The first deaf-mute Indian to be ordained a priest: Father Joseph Thermadom, 38 years old, of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, was ordained by Archbishop Andrews Thazhath on May 2.
He is the first Indian with this disability to become a Catholic priest and the 26th person in the world, according to Asia News Agency.
The ordination ceremony took place at the Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows, in the city of Thrissur, Kerala state in southwestern India. Father celebrates the liturgy using sign language.
Father Thermadom told Asia News: "In my vocation and mission, I felt called to first celebrate the sacraments in Indian sign language for the deaf and mute faithful in India. I will also support God's call for deaf people to become priests and monks, reminding everyone of the verse in Leviticus: "Do not despise the deaf, do not put obstacles before the blind, but fear the Lord." , the Bible's positive word about deaf people. In India, about 60 million people have speech and hearing problems.
Father Thermadom was born deaf and had speech problems. His younger brother was also deaf. As a layman, Thermadom studied in Mumbai, graduating from University. He studied Theology at the Dominican Fathers' Apostolic Institute for the Deaf in America. Then he returned to India and interacted with the Holy Cross Fathers through pastoral work for the deaf. He expressed his desire to join the mission of this order and in 2017, was accepted into the Aymanam community, made his first vows in 2020, at the Holy Cross novitiate in Yercaud, Tamil Nadu state, and then became a deaf-mute. first took lifelong vows in the Congregation of the Holy Cross.
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