Bringing God’s presence to the deaf community

The All Angels Guild program began over sixty years ago and has continued to reinvent itself as its sponsorship transferred from the Episcopal Cathedral of St. James to Bishop Anderson House.  Today our outreach extends itself to people of all faiths throughout the Chicago area. We are the only religious organization in the Chicago area to have an association with another non-profit agency that assists deaf, as well as disabled, people.

Former Executive Director The Rev. Trenton Pitcher coordinates the monthly gatherings in Elmhurst in cooperation with The Du Page Center for Independent Living located in Glen Ellyn. These gatherings for the deaf community include educational as well as social activities.

Why has Bishop Anderson House chosen to support this ministry?  The answer is that we are the only agency in our diocese that ministers to people living with a disability that handicaps their access to the many services we take for granted such as communication of symptoms, needs and feelings.  Often given the fast pace of modern medicine, doctors may not be able to provide important life saving treatment due to the patient’s inability to successfully communicate his or her symptoms.  Also, deaf individuals are often not adequately informed of their rights to equal treatment because medical staff is unable to talk directly with deaf patients.

Deaf people, more than any other group of people, suffer with loneliness and isolation.  Therefore, perhaps, the most important thing our ministry provides is an opportunity for them to come together and share their life experiences with one another.