The National Catholic Office for the Deaf
Fall 2012
Deaf Catholics seek ‘full membership’
Leadership seen as key to developing authentic liturgy translations
Page 2
From the Board
Page 3
New Member
Page 5
Golden Jubilee
Page 8
Pastoral Week
2013
Page 10
Ministry Future
Page 15
Brother Joe
Page 16
Losses
Page 28
Join NCOD
By ZOE RYAN
For Catholics in the deaf community, there are a number of
issues regarding authentic sign language translations of church
texts that need to be addressed. So says one New Zealand chaplain
in the deaf community. David Loving-Molloy points out that until
deaf communities themselves acquire the expertise and necessary
research required in official translations of abstract, theological
concepts that regularly appear in church and religious documents,
any translations not initiated, led, researched and ratified by the
deaf will be less than the genuine article. That may not happen
soon, but the work that people in the deaf Catholic community are
doing to further the case of deaf Catholic leadership may make it
not impossible.
In 2009, the first Vatican-level conversation about authentic
sign language translations occurred at the Pontifical Council for
Health Care Workers conference, “Ephphatha! The Deaf Person
in the Life of the Church.”
Continued on page 6—Membership
A Pastoral Service for Persons who are Deaf or
Hard of Hearing
Volume 31/Number 2
NCOD
Board of Directors
What a wonderful year we have had! And now the leaves
are changing and the weather is cooling. That can mean only one
thing—its membership time. This edition of the Vision is all
about membership. Read about one of our newest members, Fr.
Joseph Pham, on page 3.
And talk about membership, the members of St.
Benedict's Parish for the Deaf at St. Francis Xavier Church
celebrate 50 years! Be sure to see their Golden Jubilee article on
page 5.
Are you concerned about the future of Deaf Ministry?
We all are. Check out page 10 for history and encouragement.
Sr. Bodisch was present at the Archdiocese of Atlanta
Eucharistic Conference ASL Track to explain that we are all
members of God’s family. What a great membership of which to
belong.
For us, another very important membership is our
membership in NCOD. This is our ‘other’ family in which we
welcome new members, celebrate anniversaries, and ensure the
future of Deaf Ministry. With the fall comes our membership
renewal time. If you have not already renewed your NCOD
membership, please do so soon. You can use the form on the back
of this Vision. Renew or join today and welcome to the family.
NCOD Board of Directors
The Official Publication of the
National Catholic Office for the Deaf
Published quarterly by
NCOD Home Office
7202 Buchanan Street
Landover Hills, MD 20784
Email: info@ncod.org
www.ncod.org
Please email your articles, pictures, or announcements for consideration in future issues to info@ncod.org
or mail them to the above address
prior to the first of August, November, February, and May
2
Episcopal Moderator
Most Rev. Kevin C. Rhoades
Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Fort Wayne, IN
Region VII—Mid-Atlantic
President
Eileen Finn
Baltimore, MD
efinn@archbalt.org
Region IV—The Great Lakes
Vice-President
Monsignor Glen Nelson
Rockford, IL
RockfordHI@aol.com
Region II—The South
Secretary
Arthine Vicks Powers
New Orleans, LA
avicks@bfs.nocoxmail.com
Region I—The West
Fr. Paul Zirimenya
San Francisco, CA
Zirimenya@gmail.com
Region III—The Midwest
Pat Richey
Olathe, KS
richey1976@yahoo.com
Region V—The Northeast
Deacon Patrick Graybill
Rochester, NY
pagnpa@rit.edu
Region VI—Southeast Atlantic
Frania Franch
Marietta, GA
Frania.franch@gmail.com
Deaf Pastoral Workers’
Representative
Kate Slosar
Warren, MI
Wahoo3346@aol.com
ICDA-US Representative
Terri Matenaer
Milwaukee, WI
tvmatenaer@gmail.com
Board Member at Large
R. Gregory Schott
Naples, FL
rgschott@comcast.net
Newest member of Deaf Ministry in the Diocese of Camden
Fr. Joseph, Welcome to Deaf Ministry!
Recently, Diocese of Camden has hired Fr.
Joseph Pham to replace Fr. Brian O’Neill
as our Deaf Ministry Priest in May. Fr.
Joseph was ordained in June, 2001 and
worked in the diocese for 11 years before
coming to our Deaf Ministry. Sr. Bonnie
McMenamin and I are excited to share this
news with you. We are blessed to have Fr.
Joseph with us. Please give him a warm
welcome when you see him at NCOD
Pastoral Week.
I did an
inter view
with Fr.
