The Sign of Christ

News from the Catholic Deaf Community

Diocese of Syracuse

Vol. 20 No.1 - March - April - May 2009







Palm Sunday Mass with Bishop Moynihan April 4th
has been cancelled
due to his continuing ill health



You Never Know...
National Catholic Office for the Deaf
Pastoral Week in San Francisco, California 
by Christopher Campbell
 
On January 16, 2009, I flew to San Francisco, California. I arrived there.  Wow,  the weather was nice.  The temp was around 65 degrees. The temp was about 3 degrees in Syracuse when I left.
I went to Restaurant at the Hotel for my late lunch and was joined by Mary Margaret Van Damme and two other women.  Mary Margaret told me about my old friend.  She will come.   I was surprised because I had not seen her in more than twenty years. Her name is Barbara Reuter.  She was my first Religion teacher while we lived in Long Island.  Right now, she lives in Florida. I can’t wait to see Barbara that first night.
We had Mass with Bishop Kevin Rhoades from Harrisburg, PA.  He is the Bishops’ connection to NCOD . This was his first Pastoral Week Conference.  We are lucky he stayed many days. He knew a few signs.
I went to  New Members Welcome Orientation.   Later all of us went to cheese and wine party.   I saw some of my old friends. Bishop Rhoades came to sit with us. Then, I saw Barbara Reuter.  First, she did not know me.  I brought her to Mary Margaret.   Barbara tried to guess who I was. Finally, I showed her my "Hello" name paper.   She was very shocked and very happy.  We hugged.  We talked about my family updates.   









Second Day: First there was Mass with Bishop Rhoades (picture, left).   Then we had a workshop by  Rev Michael Depcik, a deaf Priest from Chicago, IL.  He presented about his Vlog.  Fr Mike showed his own studio at his home.  His website is www.frmd.org.   His homilies are very good.   I suggest to you to type his website address and watch his homily every week.  Fr Mike discussed with us about Vlog vs church.     He would like to see everyone to go church every Sunday.   He was good presenter.






I had lunch with one of the priests. His name is Monsignor Nelson.   He is hearing but his signs are very good.  We talked.  It was very interesting about his life.   I asked him why did he become a priest?   He said God called him to become a Priest.    He went to College and took a math class.   He saw a student sit in front of an interpreter.   He started to watch their signs.   He decided to study for Deaf Education.    When he finished his school, he got a job as teacher for the Deaf.    Later,  God called him and he decided to go to Seminary to study and become a priest.   Right now, he works with his Bishop everyday.   Also, he teaches students at college every night, and he has three or four Masses on weekends.  He is very busy.

Third Day:  We had a field trip.  We rode on two buses.  We went to St. Patrick's Seminary.  Their buildings and landscape were so beautiful.  It opened in 1889.    In 1906, their buildings were destroyed by an earthquake.  They rebuilt new building again two years later.  We went inside and saw lot of wood paneling in the hall and chapel.

We sat on fancy wood benches on the left side.   Other people sat on the right side.  We did not face the altar.  We faced each other. Bishop Justice and Deacon Shawn Carey walked into the chapel from left to right.  The readers walked and stood in the area to our right.  We had four interpreters.  They stood  one on each corner.    Mary Margaret and I watched interpreters.   Very interesting because their signs were a little different but we understood them.   For example, when we signed “cross” on head then lip then heart but for deaf,  we should signed “cross” on head then heart then HAND.  Surprise!     I loved to go Mass everyday.  We had a luncheon.  Then they divided us into six groups.   We walked around the campus.   One of students, who will become priest,   explained every building on campus.
After the tour we went to our Northeast Regional Meeting for an hour.

Fourth day:  We had Mass with a Deaf priest, Fr Ghislain Bazikila  from the Congo.  He was with Fr Coughlin for a few years,  then he went to St Patrick's Seminary and was ordained in his hometown in the Congo and then came back to California to work with Deaf people.   We had workshops all morning.  Afternoon was free.    My friend and I went to San Francisco City.  We loved to walk around there.  Also, we walked on the Golden Gate Bridge.    Nice view. 
 
