A choir performs a hymn in sign language at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in New York's Manhattan during a Christmas service for its deaf congregation December 21, 2014. St. Elizabeth, the only Roman Catholic parish dedicated to serving a deaf congregation, is in danger of losing its identity. The Archdiocese of New York has plans to merge St. Elizabeth with a hearing church, part of a sweeping consolidation of congregations that reflects long-term changes in where New Yorkers worship. Members of St. Elizabeth's fear the move means the loss of the special significance of their deaf church. Picture taken December 21, 2014. To match Feature USA-NEWYORK/DEAFCHURCH REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)

Monsignor Patrick Cahill leads a mass in sign language at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in New York's Manhattan during a Christmas service for its deaf congregation December 21, 2014. St. Elizabeth, the only Roman Catholic parish dedicated to serving a deaf congregation, is in danger of losing its identity. The Archdiocese of New York has plans to merge St. Elizabeth with a hearing church, part of a sweeping consolidation of congregations that reflects long-term changes in where New Yorkers worship. Members of St. Elizabeth's fear the move means the loss of the special significance of their deaf church. Picture taken December 21, 2014. To match Feature USA-NEWYORK/DEAFCHURCH REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)

Congregants respond in sign language during a mass at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in New York's Manhattan during a Christmas service for its deaf congregation December 21, 2014. St. Elizabeth, the only Roman Catholic parish dedicated to serving a deaf congregation, is in danger of losing its identity. The Archdiocese of New York has plans to merge St. Elizabeth with a hearing church, part of a sweeping consolidation of congregations that reflects long-term changes in where New Yorkers worship. Members of St. Elizabeth's fear the move means the loss of the special significance of their deaf church. Picture taken December 21, 2014. To match Feature USA-NEWYORK/DEAFCHURCH REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)

Congregants respond in sign language during a mass at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in New York's Manhattan during a Christmas service for its deaf congregation December 21, 2014. St. Elizabeth, the only Roman Catholic parish dedicated to serving a deaf congregation, is in danger of losing its identity. The Archdiocese of New York has plans to merge St. Elizabeth with a hearing church, part of a sweeping consolidation of congregations that reflects long-term changes in where New Yorkers worship. Members of St. Elizabeth's fear the move means the loss of the special significance of their deaf church. Picture taken December 21, 2014. To match Feature USA-NEWYORK/DEAFCHURCH REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES

A choir performs a hymn in sign language at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in New York's Manhattan during a Christmas service for its deaf congregation December 21, 2014. St. Elizabeth, the only Roman Catholic parish dedicated to serving a deaf congregation, is in danger of losing its identity. The Archdiocese of New York has plans to merge St. Elizabeth with a hearing church, part of a sweeping consolidation of congregations that reflects long-term changes in where New Yorkers worship. Members of St. Elizabeth's fear the move means the loss of the special significance of their deaf church. Picture taken December 21, 2014. To match Feature USA-NEWYORK/DEAFCHURCH REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)

Congregants respond in sign language during a mass at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in New York's Manhattan during a Christmas service for its deaf congregation December 21, 2014. St. Elizabeth, the only Roman Catholic parish dedicated to serving a deaf congregation, is in danger of losing its identity. The Archdiocese of New York has plans to merge St. Elizabeth with a hearing church, part of a sweeping consolidation of congregations that reflects long-term changes in where New Yorkers worship. Members of St. Elizabeth's fear the move means the loss of the special significance of their deaf church. Picture taken December 21, 2014. To match Feature USA-NEWYORK/DEAFCHURCH REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)

Congregants respond in sign language during a mass at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in New York's Manhattan during a Christmas service for its deaf congregation December 21, 2014. St. Elizabeth, the only Roman Catholic parish dedicated to serving a deaf congregation, is in danger of losing its identity. The Archdiocese of New York has plans to merge St. Elizabeth with a hearing church, part of a sweeping consolidation of congregations that reflects long-term changes in where New Yorkers worship. Members of St. Elizabeth's fear the move means the loss of the special significance of their deaf church. Picture taken December 21, 2014. To match Feature USA-NEWYORK/DEAFCHURCH REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES

An altar boy speaks in sign language at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in New York's Manhattan before a Christmas service for its deaf congregation December 21, 2014. St. Elizabeth, the only Roman Catholic parish dedicated to serving a deaf congregation, is in danger of losing its identity. The Archdiocese of New York has plans to merge St. Elizabeth with a hearing church, part of a sweeping consolidation of congregations that reflects long-term changes in where New Yorkers worship. Members of St. Elizabeth's fear the move means the loss of the special significance of their deaf church. Picture taken December 21, 2014. To match Feature USA-NEWYORK/DEAFCHURCH REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)

Margaret Shea (R) speaks in sign language to other congregants at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in New York's Manhattan before a Christmas service for its deaf congregation December 21, 2014. St. Elizabeth, the only Roman Catholic parish dedicated to serving a deaf congregation, is in danger of losing its identity. The Archdiocese of New York has plans to merge St. Elizabeth with a hearing church, part of a sweeping consolidation of congregations that reflects long-term changes in where New Yorkers worship. Members of St. Elizabeth's fear the move means the loss of the special significance of their deaf church. Picture taken December 21, 2014. To match Feature USA-NEWYORK/DEAFCHURCH REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)