Joseph,
we were
curious
a b o u t
who you
are.
Fr. Joseph
please tell
us more
about yourself.
1) When and Where were you born?
I was born in Vietnam, August 20th 1972
2) How many brothers and Sisters do
you have?
I come from a big family of 8 children.
Four boys and four girls. I have 2 older
brothers, 1 younger brother, and 4 younger
sisters, and I am the third child in the
family
3) When you came to USA, did you
dream of being a Priest?
I came to the USA in December 1984. No,
I did not dream of being a priest. Like
everybody, I had desires like most young
people my age at that time. I wanted
worldly success. I wanted to make money,
to have my own house and fancy car. I
wanted to get married and have a family.
My desire to become a priest did not
develop until I was in high school. Those
who inspiring me were my parish priests
and the support and encouragement of my
family.
4) How did you answer God’s Calling?
I answered God's calling by being open to
God. I went to vocation support prayer
group and visiting seminaries to continue
my discernment and to recognize God's
calling. In 1992, I was interviewed and
accepted by the diocese of Camden and
enrolled into Seton Hall's Seminary.
5) What was your ministry before Deaf
Ministry
I was a parochial vicar at Holy Child Parish
in Runnemede, NJ. I love my parish cause
it is a wonderful and lovely community.
The parish is big and very active. Those
people are friendly and their faith is strong.
I thought I will bring Christ to them, but
instead, they showed me Christ by their
faith.
Continued on page 4— Fr. Pham
3
Continued from page 3— Fr. Phram
6) Why were you interested in Deaf
Ministry?
I love sign language. It is beautiful. I
love deaf people. When I see them, I
realize how blessed I am. I want to be
able to communicate and talk with
them. I want to bring Christ and
minister in their community because
there are not many priests in the
diocese who know sign language. Yes,
I had a curiosity for sign language for
quite some time and wanted to learn
more. As I continue to learn sign
language, I wanted to become more
involved with the deaf community and
culture. And as a priest, I am able to
share the Word of God with those
who are not able to listen.
7) How did you learn ASL?
I started learning ASL on my own
through books. However, that was
going very slowly. Now I am currently
taking lessons from a wonderful
teacher, Kate Slosar. We meet for three
hours session and there are two
sessions weekly. She has helped me
improve greatly. I continue to practice
with books outside of class. The deaf
community has also been so kind and
patient when communicating with me
giving me great practice.
I wish I have more time to focus,
concentrate, and study ASL every day,
but that is not possible due to my
other ministry as a hospital chaplain.
8) What are your hobbies?
Playing keyboard, saxophone, violin,
tennis, playing and watching sport,
jogging
9) What advice would you give
people in your ministry?
Continue to keep your faith strong in
God and keep God as the center of
your lives.
And be nice to Father Joseph
Submitted by Kate Slosar
Sr. Bonnie McMenamin, Kate Slosar, Fr. Mike Depcik, Betty Ann Krumm, Fr. Joseph Pham
4
Golden Jubilee of St. Benedict Parish for the Deaf
at St. Francis Xavier Church, San Francisco
St. Benedict's Parish for the Deaf at St.
Francis Xavier Church celebrated it's 50th
Anniversary on September 22nd and
23rd.The Archdiocese of San Francisco's
commitment to ministry with the Deaf
Community
began more than
100 years ago in
1895. In that year
St. Joseph's Home
was established in
Oakland and this
location served
the needs of
Deaf
Catholics
throughout the
Bay area for many
decades. In 1962,
the Diocese of
Oakla nd
wa s
created, thus separating St. Joseph's Deaf
Center from San Francisco. There was,
therefore, a need for a local Deaf ministry
within San Francisco, and St. Benedict
Center was founded in 1962. The location
for Deaf Ministry at Bush and Lyon was
the site of former African - American
Parish which was named for St.Benedict
the Moor, a 16th Century saint.
At the same time that the Deaf ministry
arrived at St. Benedict's, the Cursillo
movement was beginning to flourish
throughout the country and in San
Francisco. The Cursillo's purpose was to
form lay leaders who would take seriously
Jesus' instruction to bring the good news
to the world. Cursillo found its home at St.
Benedict's alongside the Deaf community,
beginning a relationship of mutual support
and affection that has lasted to the present
day.
In
1984,
after much
inspired
work by Fr.
J a c k
McMullen,
Archbishop
John Quinn
established
S
t
.
Benedict's
Center as a
Parish. This
n
e
w
designation
elevated St. Benedict's to an equal level
with other parish churches, with all the
rights, recognitions, and
responsibilities
of the parishes of the hearing community.
