Many deaf Catholics experience isolation during Mass. They are present but not fully included because the sacred words of the liturgy never reach them. Salvador Peralez, a seminarian from the Diocese of Lubbock whose education Catholic Extension Society is supporting, is trying to change this reality.
While on his path to the priesthood, he is learning American Sign Language (ASL) and working to make community worship accessible for the deaf across the South Plains of Texas.
A boy with convictions
Peralez grew up in Idalou, Texas, an agricultural town of about 2,000 people. As a child, Peralez helped his grandfather farm cotton. His parents held jobs at grocery stores, gas stations, diners and more to support him and his sister.
They attended St. Philip Benizi, a church built by Catholic Extension in 1972, where Peralez was an altar server.
He first expressed his desire to become a priest at age 7. At school, Peralez was usually one of only a few Catholics. Rather than isolating him, that difference strengthened him. “My friends were always intrigued about my faith,” he said.
If they had convictions about what they thought the Catholic faith was like, it was good for me to study up and learn about my faith, and in a sense that helped really deepen it and helped me grow in the love for it.”
Despite exploring other paths like agriculture, medicine and architecture, the call consistently resurfaced.
One day while driving with his family across the wide South Plains, Peralez read a quote from Mother Teresa that solidified his call: “Don’t leave where you are to come serve the poor here. Find your own Calcutta right where you live.”
A new mission field
Peralez entered Assumption Seminary in San Antonio in 2022. While in seminary, he also completed his bachelor’s degree in pastoral studies with a concentration in philosophy from the University of the Incarnate Word, graduating in 2025.
One of his goals in seminary is to sharpen his ASL skills; he was inspired by a deaf friend to begin learning ASL three years ago after attending deaf community events together, where Peralez remembers “immediately falling in love with the language and people.”
According to the National Catholic Office for the Deaf, approximately 5.4 million deaf or hard-of-hearing Catholics live across the country, and 96% do not regularly attend church. In the Diocese of Lubbock, an estimated 5,000 are deaf or hearing impaired. Deaf Catholics have historically lacked access to Mass, the sacraments and faith formation due to limited or nonexistent sign language services in hearing parishes, which leads to many leaving the faith. To Peralez, this represents a “new mission field for the Catholic Church.”
When he is on break from seminary, Peralez travels around the diocese to interpret Mass for deaf parishioners. Below, he is signing the word for “love.”
For many, it marks a moment of true inclusion. This includes his friend Christopher from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Slaton, a small town on the outskirts of Lubbock. Christopher was grateful to finally understand the readings and prayers as they unfolded.
Similarly, Peralez signed the Nicene Creed for a deaf child who had spent years restless and disengaged during Mass. On that day, the child showed a newfound enthusiasm as he watched Peralez attentively, copying the signs.
He has taught free ASL classes to anyone willing to learn, including children and professionals, and shown pastoral leaders how to do religious signs and prayers.
Building a Church of true welcome
Peralez sees the deaf community as a blessing. He encourages parishes to “not see [deafness] as a disability, but a different ability”—a different expression of faith. He loves the unique Catholic spirituality of the deaf, noting their strong affinity for symbolism reflected in art, icons and stained glass, such as this depiction of Mary inside a church in Lubbock.
He currently practices ASL with his brother seminarians and regularly invites them to watch him interpret Mass to understand how to convey the Gospel. He also has a broader vision for deaf ministry in the Diocese of Lubbock that includes teaching ASL to priests and other Catholic leaders, many of whom have expressed a desire to learn.
Peralez also plans to host events that allow deaf and hearing Catholics to connect and learn from each other.
He hopes to collaborate with the National Catholic Office for the Deaf to develop a sign language Roman Missal. Additionally, Peralez is exploring how technology, including artificial intelligence, can provide real-time closed captioning during Mass. Peralez is simultaneously learning Spanish as part of his formation. Once he is fluent, he aspires to learn Mexican Sign Language to better serve deaf Hispanic Catholics.
As Peralez continues his journey to the priesthood, he looks forward to building a Church in rural Texas where all parishes truly welcome the deaf and celebrate their beauty and gifts. He wants to ensure that the Catholic faith is accessible to everyone.
In this video, Peralez does a prayer in sign language for Catholic Extension Society, thanking us for supporting seminarians who are serving parishes with great needs, like the ones he interprets Mass at throughout Lubbock.
Catholic Extension Society works in solidarity with people to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities among the poor in the poorest regions of America. Donate today to make an impact across America.