Fifth Day:  We had more workshops all day. The closing Mass was by another Deaf priest from San Francisco, Fr Paul Zirimenya.

Sixth Day: Last day for me, as I had to fly back to Syracuse because my dog, Daisy, missed me.  But Mary Margaret asked me:  Can I come with her for last Mass with Fr Mike Depcik?   I said yes.  I went there then left for airport.   I arrived home safety.

I have special note for Mary Margaret.   She encouraged me to come with her for Pastoral Week Conference.  I enjoyed it very much.  Thanks, Mary Margaret.      


    St Paul says:

We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.
We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some,
but encourage one another.
                     Letter to the Hebrews 10:






A New Deaf Priest: Father Ghislain Bazikila
By Mike Vick

More than 200 priests and hundreds of assembly members gathered June 21 in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, for the priestly ordination of Father Ghislain Bazikila for the Archdiocese of San Francisco and 15 other men for the Archdiocese of Brazzaville.                                           
Because Father Bazikila's father was too ill to travel to the United States, Archbishop George Niederauer granted special permission for the priest to be ordained in his homeland.
               
Father Bazikila is the second deaf man to be ordained for the Archdiocese of San Francisco in two years. Fellow native of the African continent, Father Paul Zirimenya, was ordained last June.









This & That
   As I was working to get this out, we found that Bishop Moynihan is home but still needs rest, and so the April 4th Mass is cancelled.  Hopefully next year...

   Change is happening in Fulton.  We are trying to find interpreters.  Do you know of anyone?
   I have moved into a new office at St Mary’s in Rome.  A big thank you to Fr Hearn!

   Please pray for the souls of:  Shirley Nola, mother of Shirleyann Colburn, and Violet “Grace” Sterly, mother of Jeffrey Sterly

   At the NCOD Pastoral Week, Fr Mike Depcik gave us this special prayer.  Let us say it every Friday for our Deaf Church.

Renewal Prayer for Deaf Catholic Church
(to be said on every Friday)

Father, we ask you to look with mercy at us, your Deaf Catholic Church.
We ask you to bless us, inspire us to always love you above all things and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

We pray to you for our bishops, our spiritual leaders. Please bless them and give them the strength and wisdom to guide us, their people. Help them to recognize, understand, and respond to our unique needs.

Please bless the priests, deacons, religious, and lay people who serve our community. Inspire them so that they may then inspire all hearts of deaf people to know, love, and serve you and your Catholic Church.

Father, we pray to you for our baptized Deaf Catholic brothers and sisters. Please send your Holy Spirit to enkindle and renew their hearts so that they may continue to grow spiritually through making time for prayers,  receiving sacraments, and serving other people.

Our young baptized Deaf Catholics are growing up in a challenging and confused world. Almighty God, please help them understand that the way of the world does not give life; your way alone gives true life.

Please touch their hearts and guide them to find your love. Bring them back to the Church. Put in them the desire to pray, to receive the sacraments and to serve other people.

Holy Spirit, come and transform each of us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Holy Mary, our Mother, pray for us. Amen.


   Matt Hysell gave a very good workshop.  Maybe you can sign up for the Bible Week at Camp Mark 7.
   
Below: Seminarian Kristopher Scheibel signing to Thomas Debraggio at the Men in Black Game Jan 2nd      It was an exciting game. MIB won 60-58.



Below: Thomas James Debraggio, center, with his Family after his Confirmation on November 20th at St Mary’s in Clinton



Congratulations also to Salvatore and Elena Cicarrelli on their Confirmation November 6th at St Paul’s, Whitesboro.

Are we ready for Spring?  Are we ready for Lent?  (Did you know that the word “Lent” comes from “lengthen”, as the days do in Spring.?) 