At the same time, St. Benedict's Parish
distinguished itself as the only Catholic
Deaf Parish west of the Mississippi.
In 1993, the Planning Commission for the
Archdiocese of San Francisco
recommended that St. Benedict's Parish
move to the site of St. Francis Xavier,
which was built in 1939 as the Japanese
National Parish. This new location was
better maintained and more manageable
than our original site.
Continued on page 6— St. Benedict’s
5
Continued from page 5—St. Benedict’s
The move took place in July of 1994 and
Fr. Dan Adams, the then Pastor for the
Deaf decided to keep both names: St.
Benedict's Parish for the Deaf at St.
Francis Xavier Church. Since that time
new friendships have been created among
the communities of the Deaf, the
Japanese, and the members of St. Francis
Xavier Church. The Japanese Catholic
Society has been a very important part of
the Deaf community. Together we have
learned to love and worship together.
St. Benedict's Parish continues to serve
Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo
Counties. We provide a full Religious
Education Program for both hearing and
deaf children, and the Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is offered to
those interested in joining the Catholic
Church. Adult Faith Formation is
presented on the second Sunday of the
month, while the first Sunday of the
month gives all parishioners an
opportunity to shape our ministry
through a Town Hall meeting. Sunday
Mass is celebrated at 10:30AM, followed
by a social which nourishes bonds of
community. All our services and
sacraments are conducted in American
Sign Language with voice interpreter. We
are a parish which strives to be welcoming
and accessible to all.
The Unique spirit of St. Benedict's
continues to grow with a sense of the
hospitality and communion we offer. We
thank you for joining us to celebrate the
blessings from our generous God, and we
invite you any Sunday to share in the
ongoing experience of celebration that we
call "St. Benedict's".
Submitted by Fr. Paul Zirimenya
Continued from page 1—Membership
At the conference, New York Deacon
Patrick Graybill, himself deaf, spoke on the
topic of deaf people in the world. Another
group of speakers focused on the medical
perspective, “kinda like we can be fixed,”
said Graybill, who has been a deacon for
the past 30 years. Today, cochlear implants
provide assistance for hearing, but there are
people who identify culturally as deaf, and
do not view not being able to hear as a
disability or an incompleteness, he said.
Twelve recommendations were proposed at
the conference “to achieve the full
integration of deaf people into the life of
the Church,” according to a paper from the
conference listing the recommendations. If
6
the church
adopts those
Recomendations, there
will
be
far-reaching
consquences
for Catholic
deaf
Mary Ann Barth
ministry, said
Loving-Molloy, a chaplain in the
Palmerston North and Wellington dioceses
in New Zealand who attended. He also
pointed out that not integration but
“inculturation” is needed, to have the
church culture “made accessible
through Deaf culture, not the other way
round.” It will take time for the
recommendations to “trickle down” to
bishops’ conferences, the International
Catholic Foundation for the Service of
Deaf Persons, a networking and resource
center for deaf ministry pastoral workers.
That waiting is “painful” to many within
the community “since the wait has
already been far too long,” said Terry
O’Meara, who is hearing.
The
conference
was
“amazing”
and
“historical” because it hosted deaf
people from all over the world and it was
the first time they were invited to give
presentations, said Maryann Barth, who
works on a number of college faculties as
well as working at a school for the deaf
and for the Covington, Ky., diocese. To
have deaf people with hearing people at
the Vatican, with different sign languages
but the same goal — “for Deaf people
to be ‘heard’ and have full membership”
in the church — was “of paramount
importance,” said Barth, who is deaf. It
was a message to the Vatican, she said,
that “we are Deaf people with hope …
hope that one day we will have full
‘rights’ within the Catholic Church.”
Often, the only accessible church
function for those who are deaf is a
signed or interpreted Mass, she said.
Due to the historical experiences of deaf
people being oppressed, she emphasized
that very few will go to their parish priest
and ask for accessibility to sacraments,
spiritual direction and other such needs.
The recommendations address needs like
these.
Graybill believes that “deaf
people learn more about God in their
own language.” In some places, they get
the impression that God is a hearing
God, he said, but when they can have
the faith in their language, they are
prouder to be themselves as deaf
persons. While sign languages can be
used in liturgy, either signed by the priest
or used by an interpreter, there is no
official American Sign Language (ASL)
translation of the Mass, said Eileen
Colarusso. She is the director of deaf
ministry for the Baltimore archdiocese
and president of the board of directors
for the National Catholic Office for the
Deaf, a U.S. nonprofit that assists deaf
ministry pastoral workers. The ASL
version is translated from the English
version. It will be many years, said
Colarusso, who is hearing, before there is
an ASL Mass translation from Latin.
