Invocation was given by Deacon David Rose from Holy Angels Catholic Church of the Deaf

April 14, 2026

Deacon David Rose makes history offering the first invocation in ASL at the Board of Supervisors.

Los Angeles, CA – This morning, at the invitation of Supervisor Janice Hahn, Deacon David Rose of Holy Angels Catholic Church of the Deaf made history by offering the first invocation in American Sign Language at the meeting of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Rose is a deacon at Holy Angels Catholic Church of the Deaf in Vernon, which Hahn represents. Rose himself previously made history in 2003 when he was ordained as the first deaf deacon for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Video: footage of invocation and presentation of certificate

“What better way to honor National Deaf History Month than by making a little history right here today?” said Supervisor Hahn. “I wanted to take this opportunity to not only acknowledge Deaf History Month but to make it clear to our deaf community that their contributions and their history are not secondary nor an afterthought. Deaf history is LA County history.”

Hahn and Rose join the audience in signing “applause” in ASL after the presentation of the certificate of appreciation

Holy Angels Catholic Church of the Deaf was established in 1987 by then-Archbishop Roger Mahony specifically as a parish for deaf Catholics, and has served as a spiritual home for deaf people from across the Archdiocese of Los Angeles since then. Mass is celebrated in American Sign Language with live interpretation into both English and Spanish. Mass attendance on Sundays averages about 350 people, and the church often receives visitors from around the world.

The invocation was read aloud simultaneously by an interpreter. After Rose offered the invocation, Hahn presented him with a certificate of recognition.

Download images and video below (photo credit: Bryan Chan)
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Footage of invocation and presentation of certificate