Deaconesses for the deaf

In addition to their church duties, the ministers for the deaf had to take care of tasks that they were not well-suited to do. For example, they acted as interpreters at doctor’s appointments and in hospitals, directed people to medical care and assisted deaf people in finding accommodation and employment.

During the war, the minister for the deaf Lauri Paunu had to interpret for a young woman who had a doctor’s appointment. Paunu interpreted behind a folding screen while the doctor examined the patient. Because Paunu felt the situation was demeaning for him and the patient, he proposed in collaboration with the Kuuromykkäin Auttajayhdistys (Assistance of Deaf-Mutes) that a post be established for a deaconess for the deaf. The post was established, and Sister Eeva Malmila, who had deaf relative, was the first person to be appointed in 1945,

Because deaf people had positive experiences with the work of deaconesses, discussion on having more posts for them began already in the 1940s, and later the number of posts was increased. In 1950, Sister Martta Murto began working as a deaconess in Tampere and Sister Alli Rönkkömäki in Oulu. After that, the number of deaconesses grew over the years.

The deaconesses for deaf people had the same basic duties as other deaconesses. In addition, they acted as interpreters and offered pastoral care to the deaf. The importance of the work is reflected in stories of deaf people who travelled long distances to Helsinki to attend a doctor’s appointment in the company of a deaconess who could sign. Interpretation and guidance were needed in many everyday matters. These included finding employment, preparing official documents and dealing with matters related to accommodation, taxes, banks and the court system.

Deaconesses also dealt with numerous matters related to family life and childcare and they held Sunday schools, playgroups, groups for the elderly, social work and Bible study meetings.