Among the reasons for this are a need
for more liturgy experts to have a better
understanding of ASL and the different
sign languages used in the U.S. LovingMolloy’s wish is that one day sign
languages (in his case, New Zealand Sign
Language) will be translated directly from
the Latin. The New Zealand project team
for the new translation of the Roman
Missal is starting with the Missalette
(which includes the introductory rites,
the Liturgy of the Word and closing
rites). The team found that translating
certain phrases and words becomes
“much more accurate and easier” when
translating directly from the Latin instead
of the English version, he said. “There
is richness in meaning and imagery in
Latin which is largely lost in English
Continued on page 14—Membership
7
NCOD’s
Pastoral Week
Conference
January 18-22
2013
“Year of Faith”
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel
340 North 3rd Street
Phoenix, AZ


A sample of our presentations:
50th Anniversary of Vatican II — Fr Tony Schuerger
20th Anniversary of “Eye Centered”
Deacon Patrick Graybill
40th Anniversary of Deaf Cursillo — Timothy Owens
Workshops:
Estate planning
Social media in ministry
Religious Sign Project Retreat at
the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale
Full day retreat included in your registration!!





8
Visit www.ncod.org for registration form
Included in
your
registration
!
Pastoral Week 2013
Will include an afternoon retreat at the
Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale
The focus of the afternoon will be on the prayers
of the Liturgy
Bus transportation lunch and the retreat are all
included in your registration for Pastoral Week
You can check out the center on their website
http://www.thecasa.org/
9
Ministry
Earl Warren in Oakland which then became
St. Joseph’s Center for the Deaf. Later, Srs.
Thomas Mary Collins and Joan Gloistein
accompanied children bussed from the
WITH THE DEAF
California School for the Deaf to St.
What is its FUTURE? Columba Church to attend Mass which was
celebrated with sign language. These two
The first foundation in the New World by
sisters, who were already full time
the Sisters of St. Joseph (CSJ) to work with
instructors of the deaf, also held religious
the deaf resulted from an invitation by
education classes after school and on
Bishop Joseph Rosati, C.M. of the St. Louis
Saturdays. S. Joan Gloistein One would
diocese. He dreamed of education for the
expect S. Joan to be completely retired by
deaf so when he invited six CSJs from
now, having given fifty years to teaching the
France to teach in his diocese, he asked that
deaf, but no, she is currently teaching a
two of them remain in France in order to
class of approximately twelve students on
be trained in methods for teaching the deaf.
how to sign the deaf language. Some are
Thus, Postulant Julie Fournier and S.
attending because they are experiencing the
Celestine Pommerel were sent to St.
beginnings of hearing loss themselves.
Etienne to learn sign language. When their
Others want to help a family member. Still
studies were completed, they prepared for
others want to learn how to communicate
the long journey to America. However, they
with those who have THE MUSICALITY
encountered so many difficulties in their
hearing difficulties.
journey, that Bishop Rosati felt they must
S. Joan reminisced OF SIGNING WAS
have been lost at sea. When two weary
that she had been a AN ATTARACTION
travelers arrived in St. Louis on September
cheerleader in high
4, 1837, and presented themselves to the
school and was ALONE FOR THIS
Bishop, he feared they were imposters. So
original-ly attracted NEW MINISTRY.
he asked them to converse in sign
to signing for the
language. When they did so, there was great
deaf because of the
relief among all who had been
awaiting
rhythm and beauty of the signs used. She
their arrival. Finally, Bishop Rosati, with his
was inspired by S. Thomas Mary who was
dream coming to fruition, could at last
already working in this field. She began
initiate the work among the deaf. In the
going with her and S. Dennis Mary
spring of 1838, four young deaf girls came
McFadden to teach religion to the deaf
to be educated. Thus, the apostolate for the
after school. Then, S. Thomas Mary invited
deaf in America truly began. By 1894, the
S. Joan to attend a graduation of deaf
first chance to spread this ministry in the
students where they signed “The Star
West occurred when St. Joseph’s Deaf
Spangled Banner.” S. Joan was so inspired
Home was opened, providing excellent
by the musicality of the signing itself that
education for deaf children until it closed in
she entered this ministry wholeheartedly.
1939. In 1950, Fr. William Reilly arranged
Since then, she has helped to establish,
to purchase the former home of Governor
10
In 1838, four young deaf
girls came to be educated.
