Linda Roby, BVM Recognized for Ministry With the Deaf
Linda Roby, BVM was recognized for 40 years of ministry to the deaf in Oregon. Father Shawn Carey of the National Catholic Office of the Deaf presented her with the Father Dave Walsh Pastoral Worker Award.
Linda Roby, BVM found her ministry as a first-year novice.
Her dedication of 40 years to the Deaf in Portland, Ore., was recognized recently with a national award.
The Father Dave Walsh Pastoral Worker Award from the National Catholic Office of the Deaf (NCOD) is given to one person every year for their service with the Catholic Deaf Community.
Linda was nominated by Jilene Modlin, director of Deaf ministry, and by the members of Oregon’s Deaf Community.
“This was a complete surprise to me,” Linda says. “The conference at which the announcement is made was held virtually this year. Jilene called and said, ‘Can I come to your house?’ She brought her laptop, and I was able to view the announcement and accept the award in real time. I was absolutely flabbergasted and humbled.”
The award recognizes Linda’s dedication and service for Deaf Catholics. “The Catholic Deaf Community members love and adore Sister Linda,” the award says. “She is an amazing pastoral worker, teacher, advocate, interpreter, leader, and friend.”
Linda’s devotion began the first year as a BVM. “We all went into Chicago for the summer” to work in various ministries. She worked with LaSalette Zegers, BVM, who was teaching Deaf students.
“Under her tutelage, I fell in love with these Deaf kids,” Linda says. The following summer, she studied sign language. “I came back absolutely knowing that this is what God called me to do. It just made me happy.”
Education, including a master’s degree, made doing what she loved possible.
“It’s the people, absolutely the people. I just love their joy, their enthusiasm for life, their deep, deep caring for each other as a bonded community and their devotion to growing in faith. All of these things just matched things in my heart. Building community with them was just natural for all of us.”
The award nomination says, “Sr. Linda patiently designed and taught lessons to small groups or individual Deaf students, carefully walking them through their sacraments. As Deaf education changed, Sr. Linda was allowed to teach classes with Signed English and later American Sign Language (ASL). In addition she interpreted Masses, funerals, weddings, and baptisms. She held Lenten and Advent retreats and workshops, visited the elderly in their homes, and led liturgical committee meetings for ASL Masses and helped the liturgical readers transcribe Sunday readings into printed ASL. Sr. Linda recruited volunteers for religious education and Children’s Liturgy, and coordinated an annual summer Deaf Catholic campout.”
The nomination continues, “She encouraged Deaf people to become leaders in their parishes and nationally, and was an advocate for the Deaf beyond the Archdiocese, “writing endless letters and coordinating workshops for establishing interpreters and relay services in all settings in Oregon.”
Linda also encouraged Central Catholic High School to offer American Sign Language and hire Deaf ASL instructors who now teach more than 200 students each year.
Linda says, “In my estimation the award belongs to all of the Oregon Deaf, in recognition of their strong leadership as a vibrant faith community.”
Linda has been a gift to the local church here in Oregon for 40 years. I was taught by the bvm’s in Montana and worked with them in Montana, Washington and Oregon. An amazing community of dedicated women.