The Sign of Christ

News from the Catholic Deaf Community

Diocese of Syracuse

Vol. 15 No. 5 - November 2004-January 2005

YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST: WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

November 2nd is Election Day here in the US. This is a wonderful country, and it is a privilege and honor that we have to be able to vote.

We know we have a serious responsibility to the US. We are the citizens! But what if the people from around the world visiting here on November 2nd ... maybe to see our beautiful Fall colors or to see Niagara Falls... decided that they wanted to join in our voting?

Can you imagine going to visit beautiful Paris, and voting in French elections? You would say, "No way! That is crazy."

Did you know that all US citizens cannot vote? Yes, right : you must be at least 18 years old (remember studying American History and Government?!), and must be in good standing (The US has laws we must follow. Some people give up their right to vote when they choose to commit a crime)!

Recently, I was at a Deaf gathering and many decided to pray together at a Catholic Mass. It was wonderful to be together to pray. Yet when it was time for Holy Communion, I was surprised to see many people go to the altar ... people who are not Catholic Christians and some Catholics not following Catholic rules. I wondered what was happening. Did they understand what they were doing?

What makes some Christians to be Catholics? Do you know the Catholic Church History and laws? Everyone is invited to learn.

For Catholics, the Eucharist (Liturgy of the Mass) and receiving the Eucharist (Jesus' Body and Blood) are the most important things in life!
It is the highest privilege to receive the Eucharist because we believe it is not bread and wine... but Jesus, our Lord and God Himself.

Sometimes it is called "Holy Communion" because we are in communion (unity) with God, and with all the other Catholics who are in good standing (Remember learning about grace? That is unity with God. We can choose to sin and break that unity.).

We have the serious responsibility to live as Catholic Christians.

Maybe that is why Pope John Paul II has chosen this year, October 2004 - October 2005, as The Year of the Eucharist! It is a good time to focus on what the Mass and Holy Communion mean to us Catholics. It is time to ask ourselves what we believe. Are we willing to accept the challenge of being a true Catholic Christian and all that it means? It is more awesome than being a US citizen!

HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION ...different this year

November 1st: All Saints Day, falls on a Monday this year. This means that you do not have to attend Mass... but it would be nice. <>

December 8th The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary is on a Wednesday so you go either on Tuesday evening or Wednesday. <>

January 1st the feast of Mary, the Mother of God, is on a Saturday. This means that you do not have to go to Mass on Friday evening or Saturday morning (like for Christmas this year).

****Changes in Mass Schedules : See Calendars below!****

National Catholic Office for the Deaf’s Pastoral Week
Colorado Springs, CO January 14 - 19, 2005
“Heaven On Earth, Liturgy & Spirituality”

ALL INVITED to
ICDA 102's ANNUAL
THANKSGIVING POTLUCK

Wednesday November 17, 2004

St Francis DeSales, Utica
Prayer & Potluck 6 PM

Turkey & Beverages provided
Bring food to share & something for the Food Bank (food or $$)

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
NOVEMBER 2004
	1 All Saints Day	2 All Souls Day & Election Day	3 NYSSD Religious Ed	4 Liverpool Group 10 AM- 2 PM	5	6 10 AM Community Council Rome Rome 5:15
7 Dewitt 10:30 Syracuse 9 Johnson City10 Fulton 11:15 Whitesboro 11	8	9 Barber Shop 10 AM - 1 PM Utica	10 NYSSD Religious Ed Adult Ed Rome 6:30 PM- 8 PM	11	12 Catechetical Leaders	13 Johnson City 5
14 Dewitt 10:30 Syracuse 9 Fulton 11:15 Whitesboro 11	15	16 Youth Ministers Meeting	17 NYSSD Religious Ed 6 PM Utica	18 Liverpool Group 10 AM - 2 PM Bible Study	19	20 Rome 5:15
21	22	23	24	25	26	27 Johnson City 5
8 Dewitt 10:30 Syracuse 9 Fulton 11:15 Whitesboro 11	29	30

November Birthdays

2 Christopher Sarracino

4 Thomas Debraggio

12 Shirley Cleveland

12 Anthony Rakowski

14 Caitlyn Martin

16 Rose Benedict

19 Michael Brennan

20 Nelson Sharpsteen

20 Gari Van Voorhis

23 Dawn Brothers

23 Tim Pardi

24 Jennifer Evans

25 Denise Hnelosub

25 Mark Sharpsteen

26 Becky Clark

28 Mary Margaret Van Damme

November Anniversaries

6 Cherie & Richard Byrnes

14 Mary & Robert Menotti

SPECIAL ADVENT ACTIVITIES IN THE DIOCESE

Sunday December 5th
St Joseph’s Camillus 11:30 AM Mass interpreted
before the Christmas Party at 1 PM

Wednesday December 8th
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Great time to reflect! Check your parishes for Mass times

Sunday December 12th
Holy Family, Fulton 4:30 PM
Potluck Gathering + Fr Peter available for Confessions

Wednesday December 15th
St Francis DeSales, Utica 6:30PM
Desserts, Presentation, + Fr Peter available for Confessions

Sunday December 19th
probably St James (!) Johnson City 4:30 PM
Potluck, Presentation, + Fr Peter available for Confessions