Thus, the apostolate for the
deaf in America truly began.
and lead, many programs for the deaf not
only in California, but as far north as St.
Peter’s Parish in Oregon. She was very
active with a center, opened by the Los
Angeles Archdiocese, which
addressed
the needs not only of the deaf but also of
the mentally retarded and the blind. She
still laments that this center was eventually
closed. S. Joan has never looked back. She
still exhibits the enthusiasm of—well—a
cheerleader! S. Thomas Mary Collins In
a recent interview, S. Thomas Mary said
she never thought of working with the
deaf until she was asked by her Provincial
to consider this ministry. She truly feels
that, in a certain sense, she was chosen to
do this work. She spent fifty years working
with the deaf and feels the privilege was
hers. However, when she was first assigned
by her Provincial, she didn’t have a “clue”
as to how to teach the deaf! Therefore, she
asked to be accepted as a student at
Gallaudet College (now University) in
Washington, D.C. which, at that time, was
the only institution in the United States
that provided a college education for the
deaf. In 1864, Congress approved
Gallaudet to grant college
degrees,
which was signed into law by Abraham
Lincoln. S. Thomas Mary was the first
Catholic nun and the first hearing person
to be admitted for study by
Gallaudet.
Thomas Mary said she learned a great deal
about how to work with the deaf. One has
to be patient and, most of all, learn to
listen in order to hear what is being
communicated. When a group of students
invited her to share Friday night dinners
with them, S. Thomas Mary saw this as a
wonderful sign of acceptance. She
completed her four years at Gallaudet and
is proud to say that President John F.
Kennedy signed her diploma.
Upon returning to California, S. Thomas
Mary found there was a great need to
develop methods to teach the deaf. She
first became involved with the California
School for the Deaf in Berkeley. She later
participated in the founding of St. Joseph’s
School for the Deaf in Oakland and in
developing many other locations on the
west coast for teaching deaf education. S.
Thomas Mary still has great enthusiasm
for the future of the deaf ministry. Even
though there are fewer sisters available for
such work, she is by no means
discouraged.
She points out that deaf education has
grown tremendously, especially in
California. Now, deaf students are
integrated into
Continued on page 18—Future
11
Sister Brings Gospel Stories To Life For ASL Track
KATHRYN R. BYRNE, Special To The
Bulletin
Published: June 21, 2012
Reprinted with the permission of The
Georgia Bulletin/Archdiocese of Atlanta.
COLLEGE PARK—“How does God love
us?” asked Dominican Sister Shirley
Bodisch in her opening remarks to the
American Sign Language (ASL) track of the
2012 Eucharistic Congress. This was
the first of many poignant
questions the Dominican nun
from New Orleans asked during
her presentation. Using voiced
English as well as ASL and
making use of a PowerPoint
presenta tion, hands-on
activities and spoken and
signed interaction, Sister
Shirley brought Gospel stories
to life for the deaf and hearing
participants of the track.
Prior to her presentation,
Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory
came in for a brief informal visit.
Speaking through interpreters, he warmly
welcomed the participants, saying that he is
always grateful to have the ASL track at the
congress. He mentioned that it is important
that the needs, wishes and ideas of the deaf
be known. “In fact, we have a deaf woman
on our Archdiocesan Pastoral Council,” he
stated, referring to Frania Franch-Sonner
12
of Transfiguration Church, Marietta, who
has been on the council for several years.
After he left, many expressed delight that
the archbishop would take the time to come
by and speak to them.
Expanding upon her initial question, Sister
Shirley said, “Many times in our daily lives
we go about playing and working, but we
don’t think about God. God’s love is shown
to us in stories from the Gospel.” Her
presentation made this more and more
clear as the day progressed.
Sister Shirley retold the well-known
story of the prodigal son, which
“tells us of God’s love and
patience.” Many in the group
were surprised to learn that the
word prodigal actually means
“extravagant.” “Who is really
‘prodigal’ in this story?” she
asked. “The story is really about
the prodigal father.”
Continuing with this thought,
she said that the extravagant
father represents God. She said,
“The younger son was a sinner who
was sorry for his sins and who asked
his father to forgive him. This is similar to
us when we go to confession. We tell our
sins, ask forgiveness and are forgiven. God
is always happy when a sinner comes back
home.”
In one of the activities, Sister Shirley passed
out small envelopes, each containing a
different Scripture verse. All were
encouraged
to choose a partner and discuss what
meaning the verse has in their daily lives.
