayed on his mind as he matured and began making career choices.
Marincel considered becoming an engineer because he liked putting things together. He also watched as an older sister pursued certification and a career as an American Sign Language interpreter. On several occasions, he accompanied her as she signed events in the Fort Worth area.
“I hardly knew any sign language, but the community was happy to see me when I showed up. Just seeing the community dynamic was really impressive,” he said.
Yet, he never forgot Fr. ElBasha’s question.
Today, Marincel is studying at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio, and with a nod to the influence of his sister, he is also studying American Sign Language to be able to serve Deaf and hard of hearing people.
ASL is not part of the seminary’s curriculum, so Marincel is always looking for opportunities to practice and improve his skills. He was excited when he was given the option to pursue his pastoral studies as an intern at St. Francis of Assisi Deaf Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.
“[It was] a beautiful experience of learning from them,” he said. “It gave me an appreciation and another interpretation of when St. Paul, for example, talks about, ‘In my weakness I am strong’.” (2 Cor 12:10)
Assigned to sign
This summer, Marincel traveled to St. Jude Parish in Waltham, Mass., for the opportunity to shadow pastor Father Shawn Carey, who is one of eight Deaf priests in the country and the director of the Deaf Apostolate for the Archdiocese of Boston.
When diocesan Coordinator for Deaf Ministry Connie Martin scheduled Fr. Carey to lead a local workshop for Deaf Catholics, she asked the priest for advice on how to help Marincel’s growth as a minister to the Deaf. The father responded, “Send him to me for the summer.” A few phone calls between bishops and the idea was cemented into a six-week shadowing opportunity.
Since the start of his assignment on June 1, Marincel has had the opportunity to see how a Deaf priest may serve the community. He has joined Fr. Carey on a call to visit a parishioner who is Deaf in hospice as well as to a retirement community to celebrate Mass for about 25 residents who are Deaf.
Housed with three priests and a fellow seminarian from the Chicago archdiocese, Marincel finds himself signing nearly all the time. “Most of the daily conversation is signed, and morning and evening prayers are in sign language,” he shared.
While practicing his sign language is the reason for the mentorship, Marincel said he is learning a far broader lesson on “how Deaf Catholics don’t allow anything to get between them and their relationship with Christ. …We all have different difficulties in our lives, but seeing people in that community push through their difficulties with joy is to witness how Deaf ministry can be more than just ministry to the Deaf but part of the wider ministry to the whole Church.”
In the Diocese of Fort Worth, six parishes offer interpreted Masses each weekend, and Deaf parishioners have access to interpreters at no cost for religious education and other aspects of parish life.
Also, there is a monthly Mass for the Deaf community celebrated in ASL by retired priest Father Ken Robinson. Faithful who are Deaf serve as lectors, ushers, and in the Deaf choir. Confession is available before Mass, and lunch is provided after Mass.