A Catholic nun responds in sign language during a mass at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in New York's Manhattan during a Christmas service for its deaf congregation December 21, 2014. St. Elizabeth, the only Roman Catholic parish dedicated to serving a deaf congregation, is in danger of losing its identity. The Archdiocese of New York has plans to merge St. Elizabeth with a hearing church, part of a sweeping consolidation of congregations that reflects long-term changes in where New Yorkers worship. Members of St. Elizabeth's fear the move means the loss of the special significance of their deaf church. Picture taken December 21, 2014. To match Feature USA-NEWYORK/DEAFCHURCH REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)

Congregants respond in sign language during a mass at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in New York's Manhattan during a Christmas service for its deaf congregation December 21, 2014. St. Elizabeth, the only Roman Catholic parish dedicated to serving a deaf congregation, is in danger of losing its identity. The Archdiocese of New York has plans to merge St. Elizabeth with a hearing church, part of a sweeping consolidation of congregations that reflects long-term changes in where New Yorkers worship. Members of St. Elizabeth's fear the move means the loss of the special significance of their deaf church. Picture taken December 21, 2014. To match Feature USA-NEWYORK/DEAFCHURCH REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)

A choir performs a hymn in sign language at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in New York's Manhattan during a Christmas service for its deaf congregation December 21, 2014. St. Elizabeth, the only Roman Catholic parish dedicated to serving a deaf congregation, is in danger of losing its identity. The Archdiocese of New York has plans to merge St. Elizabeth with a hearing church, part of a sweeping consolidation of congregations that reflects long-term changes in where New Yorkers worship. Members of St. Elizabeth's fear the move means the loss of the special significance of their deaf church. Picture taken December 21, 2014. To match Feature USA-NEWYORK/DEAFCHURCH REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES

Congregants receive communion during a mass at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in New York's Manhattan during a Christmas service for its deaf congregation December 21, 2014. St. Elizabeth, the only Roman Catholic parish dedicated to serving a deaf congregation, is in danger of losing its identity. The Archdiocese of New York has plans to merge St. Elizabeth with a hearing church, part of a sweeping consolidation of congregations that reflects long-term changes in where New Yorkers worship. Members of St. Elizabeth's fear the move means the loss of the special significance of their deaf church. Picture taken December 21, 2014. To match Feature USA-NEWYORK/DEAFCHURCH REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)

An altar boy holds a cross before leading a procession into the St. Elizabeth of Hungary in New York's Manhattan during a Christmas service for its deaf congregation December 21, 2014. St. Elizabeth, the only Roman Catholic parish dedicated to serving a deaf congregation, is in danger of losing its identity. The Archdiocese of New York has plans to merge St. Elizabeth with a hearing church, part of a sweeping consolidation of congregations that reflects long-term changes in where New Yorkers worship. Members of St. Elizabeth's fear the move means the loss of the special significance of their deaf church. Picture taken December 21, 2014. To match Feature USA-NEWYORK/DEAFCHURCH REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATESRELIGION - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)

Monsignor Patrick Cahill leads a mass in sign language at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in New York's Manhattan during a Christmas service for its deaf congregation December 21, 2014. St. Elizabeth, the only Roman Catholic parish dedicated to serving a deaf congregation, is in danger of losing its identity. The Archdiocese of New York has plans to merge St. Elizabeth with a hearing church, part of a sweeping consolidation of congregations that reflects long-term changes in where New Yorkers worship. Members of St. Elizabeth's fear the move means the loss of the special significance of their deaf church. Picture taken December 21, 2014. To match Feature USA-NEWYORK/DEAFCHURCH REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)

Monsignor Patrick Cahill leads a mass in sign language at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in New York's Manhattan during a Christmas service for its deaf congregation December 21, 2014. St. Elizabeth, the only Roman Catholic parish dedicated to serving a deaf congregation, is in danger of losing its identity. The Archdiocese of New York has plans to merge St. Elizabeth with a hearing church, part of a sweeping consolidation of congregations that reflects long-term changes in where New Yorkers worship. Members of St. Elizabeth's fear the move means the loss of the special significance of their deaf church. Picture taken December 21, 2014. To match Feature USA-NEWYORK/DEAFCHURCH REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)

Monsignor Patrick Cahill leads a mass in sign language at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in New York's Manhattan during a Christmas service for its deaf congregation December 21, 2014. St. Elizabeth, the only Roman Catholic parish dedicated to serving a deaf congregation, is in danger of losing its identity. The Archdiocese of New York has plans to merge St. Elizabeth with a hearing church, part of a sweeping consolidation of congregations that reflects long-term changes in where New Yorkers worship. Members of St. Elizabeth's fear the move means the loss of the special significance of their deaf church. Picture taken December 21, 2014. To match Feature USA-NEWYORK/DEAFCHURCH REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)