For five minutes, hands were moving in
quiet exchanges. Afterwards, several
shared how the particular verse they
received was meaningful to them in a
personal way.
Kathy Daykin, coordinator of the
archdiocesan deaf ministry, said that the
ASL track was her “first order of
business” after being hired last
September. “We invited (Sister Shirley) to
be our speaker because of her extensive
background and passion for teaching the
deaf. We are delighted to have her and
(Redemptorist) Father Rich (Luberti).” In
addition to providing the sacrament of
reconciliation in ASL for participants of
the track, Father Rich comes quarterly
from Maybee, Mich., to celebrate a Mass
for the deaf
c o m mu n i t y a t
Transfiguration Church. Many of the
interpreters at the track were from
Transfiguration, which is a hub for deaf
ministry in the archdiocese.
Melinda Payne and Claire Letendre, both
of Transfiguration, attended the ASL
track. Payne found it interesting to see
Sister Shirley use both speech and sign
language together for her presentation.
Letendre enjoyed how Sister Shirley
connected stories from the Bible with the
Eucharist.
Years ago, Sister Shirley left her job in a
classroom to look for work in a parish.
Her superior told her of a parish that
wanted a sister. She was excited—until
she learned that it was a deaf parish. Her
superior encouraged her to go to the
interview anyway. Her first impression
wasn’t good, as the priest of the parish
didn’t show up for the interview. Later he
called in tears, begging her to please come
back. She told God that if she could learn
sign language easily, she would take it as a
sign that she was supposed to work in this
parish. She took several courses in ASL
and loved it. Furthermore, the deaf
people welcomed her with embraces and
encouraging words. She has worked in
deaf ministry since, for the last 30 years.
She gives retreats for the deaf, teaches
sign language to seniors, and works with a
deaf woman as a spiritual companion. For
five years she held a “traveling Bible
study,” taking the word of God to four
deaf communities in southern Louisiana
and Mississippi.
In her presentation, after telling the Bible
stories of the pearl of great price and the
treasure in the field, she asked the
participants what they would be willing to
sacrifice for the Eucharist. “The Eucharist
is our most precious gift. Jesus gave it so
we can remember how much he loves
each of us. The more we receive
Communion, the more our lives must
change,” she said. She then surprised
everyone by saying that a “hidden
treasure” was under the chairs.
(L-r) Using American Sign Language, Redemptorist Father
Rich Luberti, of Maybee, Mich., converses with Jose and
Juan Dominguez and Rodolfo Amador.
13
(Photos by Michael Alexander)
All scrambled to search, finding small
envelopes containing pins depicting the
Eucharist, given as a reminder of First
Eucharist. Participants were encouraged to
pin them on each other.
In telling the Scripture story of the
dragnet, Sister Shirley said that fish was a
main source of life in biblical times. The
fish became the secret identifying symbol
for the early Christians because they
needed protection from the Roman
soldiers. She explained that the Latin word
“Ichthius,” meaning fish, is divided to
represent Jesus: “Ic” means Jesus Christ,
“th” depicts God, and “ius” means Son
and Savior.
She said, “The word means, ‘Jesus Christ,
God’s Son and Savior.’” Just as the early
Christians ate fish as a food for life, “Jesus
gives life to us when we eat him in the
Eucharist,” she explained.
Sister Bodisch is a member of the Dominican Sisters of
Continued from page 7—Membership
translations with the result that (from a
Deaf point of view) the English translation
is confusing in parts,” he said. Mary
O’Meara, executive director of the
Department of Special Needs Ministry of
the Washington, D.C., archdiocese, said that
to obtain the best translation for church
documents, the translation team should
comprise three groups: linguists, who know
fluently the source language and the target
language; theologians, who understand the
theological aspects of what is being said
and what is trying to be translated; and
someone completely immersed in the target
language (so, in this case, someone who was
born deaf, went to a deaf residential school
and is immersed in deaf culture). If only
one of the groups translates, you’re missing
a leg of the stool, said Mary O’Meara, who
is married to Terry O’Meara and is a board
member of the International Catholic
Foundation for the Service of Deaf
Persons. It’s Loving-Molloy’s view that to
accept the sociolinguistic cultural minority
view of the deaf community, “then as a
culture we should be aiming for Deaf
leadership in the Church rather than being
seen
as a group to be ‘serviced’ by hearing
14
chaplains.” “Much work remains to ensure
that Deaf people themselves take
ownership of their own language in its use
in the Church,” Loving-Molloy said.
