The Catholic Deaf Community of the Syracuse Diocese
DECEMBER  NEWS

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS                       DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
3    Kevin Welch                                          30  Angeline & James Fitzgerald
8    Edith Rakowski
11  Holly De Lillo
15  Bertha Coughlin
27  Krista Chapple
 
 

Present: Patrick J Lynch, Robert Harmon, Jean Hebbard, Anne Parish,  Joan Keefe, Jeanette D Romanowski, Mattie Letham, Robert Menotti, Mary Menotti, Mary T DeMatteo, Frances Harmon, Marion Baratta, Gena Podgorniak, Elaine Coleman, Mary Margaret Van Damme.  (15)

The meeting was started at 7:16pm with a prayer by Mattie Letham.

The Minutes of the last meeting were handed out and read.  Jeanette Romanowski stated that since that meeting her hours as Assistant were changed from 5 to 8 hours per week.
Mary Menotti made the motion to accept the minutes, and Robert Menotti seconded it.

Mary Margaret reported that no budget has been given to the office as of this date, but that bills being submitted were being paid . She is trying to remove Fr Pete's pay from the office expenses.  She said that she regularly contacts the diocesan office about the non-budget, and they know her voice!

Area Reports
North: Anne Parish said that she had nothing to report except that she is trying to obtain guardianship of Dorothy Lightaul, a Deaf/Blind woman in a nursing home, who needs visitors and stimulation.

South: Jeanette Romanowski reported that Jane Long gave a good presentation at St Catherine's this summer.  Also, in Norwich, they have an interpreter for the first Sunday of the month.

East: Jean Hebbard said to read the newsletter!  Also she has noticed that the number of Deaf  at various functions is going down.

West:Mattie Letham reported that Mass is still at St Lucy's every Sunday, and at St John's in Liverpool once a month.  Marion Baratta told of the coming up Indian Mass and supper at St Lucy's.  The Church building still can't be used for services.  Also, Sunday, Nov 7th, after Mass there would be a lunch at her home with a speaker from St Lucy's, Kevin Frank, on the topic of the new Milennium and what it means to Christian people.
Mattie then reported on the new Franciscan Chapel in Carousel Mall.  She stopped in to see it and the friar spoke in sign!  Maybe in the future we could ask to meet there for a Deaf Mass and meeting.

New Business
Mary Margaret spoke on Masses: Fr Tom Coughlin's Mass on Novemver 21st is going to be a Deaf Mass for the hearing people.  She would have a paper that people could sign up for the various "jobs" needed.
There is a possibility that another Mass at St John's in Liverpool could be added to the calendar if the Deaf would like that.
Holy Day Masses, such as for  December 8th, were brought up.  Discussion was held if they should be put on the calendar or not.  It was found to be done differently in each area.
Mass schedules for Christmas were discussed,  and they will be sheduled and put in the newsletter.
A small discussion was held on the Deaf Group Masses.  Mary Margaret said that letters had been sent out to some priests asking if they would be interested in having a Mass just for the Deaf, maybe on a weekday.  Each area had some very positive responses from priests!  Each of those priests were thanked and told that if the Deaf would like a Mass, they could arrange for one through their local lay minister.  That was done twice at St James in Johnson City with wonderful results.  The Deaf in each area can decide for themselves what they would like.

Jeanette Romanowski told of her work on the Mission Statement.  She handed out two versions of the statement. It was discussed sentance by sentance, and each change approved.  See attached copy.

Jeanette Romanowski then told of her work on the Census Form.  Mary Margaret told of the need for a new Census.  Discussion followed of how to get the forms to the Deaf Catholics.  It was decided to put it in the newsletter and also in Siracusa, and then have followup by area lay ministers.

Future Plans
Patrick Lynch told of the Christmas party on Dec 5th in Camillus.

Miscellaneous
Mary DeMatteo reported that at her place of employment it was decided that instead of the employees exchanging gifts they would collect and donate to a Deaf family or preson who needed help.  If anyone knew of such a Deaf family/Deaf person to let them know.

Marion Baratta shared that she would prefer not to have a Palm Sunday Mass with the Bishop because she would like to be with her parish family on that day.

A discussion was held on the date of the next meeting.  It will be May 4, 2000 at 7PM...with possibly a dinner before.

The meeting ended with a prayer by Marion Baratta at 9:15pm.

Submitted by Mary Margaret Van Damme
 

              SUNDAY & HOLY DAY READINGS FOR DECEMBER
December 4 & 5   2nd Sunday of Advent  Is 40:1-5, 9-11 / 2 Pt 3:8-14 / Mt 1:1-8
December 7 & 8  Immaculate Conception Gen3:9-15,20 / Eph 1:3-6,11-12 / Lk 1:26-38
December 11 & 12  3rd Sunday of Advent  Is 61:1-2a,10-11 / 1 Thes 5:16-24 / Jn 1:6-8,19-28
December 18 & 19   4th Sunday of Advent   2 Sam 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16 /Rom 16:25-27 /
Lk 1: 26-38
December 24 & 25    Christmas  Day    Is 52: 7-10 / Heb 1:1-6 / Jn 1: 1-18
December 26   Holy Family   Gen 15:1-6,21:1-3 / Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19 / Lk 2: 22-40
 
 
 

To Each of You                From All of Us         the very best HOLYDAYS                       ever!!!!! Your Staff:Marion Baratta, Mary De Matteo, Barbara       Hudson, Mattie Letham, Jane Long, Anne Parish,  Jeanette D Romanowski, & Mary Margaret Van Damme