Father Christopher Klusman stands at the back of St. Roman Catholic Church on Milwaukee's south side and greets worshippers after the Saturday night Mass.continue at MJS
This is no ordinary receiving line. The well-wishers are smiling, beaming even. Some embrace him. Others cry. Few words are spoken. But much is said.
Klusman is deaf, as are many of those who'd gathered to take part in this Mass celebrated by the newly ordained priest in American Sign Language. It is a first for many, to experience the sacrament in their own language, signed by a priest they consider one of their own.
"It's so important to have a priest who understands our language, our culture," said Karen Lausten of West Allis, one of about two dozen well-wishers who attended a reception for Klusman after Mass.
"I feel like I've learned more about my faith from him than I have my whole life."
A Milwaukee native, Klusman is among fewer than 10 profoundly deaf priests in America, and he is the first to come through the Archdiocese of Milwaukee's St. Francis de Sales Seminary.
Did anyone else think it? I wonder if he would be interested in saying the Low Mass.... A nice story though.
Update: Fr Z with some thought
Update2: From a reader:
I just want to clarify something about Fr. Christopher Klusman, the deaf priest from Milwaukee. He read lips perfectly and also speaks perfectly well. He says Mass in ASL and speaks it at the same time and hears confessions face to face. He's an amazing priest and a real gift to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee!!!