Graybill, whose hunger for church kept him
going, said that deaf Catholics have to
teach and educate people about their
culture and express how much they want to
be leaders in the church. This June, the
International Eucharistic Congress in
Dublin will have its first-ever deaf ministry
workshop track, yet another step in
empowering Catholics in the church who
are deaf, Mary O’Meara said.
Reprinted by permission of National Catholic
Reporter, 115 E Armour Blvd, Kansas City, MO
64111 www.ncronline.org
Barry-Alan Davey, right, interprets using tactile sign language for Fr. Cyril Axelrod,
who is blind and deaf, during a conference on “The Deaf Person in the Life of the
Church” at the Vatican in November 2009.
Deaf Brother Knight becomes Fourth Degree Sir Knight
Joe Bloemer
Hi, Joe, where do you live and how long you have
lived in this town? Omaha, all my life. I was born
here. (And he went to Nebraska School for the Deaf.)
How long have you been ICDA member? Are you
life member? If so, what's your life member #? 48
years. Yes! I'm a life member and my number is 1362.
(It's cheaper! Haha)
How long have you been involved with Knights of
Columbus? How did you get involved? Almost
four years as a 3rd Degree member. I have wanted to
join the Knights of Columbus for a long time but I
really didn't think a Deaf person could be actively
involved. Then my friend, Warren, who is Hard of
Hearing and also a Knight, asked me if I wanted to
join. I jumped at the chance and said Yes!
or Candidates. So, we
had the difficulty of
finding an interpreter
who was a 4th Degree
Knight. We searched the
entire state of Nebraska
and didn't find one. But
one of my friends, Mike
Lagreca, who recently
became an interpreter and
who was also a 3rd
Degree member agreed to become a 4th Degree
member in the same ceremony as me so that he could
interpret for me. [The 4th Degree is the part of the K
of C that promotes patriotism and loyalty to the
country.]
Can you tell us about what the Knights of
Columbus is? It is an organization that meets every
month and does many different things: we perform
charitable works; we promote the rosary, support the
Church and our local parishes and priests. When I
first joined and went to the meeting, everyone said
"Welcome, Joe! It's great to have you as a Knight!" I
have also been involved in pancake breakfast, 3 times I
have worked in the K of C Haunted House for
children. I was also elected and served two years as a
Trustee for my Council.
What's the highest level of degree in K of C? 4th
Degree is the top level.
[The Knights of Columbus (K of C) is an organization
of Catholic men. It was formed to give financial aid to
members and their families. Help and assistance are
offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their
families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted
among members and their families through
educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war
relief and public relief works. The K of C promotes
the family, the rosary, charitable works, the Catholic
Church, the Pope and many other things. They
support their local parishes and priests.]
Are you the only deaf member of this state? What
about nationwide? Yes, in Nebraska. There is a
man named Jerry from Columbus, Neb. who is Deaf
and a 3rd Degree member. Also, there are 2 Hard of
Hearing Knights in my Council, Warren and
Sheldon. I am the only 4th Degree in the state who is
Deaf. I don't know if I'm the only one in the US.
I understand you became Knights of Columbus 4th degree member. Can you tell us what 4th
degree is? I am so proud to have been chosen to
become a 4th Degree Member!
It is a great
honor. We are addressed as "Sir Knight," and we
sometimes dress up in tuxedos. I really wanted to join
but in order to join; you have to go through a special
4th Degree Ceremony. But the only people that can
go to those ceremonies have to be 4th Degree Knights
What is your favorite part about being a KofC
member? and..what is your not so favorite part ?
My favorite thing is being a 4th Degree member. I am
very excited to become a member of the 4th Degree
Honor Guard. Those are the men with the "fuzzy
hats" and other dress clothes who provide honor
guard for various Church and Civic functions. I am
looking forward to getting the clothes.
If you are the only deaf member of the statewide,
how's that experience for you? I am very
excited. It was a thrill to be able to invite my sister,
her husband and their 2 children (for whom I am the
Godfather) to my 4th Degree Initiation banquet.
What would your advice be for those who want to
join Knights of Columbus? I would encourage a
Deaf man to join the Knights of Columbus. I love
being a Knight and especially being a 4th Degree
member.
Reprinted with permission
- ICDA-US Midwest Region E-Newsletter March 2012 Issue
15
Losses
REV. EUGENE OATES, C.Ss.R. –
RENOWNED MISSIONARY TO THE
DEAF IN BRAZIL
DENVER,
C O,
September 5, 2012 –
Rev. Eugene Oates,
C.Ss.R., at 96 the eldest member of The
R e d e m p t o r ists/Denver Province, died peacefully
on September 3 at St.
