"Go into all the world … and pronounce the good news to all people." That is the task Jesus gives us. This "all people" means not only people of various nations and continents but also the fellow human being who, due to a disability, is more or less prevented from participating in the life of our Christian congregations. As church, as sisters and brothers of Jesus, we must pay attention so that nobody is excluded from the Kingdom of God or is in any way discriminated against. This applies especially to disabled persons. A hearing loss seems to me to be a disability which is often concealed by the afflicted person and thus easily ignored by the surrounding society.

The 11th International Ecumenical Congress for Pastoral Care to Hearing Impaired Persons has taken on the responsibility to call our attention to the problems of hearing loss and to show that this disability can hit persons of any social level and of any age. The Congress will show ways for society and Church to help integrate hearing impaired persons.

I am pleased that this time the Congress takes place in Vienna. It is an honor for me to be among those who open the Congress, and I sincerely wish that the intense efforts of all participants will be successful. Not least do I hope that as a result of this Congress, hearing impaired persons will be met with understanding and any help needed in our congregations, so that not only will assistive technology be available in the churches, but also that these persons will learn to use it. In that way it ought to become possible for them to live as full members of their Christian congregations.

Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna

I cordially welcome you to the 11th Congress of the International Federation for Pastoral Care to Hearing Impaired Persons in Vienna.

Vienna already has hosted two of these international conferences, in 1976 and 1982. In the meantime, much has changed; the Iron Curtain has fallen. The Federation for Pastoral Care to Hearing Impaired Persons now can work freely in all of Europe, and delegates from all countries can share their experiences and work together.

IVSS Churchear turned 20 last year. It is a pleasure for me to take this opportunity to congratulate the organization on its successful efforts in the service of hearing impaired persons and to wish you God's blessing in your future work.

At this Congress, for the first time, the word "ecumenical" is written in the title. I am grateful for this development. The cooperation between churches and denominations in their service for hearing impaired persons can be an indication of the Kingdom of God, where the blind shall see and the deaf shall hear.

With this in mind, I wish you all good and successful days of congress in our city.

Mag. Herwig Sturm, Bishop of the Evangelical Church A.B. of Austria.

I know many persons who have a smaller or larger problem with their hearing. I, too, have felt it to some degree.

I know that those problems can have psychological effects. "I am not worth much any more." Far too often hearing impaired persons experience that others avoid conversations with them. In the end, these persons may even stop trying. Quite often, hearing persons should try a little harder to understand the problems of hearing impaired persons.

In the Gospel we repeatedly hear that deaf persons are healed. Jesus took this disability seriously. He knows that it can reduce the quality of life. Therefore, he was particularly close to those persons.

It is not always possible to overcome these difficulties by medicine or technology. But the longing for touch and for connection is there, showing the affection that God has for every human being.

With all my heart I wish you much blessing, joy, patience and trust in your work!

Johann Weber, Bishop of Graz-Seckau (Roman Catholic)

As chairperson of the Disability Commission of Vienna, I am very pleased that IVSS Churchear has chosen Vienna for its 11th International Ecumenical Congress.

The special needs of our hard of hearing fellow citizens have always been a responsibility that we in Vienna have taken up successfully. So far our strongest efforts have been directed towards deaf persons, who particularly suffer from communication problems. In cooperation with the VOX Association of Hard of Hearing Persons, we have decided to direct more focus on the needs of hard of hearing persons in realization of the generally low level of information about hearing technology and about the integration of hard of hearing persons into public life.

We wish to improve accessibility for hard of hearing persons in cultural and educational institutions and to take steps to improve communication with them. That means providing assistive listening devices like induction loop systems in as many public buildings as possible and training those who serve the public.

I wish you a pleasant time, successful talks, and inspiring discussions.

My goal is to belong, in spite of my increasing hearing loss--to be involved with my fellow human beings, to participate, to be present. For each of us has a unique contribution to offer in the fellowship. Too often we withdraw, isolating ourselves.

Our communication problem, however, is the problem of our fellow human beings as well. So we can only solve it together, keeping in touch by all means. Technology is a great help. We can and should demand that kind of help from society. But technology alone remains cold and impersonal if not accompanied by understanding. That understanding, however, can only be expected if we take responsibility and state our wishes and expectations.

Being strong is our own responsibility. In order to remain strong, we need the fellowship of others.

Consequently, I vigorously support the goals and the efforts of IVSS Churchear.

Hans Neuhold, President of the Austrian Federation of Hard of Hearing, Late-Deafened, and Tinnitus-Afllicted Persons. ÖSB