The Sign of Christ

News from the Catholic Deaf Community

Diocese of Syracuse

Vol. 17 No.1 - Feb - March  2006

March for Life, Washington DC January 23, 2005

LENT 2006


Lent 2006 will start Ash Wednesday, March 1st.

This year will you start with feeling “Oh, no!  Lent again!”  or “Yes! This year I will get closer to Jesus!” ?

Lent is a time to grow in Jesus’ life. How?   Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Prayer is just talking to the Lord.  He’s really your best friend.  How do you talk to your friends?  You tell them about your life, the good times and the bad times, and you listen to them and you thank them.  Talk to Jesus.

Fasting means not eating (see below for Lenten rules), but it can also mean sacrificing something and do good:
 All these are hard, but Lent does not happen to us...we must do the work to know our friend Jesus and what he wants to tells us.

Almsgiving means helping others with your money.  It also means helping others with your time and your skills. Hard!

RULES FOR LENT
Ash Wednesday & Good Friday: no meat all day  (over age 14)
                                  +   Fast: eat only one big meal and two small meals
                          Don’t eat between meals. (Age 18-59)
Every Friday in Lent (from March 3 - April 14): no meat (over age 14)

My heart is ready, O God; my heart is ready.  Psalm 56
May you have a wonder-full Lent!

Interpreted Masses at St James, Johnson City, are again on alternating Saturdays & Sundays due to the interpreting situation.  Please check the monthly calendars



THIS & THAT

Sorry about the delay in this newsletter, but with Lent starting “late”some are slow on the scheduling.

Also so much has been happening, I haven’t gotten to the computer. Enjoy all the pictures. It’s been fun!


Congratulations

To my son Leo and his wife Kathleen on the birth of Avery Marieke Van Damme (our first grandchild!) on November 23rd. Also

To Jennifer and Keith Redmore on the birth of their third child ,and Jane Long’s first granddaughter, Mary Genevieve on December 8th. Also

To Aaron and KellyJo Cutler on receiving Confirmation.

(The pictures are below....)

Our prayers go out to the family of Mr. Gerald Griffin of Rome who died in December. He was a great friend of Camp Mark Seven.


Hopefully everyone is getting a little rest between the busy Fall/Christmas Time and the upcoming Lent.

Be sure and check out the pictures from some activities. Some don’t have pictures (digital cameras: “oops!”):

Coming next month will be pictures from NCOD Pastoral Week and also from the youths’ 32 hour road trip to the March for Life in Washington, DC.

Please let me encourage you to enter Lent in a spirit of joy. Also, may you plan your calendars for the annual Mass with Bishop Moynihan. He is looking forward to it! Also please take advantage of the various upcoming activities for adults, teens, and families.

If anyone needs information on receiving the sacraments or religion classes for your children, please let me know. How to reach me:

Catholic Deaf Community of the Syracuse Diocese

PO Box 572   Rome, NY 13442-0572


Mary Margaret Van Damme, Director
Email: syrdeaf@ juno.com

Phone: (315) 404-5674 V/ use Relay

Make Your Reservations by March 24th for Saturday April 8th

Palm Sunday Mass with the Deaf  with Bishop James Moynihan

Mass at 5,   Dinner to Follow

If you would like to help, we need:
  • Server/Cross Bearer (1)
  • Streamer Bearers (2 or 3)
  • Gift Bearers (2 or 3)
  • Readers (7)
  • Ministers of the Cup (2)
  • Interpreter (1)

Wish List:
  • A Palm Sunday Banner to carry in the procession
Email: syrdeaf@juno.com
315-404-5674 (V)
CDC PO Box 572 Rome NY 13442-0572



KEEPING BUSY


October 21st , Syracuse,  Holy Family School’s Diversity Day:  “Deaf Culture”
The Schindler Family and Confirmation Students


SACRAMENTS

Kelly Jo and Aaron Cutler with sponsor Sr Joan PVMI
Confirmed by Bishop Moynihan November 8, 2005


Fr Thomas Ryan and Mary Genevieve Redmore      December 31st 2005




Fr Ray Fleming baptized Avery Marieke Van  Damme,  January 29th 2006 in Rochester


TEENS...DON’T MISS THIS !!

Saturday March 4th:  FX YOUTH RALLY
With  Bob Perron and Martin Doman

9 AM - 6 PM     St Matthew’s Syracuse
Cost $18    (but don’t let the cost stop you)
Bob Perron was at NCYC in Atlanta.  Check out: www.stooge4christ.com



NATIONAL CATHOLIC YOUTH CONFERENCE

ATLANTA, GA October 27-30, 2005

Can you picture 22,000 people signing “Yes, Lord!” ? It was awesome!

The emcee, national singer and speaker Steve Angrisano, requested a picture with our group.

LOTS of people requested pictures with us (we were the only Deaf group)!

Could it have been our fuzzy, green hats? :-)


MAKE PLANS TO JOIN US AT NCYC 2007 IN COLUMBUS,OHIO


FOR ADULTS...
DON’T MISS THIS!

GOD REALLY IN DEAF SOCIAL?
YES!
HOW? COME & SEE!

