ALL ARE WELCOME !  COME CELEBRATE ! Saturday March 31st  5 PM Bishop Thomas Costello will celebrate Mass with the Deaf Dinner to follow  in the Dining Room Christ the King Retreat House Brookford Road, Syracuse Please reserve your place for the dinner by March 16 Send $5 to:  The Catholic Deaf Community PO Box 572   Rome, NY 13442-0572

March 31st Mass with Bishop Costello

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
If you wish to do any of these, please let me know!   Email: syrdeaf@juno.com     315-404-5674 (V)

This & That As I was preparing to print this issue, I was notified that something had come up and Bishop James Moynihan would not be able to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass with us as he had looked forward to doing.   Thankfully, Bishop Thomas Costello graciously said that he would do it.   I know that many of you know Bishop Costello and his strong connection with the Deaf Community throughout the years.  Please save the date and come as we celebrate together. The Thomas Johns Memorial Appreciation Award will be presented at the dinner after the Mass.  If you know someone who should receive this award, please let us know. Please remember in your prayers Carmella Gillette, sister of Marion Baratta, who died November 12th. In December, I was able to attend the NCCYM, the National Conference for Catholic Youth Ministers. I spread the word that a Deaf priest will be giving workshops at NCYC, the National Catholic Youth Conference!  I met many people from across the US who know Deaf young people.  My hope is that in November there will be many, many  Deaf teens at the NCYC in Columbus, OH.  Please pray for this. In January, I attended the Pastoral Week by NCOD (National Catholic Office for the Deaf).  There I met  others who work with the Deaf in the US and Canada. I learned from the Committee working on an ASL Mass,  the new Reconciliation classes, and so much more. I arrived home in time to leave with the youth of the diocese as we did the March For Life in Syracuse then headed to the one in Washington, DC.  More of that in the next newsletter! Then it was home to welcome our new grandaughter: Annika Paige Van Damme on January 24th, the feast of St Francis DeSales, patron of the Deaf. :-)

            

Thomas Johns Memorial       APPRECIATION AWARD Someone who     * has shown great love for the Catholic Deaf Community * has always been ready to help,            * shows strong faith and encourages others to do the same, * is prayerful and encourages others to pray also, * believes in service for the Lord.

Send the person’s name and why you choose to: Catholic Deaf Community PO Box 572 Rome NY 13442-0572     I choose____________________________________ Because____________________________________ ________________________________________

Lent 2007  Starts Ash Wednesday February 21st
Can we say:  Yes, it’s that special time of year again.  Time to focus on my relationship with Jesus.  Am I closer to Him than last year?  If I say, “Yes!”...wonderful!  How can I be even closer?   If I say, “Well...” then it is time to get to know Him.  Jesus loves me more than anyone else in the world can.  He is waiting for me to come to Him.  I’m ready!

Things that take our attention away from Jesus ( how much time do we spend with TV or the computer or sports or shopping or Sudoku?), how can we trade time with them for Time with Jesus?  Can we talk with Jesus, our best friend?  Can we go to Mass every Sunday like He asks us to?  Can we read the Bible?  Gather friends for a Bible Study?  There are so many things we can do!  Start with prayer, fasting, and almsgiving...and then add a little something special.

The “Mystery Picture”  was taken in Rome, NY, at the Rome Fire And Police Memorial Park on Black River Blvd

These gave the correct answer: Matt Cutler         Ashley Nemier Mark Sharpsteen  William Wiley Student in NYSSD religion class draws the winner: Matt Cutler                Congratulations!

Serving Mass at the retreat at  Holy Family in Fairmount

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Waiting in line at the Holocaust Museum in Washington. The line seemed to be moving very slowly.

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