YOU TOO!

YOU too can be certified as a religious education teacher! 
Bishop Moynihan and the friendly people in the Religious Education Office strongly encourage the Deaf to do that.

Maybe you would like to become a Lector/Proclaimer at Mass? Or help distribute the Eucharist? Or be a server?  
Yes, the Deaf are encouraged to do those too!

Would you like to host a Bible group? Or work with teens? Or visit those in nursing homes? Or those in the hospitals? YOU are needed!

Would you like to enter Formation for Ministry and become a Lay Minister for the Deaf of our Diocese? 
Would you like to become a deacon, a sister, a priest?

Or the Director of Deaf Ministry (my job)?! You can!

On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to be The Advocate.  The Holy Spirit helps us be the disciples Jesus wants us to be. Yes, when we are baptized we become disciples! We learn from Jesus how to serve others. You can find real happiness......just like everyone in the picture!

Mary Margaret VanDamme (recertified a Religious Education Associate)  with Bishop James Moynihan and the Directors for Religious Education:

Front: Theresa May (W) and Cathy Cornue (E) Back: Sr Lois Barton (S), Sr Katie Eiffe (Diocese), and Sr Germaine Hilston (N) June 5, 2006

August  Birthdays

1 Justin Frechette

5 Matt Cutler

5 Jonah Frechette

8 Heather Macri

9 Charles O’Bryan

19 Margaret Rocco

20 Sr Margaret Duffy

20 Rachael & Rebecca Chmiel

25 Suzanne Falcone

25 Luciano Mingolelli

30 Marion Baratta

Please forgive the lateness of this newsletter.  I tried to wait for the latest  information, but it still wasn’t available...

Now is a busy time of year with holidays and celebrations and all.
CONGRATULATIONS to our graduates:  Beth Thurlow and Melinda Stevens and Flo Labarr

CONGRATULATIONS also to Jennifer & Matt Roberts on the birth of Derek Handel on May 6, 2006!

In the Utica Observer Dispatch on April 8th there was an article on Kelly Read.  Her essay won the statewide Double Play essay contest.  She wrote on Heather Whitestone as a person who had an impact on her. Kudos to Kelly!

Ashley Nemier, one of the students in our religion classes at NYSSD,  was awarded the Middle School’s Outstanding Effort and Achievement Award.  
Good Job!

Prayers are asked for some in our Community:

• Anne Parish, who is recuperating from back surgery,

• Elaine Coleman, who is recuperating from shoulder surgery,

• Derek Roberts who had emergency surgery.

Please remember in prayer those who have died:

This year the St Lucy’s Follies, on April 25th ,  the Deaf Community performed the song “Holy Ground”..and were featured in Dick Case’s column in the Syracuse Post Standard.  Hands waving to the performers!

I had the chance to visit Alice Johns at St Luke’s Home in New Hartford.  She wanted to know everything that was going on, and also wanted to say HI to everyone!

Did you know that the Capitol Theatre in Rome has Old Time Movies?  Yes, the ones that have no sound!  The ones that were so enjoyed by the Deaf years ago before sound movies.  People now enjoy them for the wonderful filming.  My husband, Jim, and I go as often as we can.  It is a great way to spend an evening.

THANK YOU to those who came to ICDA 102's Spring Picnic on May 17th and to those who donated the wonderful raffle prizes More than $150 was raised to help our young people!

Have you made your pledge for the HOPE APPEAL this year? Deaf Ministry receives most of its funding from the Hope Appeal!
So many other Diocesan ministries funded by the Hope Appeal also serve those who are in need.  Please be generous!


A special Thank You to the Central NY Councils of the Knights of Columbus who presented $1000 to Deaf Ministry.










Mary Margaret thanks the Knights for their generosity, and points out Deaf activities in the newsletter



Please remember to pray for the students who are preparing this summer for the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Fall in Rome.

Don’t forget the Community Council Meeting August 16th.  We need YOU involved in the future of this ministry.

Palm Sunday with Bishop Moynihan  April 8, 2006