DEAF DEACON PATRICK GRAYBILL
(you may know him as Deaf actor)
will be in Poughkeepsie for RETREAT

WHERE: The Catholic Center
WHEN: March 4th, Saturday
TIME: 9:30 AM - 4 PM

LUNCH INCLUDED
Ask Mary Margaret for more details
email: syrdeaf@juno.com
call: 315-404-5674
write: CDC PO Box 572 Rome NY 13442-0572



ICDA 102's  THANKSGIVING DINNER

For the WHOLE Family (kids too!)

Come and learn to make a  Butter Lamb for your Easter Dinner

When: 10 AM - Noon or before
Where:  St Mary’s    Rome NY                SATURDAY MARCH 25th

Learn why we make the Lamb     Email: syrdeaf@ juno.com

ADVENT AT HOLY FAMILY, FULTON

December 13th





Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

FEBRUARY 2006



1

NYSSD

Religious Ed

2

Liverpool Group

10 AM - 2 PM

3

4

Johnson City 5

Rome: 6:30

+ Life Teen

5

Dewitt 10:30

Syracuse 9

Fulton 11:15

Whitesboro 11

6

7

8

NYSSD

Religious Ed

9

10

Catechetical Leaders

Meeting

11


Rome 6:30

+ Life Teen

12

Dewitt 10:30

Syracuse 9

Johnson City 10

Fulton 11:15

Whitesboro 11

13

14

Barber Shop
10 AM - 1 PM
Utica

St Valentine‘s
Day

15

NYSSD

Religious Ed

16

Liverpool Group

10 AM - 2 PM

17

18

Johnson City 5

Rome: 6:30

19

Dewitt 10:30

Syracuse 9

Fulton 11:15

Whitesboro 11

20

PRESIDENTS’

     

DAY

21

22

23

24

25



Rome: 6:30

+Life Teen

26

Dewitt 10:30

Syracuse 9

Johnson City 10

Fulton 11:15

Whitesboro 11

27

28

Mardi Gras

(Day before Lent starts)






*



February Birthdays


10 Aaron Cutler

21 Timothy O’Brien

23 Bishop Costello

25 Matt Dadey

26 Elaine Coleman

27 Genevieve Podgorniak

28 Alice Johns

28 Susan Sharpsteen



ASH WEDNESDAY
March 1st
St James, Johnson City 5:15 PM
St Mary’s, Rome 8 AM
St Paul’s, Whitesboro 7 PM
St Lucy’s, Syracuse     Ask
Holy Family-St Michael’s, Fulton ---  Ask



Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

MARCH 2006






1

NYSSD
Religious Ed

ASH
WEDNESDAY

Fast & No meat

2

Liverpool Group

10 AM - 2 PM

3





No meat

4

FX Youth Rally
Syracuse


Johnson City 5
Rome: 6:30
+ Life Teen

5

Dewitt 10:30

Syracuse 9

Fulton 11:15

Whitesboro 11

6

7

8

NYSSD
Religious Ed

9

10

Catechetical Leaders
Meeting

No meat

11

Rome 6:30

+ Life Teen

12

Dewitt 10:30

Syracuse 9

Johnson City 10

Fulton 11:15

Whitesboro 11

13

14

Barber Shop

10 AM - 1 PM

Utica

15

NYSSD

Religious Ed

16

Liverpool Group

10 AM - 2 PM

17



No meat

18

Johnson City 5

Rome: 6:30

+ Life Teen

19

Dewitt 10:30

Syracuse 9

Fulton 11:15

Whitesboro 11

20

21

22

NYSSD

Religious Ed

23

24




No meat

25

Rome: 6:30

+Life Teen

26

Dewitt 10:30

Syracuse 9

Johnson City 10

Fulton 11:15

Whitesboro 11

27

28

29

NYSSD

Religious Ed

30

31



No meat

*

March Birthdays

3 Anne Parish

5 Connor Evans

5 Linda Farrell

9 Tiffany O’Brien

10 Robert Harmon

13 Michelle Burchett

13 Fr Robert Dwyer

17 Holly Cutler

23 Meghan Dadey Evans

March Anniversaries


10 Robin & Michael  Brennan

31 Pauline & Frank  Rakowski 55 Years

CONGRATULATIONS!!


March 19th
Holy Family-St Michael’s in Fulton

Mass at 11:15 AM
with Lenten Potluck to follow
ALL INVITED!!



THANK YOU

*To those who give in Monthly Giving

October: 5 envelopes $95

November: 5 envelopes $80

December & Christmas: 7 envelopes $215

*To those who supported the newsletter:   Jennifer & John Evans, Brenda Lambert,  and Robert & Frances Harmon






Deaf Teens with Bob Rice, national speaker, Dec 3rd

TEENS...DON’T MISS THIS !!

Saturday March 4th:  FX YOUTH RALLY
With  Bob Perron and Martin Doman

9 AM - 6 PM     St Matthew’s Syracuse
Cost $18    (but don’t let the cost stop you)
Bob Perron was at NCYC in Atlanta.  Check out: www.stooge4christ.com

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2/4/2006