About St. John (deaf center chapel) · Eastpointe, Michigan
St. John's Deaf Center – Chapel (SJDC), located at 16103 Chesterfield Avenue in Eastpointe, Michigan, is part of the Archdiocese of Detroit Catholic Deaf Community. It serves as a spiritual home for Deaf and hard-of-hearing Catholics in the Detroit area, celebrating a weekly interpreted Mass in English with American Sign Language (ASL). The chapel is one of three worship sites of the Archdiocese's deaf ministry, alongside Our Lady of Loretto (St. Valentine's School Chapel in Redford) and Holy Innocents Church in Roseville. Through Mass, adoration, counseling, hospital visits and fellowship, SJDC fosters a vibrant Catholic Deaf culture where everyone — Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing — can encounter Christ and participate fully in the Church's sacramental life.
- Established
- 1974
- Patron
- St. John (the Evangelist)
- Rector
- Fr. Ken McKenna (current sacramental priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit Deaf Catholic Community)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. John's Deaf Center is one of the few places in southeast Michigan where deaf Catholics can worship in their first language — American Sign Language — and be fully seen, heard, and understood. The community gathers weekly for an interpreted Mass (English to ASL), shares a meal, plays cards, and visits with friends, building genuine fellowship that lasts across generations. Pastoral staff offer counseling, hospital visits to homebound members, and support to other area parishes that lack specialized deaf ministry, making SJDC a regional hub of Catholic Deaf life for over 50 years.
Mass times at St. John (deaf center chapel)
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Friday 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, First Friday of the Month, at St. John's Deaf Center during the school year (specific dates per the newsletter/calendar)
Welcome and Mission
The Archdiocese of Detroit Catholic Deaf Community — whose main worship site is St. John's Deaf Center Chapel in Eastpointe — exists to invite every Deaf individual to meet Jesus Christ and participate in the life of the Catholic Church using American Sign Language. The community welcomes both Deaf and hearing members, inviting hearing brothers and sisters to experience the richness of Deaf Catholic culture and to deepen their own relationship with Christ through prayer, service, and the Sacraments.
- Three worship sites: SJDC (Eastpointe), OLL/St. Valentine's School Chapel (Redford), and Holy Innocents Church (Roseville)
- Liturgy in American Sign Language with English interpretation
- Pastoral counseling, hospital/homebound visits, and outreach to other parishes
History of the Deaf Catholic Community
Catholic deaf ministry in Detroit began in 1914 when Fr. Henry Kaufmann of St. Joseph Parish learned sign language and celebrated the first Mass for deaf Catholics on October 11, 1914, founding the St. Joseph Ephphatha Society. For decades the ministry moved between parishes until Cardinal John F. Dearden established St. John's Deaf Center as a permanent home, celebrated at a dedication Mass on September 11, 1974 in Ascension Parish's school building in Warren on Fisher Street. The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (OSFS) provided ongoing staffing. In August 2024 the community marked its 50th anniversary with a Mass at Holy Innocents Church in Roseville.
- 1914 — Fr. Henry Kaufmann celebrates first deaf Mass at St. Joseph Parish, Detroit
- 1974 — Cardinal Dearden dedicates St. John's Deaf Center at Ascension School, Warren
- 2011–2023 — Fr. Michael Depcik, OSFS, serves as director
- 2023–present — Fr. Ken McKenna, sacramental priest; Veronica Balcarcel, director
- August 2024 — 50th anniversary Mass at Holy Innocents Church, Roseville
Pastoral Staff and Leadership
The community is currently served by Fr. Ken McKenna as sacramental priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit Deaf Catholic Community, ordained in 1985. Veronica Balcarcel serves as director of St. John's Deaf Center, interpreting for the hearing community and providing pastoral coordination. Past directors have included Fr. Michael Depcik, OSFS (2011–2023, himself deaf), Fr. Mike Kazer, Fr. Gary, and Sr. Dolores. The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (OSFS) have provided ongoing fraternal support to the ministry for decades.
- Fr. Ken McKenna — sacramental priest
- Veronica Balcarcel — director, ASL interpreter
- Fr. Michael Depcik, OSFS — past director (2011–2023)
- Oblates of St. Francis de Sales — supporting order
Community Life and Fellowship
SJDC is more than a chapel — it is a gathering place for southeast Michigan's Catholic Deaf community. After Tuesday Mass members share a purchased lunch and visit, play cards, and spend time with friends. Senior citizen activities are hosted regularly. The center provides counseling services and visits deaf Catholics who are homebound or hospitalized, and supports other Archdiocesan parishes that lack specialized deaf ministry. The phrase 'Ephphatha — be opened' (Mark 7:34) is the community's watchword, expressing its mission of belonging and welcome.
- Post-Mass Tuesday lunch and fellowship
- Senior citizen activities
- Hospital / homebound visits
- Pastoral counseling
- Outreach and support to other parishes
Visiting St. John's Deaf Center
The chapel is located at 16103 Chesterfield Avenue in Eastpointe, MI 48021, and is open on Tuesdays (see the calendar on sjdc-oll.org for closures). The community invites Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing visitors to come for interpreted Mass, stay for lunch, and experience the warmth of Catholic Deaf culture in southeast Michigan. Streaming options are available for those unable to attend in person.
- Address: 16103 Chesterfield Ave, Eastpointe, MI 48021
- Open Tuesdays (check calendar for closings)
- Livestream via Facebook for Mass and Adoration
- Phone: 313-556-2445 (also listed at 586-439-0146)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Henry Kaufmann1914 (Detroit deaf ministry)
Began Catholic deaf ministry in Detroit at St. Joseph Parish; founded the St. Joseph Ephphatha Society and offered the first deaf Mass on Oct. 11, 1914.
- Fr. Mike Kazer
Former director of SJDC (mentioned by Fr. Ken McKenna in his 2024 letter).
- Fr. Gary
Former director of SJDC (listed among past directors).
- Fr. Richard (Rich) Yost, OSFS
Former director of the Westside Deaf Catholic Community at OLL (Redford).
- Fr. Michael Depcik, OSFS2011–2023
Director of SJDC; himself deaf, one of a small handful of deaf priests in the United States.
- Fr. Ken McKenna2023–present (sacramental priest)
Ordained 1985; appointed sacramental priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit Deaf Catholic Community; previously was Director of Novices for the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.
- Veronica Balcarcel2023–present
Current director of St. John's Deaf Center; ASL interpreter.