"For this particular convention, one of our main goals is for all the different dioceses to have the deaf ministers and the deaf people that are worshiping to really support each other. So, our primary goal is to have the networking of the deaf community here, because there are many deaf ministers in the office that are a little bit isolated," Father Carey said.

Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley will celebrate Mass on Jan. 14 for the participants at Sacred Heart Church in Newton, which celebrates an American Sign Language Mass with voice interpretation every Sunday.

"There will be Mass, and a lot of prayer together, which is of course also very important," Father Carey said.

Former director of the archdiocese's Deaf Apostolate Office Father Mike Medas will give a presentation called "Empowering Deaf Leadership" on Jan. 15.

Also that day, Father Carey will lead a panel presenting the experience of the Boston Deaf Catholic youth at the 2011 World Youth Day in Madrid.

"We are really encouraging other districts to join us for the next World Youth Day," Father Carey said.

A banquet and award ceremony will close out the weekend.

Workshops on Jan. 16 will begin with Lauri Przybysz, a past-president of Christian Family Movement, presenting on the topic of family ministry.

"Just like any family, if they are deaf or not, the realization that they in their own activity with their own families have an opportunity to live their faith in a very important way," Przybysz said.

She also pointed out that Pope John Paul II saw evangelizing in the home as integral to the faith.

"People often think, 'Well, everything is at church.' Well, actually everything important happens at home, and then we celebrate it at church," she said.

On Jan. 17, after a workshop on confirmation preparation presented by Sister Kathleen Schipani and Father Mike Depcik, Father Klusman will close the conference with a Mass.

"For this conference we really are hoping to get a greater sense of community and common interest, so we can share sort of the wealth and support the communities that are outside of the main area, so we have more of a consolidated group," Father Carey said.

Father Carey welcomed the opportunity to face the problem present within the deaf community, as geographic separation between deaf communities, individuals and groups can create isolation on a large scale.

"We are really trying to get these groups together, and see that the deaf community has brothers and sisters in Christ," Father Carey said.