In Our Deafness, God´s Gentle Voice Calls us to Serve
Rev. Fr. Erl Dylan Tabaco, SSC

Learning new languages has always fascinated me, and one of the languages that captured my heart was sign language. Looking back, I realize that what began as a simple desire to learn a new language gradually became God's gentle invitation for me to serve.

Many years ago, in my hometown parish in Agusan, Cagayan de Oro City, I encountered a parish ministry that would profoundly shape my vocation story. One Sunday morning during the summer, I was seated in one of the front pews while Mass was being celebrated. My attention was drawn to the volunteers who were interpreting the Mass into sign language for the Deaf members of our parish.

There was something about that moment that deeply touched me. I could not explain what I was feeling, but I left the church inspired and filled with joy. After the Mass, I approached the coordinator of the Deaf Ministry and asked if it was possible to learn sign language. Fortunately, the parish was about to offer a Basic Sign Language summer course. I immediately enrolled, and after three months, I had learned the basic signs.

My interest, however, did not end there. I wanted to become a volunteer. I joined the ministry and spent the next ten years serving every Sunday. I also regularly visited the families of our Deaf students, as our parish had a preparatory school for Deaf children. Those years of ministry became one of the greatest blessings of my life.

During those ten years, I often found myself asking deeper questions. If Deaf couples desired to express their love through the lifelong commitment of the Sacrament of Matrimony, who would celebrate their wedding? If they struggled with guilt and longed to experience God's mercy through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, who would hear their confession? If one of them became seriously ill and faced the danger of death, who would accompany them in their most vulnerable moments and administer the Anointing of the Sick?

Those questions slowly transformed into God's invitation. They became instrumental in helping me discover my vocation to the priesthood.

My experience in the Deaf Ministry paved the way for my journey toward becoming a missionary priest. Through the Deaf community, I discovered where my heart truly belonged. They helped me realize that the greatest treasure in life is found in serving others.

I eventually entered the Columban Formation Seminary in Cubao, where I spent eleven years of formation. Throughout those years, my connection with the Deaf community never faded. I had several opportunities to serve Deaf communities at St. Joseph Parish in Anonas and at St. Dilao Parish in Paco, Manila.

I also remember that during my third year in the seminary, my apostolate assignment was at Our Lady of Remedies Parish in Malate. There I met many Deaf members of street families. Seeing their needs inspired me to teach Basic Sign Language to parish volunteers so they could communicate more effectively whenever they encountered Deaf parishioners. It was a simple initiative, but one that made the parish more welcoming and inclusive.

On February 17, 2018, the day of my priestly ordination, one of my dreams came true. A large number of members of the Deaf community attended the celebration. Dedicated volunteers tirelessly interpreted every spoken word into sign language so that our Deaf brothers and sisters could fully understand and actively participate in the liturgy.

As the ordination Mass progressed, I remembered those questions I had asked myself years before. What had once been only a quiet whisper from God had become a living reality. Eleven years earlier, I could never have imagined that I would one day become a priest.

Now, there was finally someone who could accompany our Deaf brothers and sisters more closely through the sacraments and catechetical formation.

Only a few weeks after my ordination, I celebrated the wedding of my first Deaf couple. During Lent, I also conducted recollections for the Deaf community and heard confessions through sign language. One experience remains unforgettable. While celebrating Mass in a prison, a prison guard approached me and informed me that an elderly Deaf inmate was dying. I was able to accompany him during his final moments on earth, offering him the sacraments and helping prepare him to meet the Lord. It was one of the most moving moments of my priestly ministry.

Looking back, those questions I once asked were God's way of confirming my vocation. They affirmed that I was truly called to serve those on the margins of society, especially the Deaf community.

Words are powerful, but love becomes even more powerful when expressed through service. Through sign language, my hands have become instruments of God's love, allowing His Word to reach those who might otherwise feel forgotten. Every sign I make is a reminder that God's love speaks beyond spoken language.

During my first two years as a missionary priest in Peru, I remained connected with the Deaf community. My ministry even expanded through the presence of Deaf students in the school previously administered by the Columban missionaries. Although the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted my mission and required me to return temporarily to the Philippines, God continued to open new paths for this ministry.

Before returning to Peru, I was assigned to Our Lady of Remedies Parish in Malate for about ten months. I made the most of that assignment by helping establish the Parish Ministry for Persons with Disabilities (PWD). Working closely with Caritas, we recruited and formed volunteers who would sustain the ministry. I devoted much of my time to teaching Basic Sign Language and encouraged Monica to enroll in a formal sign language course so she could help ensure the ministry's continuity.

With the dedication of many committed volunteers, the ministry gradually flourished. We eventually began celebrating signed Masses, and even today, it is inspiring to witness how God continues to bless and strengthen this mission.

Looking back on all these years, I have realized one important truth: God does not necessarily call experts in any language, including sign language. Rather, He calls people with generous and committed hearts who are willing to serve.

I consider myself truly blessed that God planted in my heart the desire to serve the Deaf community and, through His grace, transformed that desire into a lifelong mission. Every time I meet a Deaf person, my heart is filled with joy, and my hands are always ready to serve.

Indeed, in our deafness—whether physical or spiritual—God's gentle voice continues to call us to love, to listen, and to serve.

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