Some Suggestions for Lent
Attend Mass as a family
Check out Fr Mike’s Vlog
Sign up for emails of the Daily Mass Readings
View “Sign Language Liturgies”
Find a Catholic Bible Study...on the web, or ask MMVD
Attend ALL of the Easter Triduum:  Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil

And with St Paul, Philippians 1:9-11: this is my prayer for you:
may  your love grow more and more;
may you have knowledge and understanding with you love;
may you see the difference between good and evil, and choose the good;
may you be pure and without wrong for the coming of Christ;
may you do many good things with the help of Christ,   to bring glory and praise to God.





NCYC 2009
               
The National Catholic Youth Conference
November 19-21 in Kansas City, MO

22,000 Catholic High School Students join to celebrate Christ’s Reign!

Interpreters are provided, and Fr Shawn Carey will give workshops in ASL.


If you are interested in your high school teen attending, please write: syrdeaf@juno.com








Thumbs up from Mary Margaret and Deacon Shawn Carey, who will be ordained a priest May 23rd!
                            Plans are being made now...Join us!


Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

March 2009







1

Syracuse 9

Johnson City 10

Whitesboro 11

2

 3 4

NYSSD

Religious Ed

5

Liverpool Group
10 AM - 2 PM

Catechetical Leaders
Meeting

 6

Diocesan Staff

Retreat


7

Rome 5:15 PM

if requested


8

Syracuse 9

Johnson City 10

Whitesboro 11

9 10

Senior Citizens'

Barber Shop

10 AM - 1 PM

New Hartford

11

NYSSD

Religious Ed






12 13

14
15

Syracuse 9

Johnson City 10

Whitesboro 11

16



17

St Patrick's Day



18

NYSSD

Religious Ed



19

Liverpool Group

10 AM - 2 PM

Feast of St. Joseph


20 21

Rome 5:15 PM

if requested



22

Syracuse 9

Johnson City 10

Whitesboro 11

23
24





25

NYSSD

Religious Ed

2627











28


29

Syracuse 9

Johnson City 10

Whitesboro 11

 30 31


















March Birthdays

3    Anne Parish
5    Connor Evans
5    Linda Roscoe
9    Tiffany O’Bryan
10  Robert Harmon
11  Daisy DeHaas
13  Michelle Burchett
13  Fr Robert Dwyer
17  Holly Cutler
23  Meghan Dadey Evans
27  Kristin Miller
29  Fr Wilbur Votraw
               

March Anniversaries
10 Robin & Michael Brennan
31   Pauline & Frank Rakowski






Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

APRIL 2009







1

NYSSD

Religious Ed

2

Liverpool Group

10 AM -2 PM

3

Catechetical Leaders Meeting
4

5

Palm Sunday

Syracuse 9

Johnson City 10

Whitesboro 11



6 		7



8

NYSSD

Relious Ed



9

Holy Thursday

See Schedule

below

 10

Good Friday

See Schedule below

 11


See Schedule

1 2

EASTER

Syracuse 9

Johnson City 10

Whitesboro 11		 13



14

Barber Shop

10 AM - 1 PM

New Hartford

 15





16

Liverpool Group

10 AM - 2 PM

 17 18





Rome 5:15

19

Syracuse 9

Johnson City 10

Whitesboro 11

 20 21

22

NYSSD

Religious Ed

23



24 25





26

Syracuse 9

Johnson City 10

Whitesboro 11

27

28

29

NYSSD

Religious Ed

30

*






Holy Week Schedules

St James, Johnson City
4/9  Holy Thursday 7 PM
4/10  Good Friday   3 PM
4/12   Easter  10 AM

Rome
4/9 Holy Thursday St Paul’s   7 PM
4/10   Good Friday TBA
4/11 Easter Vigil at St Peter’s TBA

St Paul’s, Whitesboro
4/10  Good Friday     TBA
4/12  Easter Sunday   11 AM

St Lucy, Syracuse & Holy Trinity, Fulton
Please check with your parish


JOIN THE FUN!