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
DECEMBER 2004
			1 NYSSD Religious Ed	2 Liverpool Group 10 AM - 2 PM MM to Pittsburgh NCCYM	3 MM at NCCYM	4 MM at NCCYM
5 Dewitt 10:30 Johnson City 10 Whitesboro 11 Camillus 11:30 see below	6	7 Vigil Mass	8 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION NYSSD Religious Ed Johnson City 5:30	9	10 Catechetical Leaders Meeting	11 Johnson City 5 Rome 5:15
12 Dewitt 10:30 Syracuse 9 Fulton 11:15 Whitesboro 11	13	14 Barber Shop + ICDA Meeting 10 AM - 1 PM Utica	15 NYSSD Religious Ed Youth Ministers Meeting	16 Liverpool Group 10 AM - 2 PM	17	18
19 Dewitt 10:30 Syracuse 9 Johnson City 10 Fulton 11:15 Whitesboro 11	20	21	22	23	24	25 Christmas
26	27	28	29	30	31	*

Christmas Worship Schedule

St James, Johnson City
Dec 24th 4 PM
Dec 25th 10 AM
Dec 26th 10 AM

St Peter’s Rome
Dec 24th 10PM

St Paul’s Whitesboro
December 25th 10 AM
December 26th 10 AM

Other Masses will be similar to other years
.....Check with your parish or Lay Minister

December Birthdays

3 Kevin Welch

8 Edith Rakowski

11 Holly Dilillo

15 Bertha Coughlin

25 Jesus

26 Donna Wine

27 Lori Booth

27 Krista Chapple

29 Benjamin Trelease

31 John Evans

December Anniversaries

5 Dawn & Brian Brothers

30 Angeline & James Fitzgerald

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
JANUARY 2005						1 *New Year's Day*
2 Dewitt 10:30 Syracuse 9 Johnson City10 Fulton 11:15 Whitesboro 11	3	4	5 <> NYSSD Religious Ed Bible Study Rome	6 Liverpool Group 10 AM -2 PM	7	8 Johnson City 5 Rome 5:15
9 Dewitt 10:30 Syracuse 9 Fulton 11:15 Whitesboro 11	10	11 Barber Shop 10 AM - 1 PM	12 NYSSD Relious Ed	13 MM to NCOD	14 MM at NCOD	15 MM at NCOD
16 Dewitt 10:30 Syracuse 9 Johnson City10 Fulton 11:15 Whitesboro 11	17 MM at NCOD	18 MM at NCOD	19 MM at NCOD	20 Liverpool Group 10 AM - 2 PM	21	22 Johnson City 5 Rome 5:15
23 Dewitt 10:30 Syracuse 9 Fulton 11:15 Whitesboro 11	24	25	26 NYSSD Religious Ed 6 PM Utica Subs & Games	27 Bible Study Fulton	28	29
30 Dewitt 10:30 Syracuse 9 Johnson City10 Fulton 11:15 Whitesboro 11	31					*

January Birthdays

6 Ryan Evans

7 Linda Van Voorhis

12 Karen Read

15 Jacqueline Frechette

24 Bethanie Lethbridge

27 Brian Brothers

31 Scott Allen

Don't forget:

Community Council Meeting
November 6^th 10 AM
401 Floyd Ave Rome

Refreshments

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Sr Linda Jean Marie PVMI

2151 Watson Ave Bronx, NY 10472

Alice Johns
Allen Calder 2^nd Fl
PO Box 479 Utica NY 13403

THIS & THAT

Classes have started: both for 3 levels at NYSSD and for Adults in Rome and Fulton. All are very interesting. Do come!

Please remember in prayer James Griffin who died in September. Also pray for his family: wife Donna, children Erica, Kristofer, and Gerald.

On November 2^nd please pray for Frances Harmon who will have hip surgery at St Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse.

Congratulations To:

Beth Thurlow who received the Sacrament of Confirmation on October 14^th .
Melinda Farrell who received the Star Citizen Award at her school.
Maria & Ralph Mingolelli on the birth of Luciano Antonio on August 25^th. Here Luciano is baptized by Fr. Hearn at St. Peter's Church:

Marion Baratta writes that the Deaf Community of St Lucy's attended many gatherings: August 8^th the parish picnic at Alverna Heights, August 18^th a cook-out at Joan Keeffe's with her brother Fr Tony Keeffe as chef, and September 12^th the parish party for Sr Eileen who was leaving after many years of good work for all including special support for the Deaf Community.

Did you see the Syracuse newspaper about the Disabilities Mass on September 26^th? Both pictures were of the Deaf! Did you know that Bishop Moynihan came to the Deaf and signed "Peace"? He truly cares for us!

Do you get the ICDA's magazine The Deaf Catholic? In the last issue there is some wonderful reading by Fr Tom Coughlin, Fr Mike Depcik, and Fr Peter Monty. You can borrow one from a member or ask Mary Margaret.

Plans are being made for next year so be sure and get ready: nominate someone who should be honored by the Tom Johns Award

Parents ask your high school teens about NCYC (National Catholic Youth Conference) in Atlanta.

It’s not too early to think about our Deaf teens going !
If you know a Deaf HS student interested in going
to Atlanta, GA in October 2005.... let Mary Margaret know.
We can start planning now.

Come & Share!

Adult Education & Bible Study
Rome (401 Floyd) Nov 10th & Jan 5th
Fulton (Holy Family) Nov 18th & Jan 27th

“Search for Meaning”   6:30 PM - 8 PM

Mary Ellen Martens won the prize for identifying the Minnesota Deaf School in our last newsletter. The first runner-up was Christy Bates. Christy lives in the Detroit area and works as a computer programmer, and is also the webmistress of the Genealogical Society of Flemish Americans (which Jim and Mary Margaret Van Damme belong to). Besides being Deaf, she is also smart - she searched the internet for the answer!

We won't embarass the rest of you by listing your answers....well, wild guesses actually!

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Last fooled with on October 19, 2004