The Barber Shop & The Liverpool Group

What are they?  Groups that gather for fun.

The Barber Shop at St Thomas in New Hartford

The Liverpool Group at St Joseph the Worker in Liverpool

Coffee & Donuts       Games      Lunch




April Birthdays

8    Edith  Gregory
18  Desiree Kavanaugh
20  Amy Coppola
21  Marion Spuches
23  Donald Starks
24   Richie Coppola
25   Frank J LoRusso          25  Bob Thurlow

   
April Anniversary

23 Regina & Kevin Welch




Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

MAY 2009

 1 2
3

Syracuse 9

Johnson City10

Whitesboro 11

 4 5



6

NYSSD

Relgious Ed

 7

Liverpool Group

10 AM- 2 PM

 8

Catechetical Leaders Meeting
10

Syracuse 9

Johnson City10

Whitesboro 11

 11 12

Barber Shop

10 AM - 1 PM

Utica

13

NYSSD

Religious Ed



14 15

16


Rome 5:15

if requested

17

Syracuse 9

Johnson City 10

Whitesboro 11		18

19



20

NYSSD

Relgious Ed

21

Liverpool Group

10 AM - 2 PM

22



23

Ordination of

Shawn Carey

in Boston

24

Syracuse 9

Johnson City10

Whitesboro 11

 25

MEMORIAL DAY

 26 27 28

6 PM Spring

Dinner 

New Hartford

29 30

Rome 5:15

if requested

31

PENTECOST

Syracuse 9

Johnson City10

Whitesboro 11










  May Birthdays

1    Bryce Dadey
1   Jeanette D Romanowski
3    Kelly Martin
4    Ashley Nemier
5    Cody Sharpsteen
7    Mark Frechette
8    Stan Suchocki
14   Kelly Read
15   Angelo Mingolelli
15   Patty Parish
16   Stephanie Burchette
18   Ray Carroll
19   Virginia Grant
20   Leo Falcone
25   Ted Sawanec
26   Fr Tom Coughlin
27   Zachary Frechette
29   William Wiley

  May Anniversaries

17 Denise & Peter Hnelosub
21 Patty & Mike Parish
28 Ann & Ken Rakowski

International Catholic Deaf Association
5th Biennial Conference
Cleveland, OH
July 17 - 21, 2009

A Great Week With
Daily Mass
Workshops
Fun Trips

Fr Tom Coughlin: Is there really a Heaven after death?
Deacon Patrick Graybill: We do have a Choice
Louise Crume: Heavenly Relationship in Marriage
Sr Rita Wigginton: In Our Changing World Jesus is "Still Point "
 How can I pray when everything is so messed up?
Kate Slosar: Power of Prayer: Social Justice
Fr Mike Depcik: Best Baits for Fishing Our Youth?

See: www.ICDA-US.org


ICDA’s ANNUAL SPRING PICNIC

Thursday May 28th at 6 PM
St Thomas   New Hartford
Ham Dinner, Raffles, Fun
Cost: $7    (helping Deaf Youth)

                      Reserve by May 20th
          syrdeaf @juno.com  or 404-5674 V








Mark Seven Bible Institute

A Wonderful 10 Day Opportunity  for Deaf Adults (18 and above)

Wednesday, June 17 -  Saturday, June 27, 2009

Join Father Tom Coughlin, the founder of Camp Mark Seven and co-founder  of the MSBI along with Brother Adam Zawadzki and Matthew Hysell, to study the two-volume work of St Luke the Evangelist, the Gospel According to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Daily workshops will be provided plus group discussions and religious documentary to watch.

Recreational activities will also be provided such as sightseeing Old Forge and a boat trip across Fourth Lake to Inlet.  A pilgrimage to New Skete Monastery in Cambridge, NY is also included.

More information and registration at   www.campmark7.org




NCOD group admiring a statue of a famous Deaf artist.
He is called the "Michelangelo of the West". Who is he?



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Last tinkered with on February 28, 2009