Clement Health Care
C e n t e r .
Remembered best as a missionary devoted
to the spiritual care of the Deaf in Brazil,
he compiled an entirely new dictionary in
Brazilian Sign Language.
He greatly
increased awareness of the needs of the
Deaf, and is known in every major city
throughout Brazil for increasing attention
to educational and social works for the
Deaf.
priestly life there. After serving a term as
Vice Provincial of Manaus, he devoted
himself full-time to the spiritual care of the
Deaf.
Father Oates greatly increased awareness of
the needs of the Deaf, and represented
Brazil at the 1971 World Federation of the
Deaf Congress in Paris, France. When a
deaf Brazilian asked him how an American
could represent Brazil, he simply said, “My
heart is Brazilian.” The other deaf
participants simply smiled in agreement.
Father Oates also visited the Vatican, where
he received a special blessing for his work
from Pope Paul VI. He served as Vice
President of the Religious Commission of
the World Federation of the Deaf from
1972-77.
Father Oates was born in St. Louis on
December 12, 1915, the same year that
Thomas
Edison
inaugurated
transcontinental telephone service from
New York to San Francisco and Albert
Einstein published his General Theory of
Relativity.
For more than 10 years, he was the only
priest in Brazil who devoted himself
full-time to Deaf ministry.
As a
consequence, he tried to cover the entire
territory of that vast country, doing most
of his travel by bus. Not surprisingly, the
strain began to affect even this man of
herculean physique. He returned to the
United States in 1977. Fortunately, he had
devoted increased attention to religious and
lay persons who were involved in
educational and social works for the Deaf.
He professed first vows in 1939, professed
perpetual vows in 1942, and was ordained
to the priesthood in 1944. After attending
second novitiate at St. Gerard Mission
House in Pine City, MN, he set sail for
Brazil in 1946 and spent 31 years of his
Resources he produced include: Linguagem
das Mãos (Language of the Hands), a
compilation of Brazilian Sign Language;
No Silêncio da Fé (In the Silence of the
Faith), a book as well as a video of Prayers,
the Ten Commandments, Christian
16
practices and the Seven Sacraments in Sign
Language, with Biblical texts for prayers and
meditation; Linguagem de Sinais do Brasil (Sign
Language of Brazil), articles by
different
authors about the Deaf and Sign Language
in Brazil, co-authored by Dr. Harry W.
Hoemann, Ph.D. and Shirley A. Hoemann,
M.F.A.; Os Dez
Mandamentos (The Ten
Commandments), in Sign Language with
Biblical texts for prayer and meditation;
Oracões Silenciosas (Silent Prayers), common
prayers in Sign Language; and Ovelhas Sem
Pastor (Sheep Without a Shepherd), a video
presentation of the needs of the Brazilian
Deaf and an appeal for more workers in
Deaf ministry.
After recovering his health, Father Oates
served for four years in a special apostolate
at Queen of Peace Retreat Center in Fargo,
ND. He hoped to continue ministering to
the Deaf and returned to Brazil, but
sickness forced him to leave the country for
good after only one year. For the next two
decades, he served in Hispanic ministry at
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in
Kansas City, MO, St. Alphonsus Parish in
Chicago, IL and Our Lady of Peace Parish
in Greeley, CO.
After 68 years of ministering to God’s
people, Father Oates retired at St. Clement
Health Care Center in 2004.
Funeral services for Father Oates were held
at St. Clement Health Care Center in
Liguori, MO. A rosary is scheduled at 3:00
p.m. and a vigil is scheduled at 7:00 p.m. on
Friday, September 7. His funeral Mass was
scheduled at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday,
September 8.
After burial in the
Redemptorist Cemetery at Liguori, a
luncheon was served.
Reverend Victor Alan Barnhart
We are saddened to share with you the news that Father Vic Barnhart passed
away on Sunday September 16, 2012 at the age of 55 . Father Vic, a member
of NCOD, was involved in Deaf Ministry in various Catholic churches
around the St. Louis area. His last assignment was as Pastor at St. Andrew's
Catholic Church in Lemay. Fr. Vic was in charge of the St. Louis
Archdiocese's Deaf Ministry and he also worked with newer interpreters who
wanted to improve their skills in religious interpreting. Fr. Vic has been a
priest in the St. Louis Diocese since his ordination in 1990.
Fr. Vic is survived by his parents, Robert Lee and Rita J. Barnhart and his
sister, Christy Barnhart.
The funeral was held Friday, Sept. 21, St. Mary's Catholic Church, 1621 10th St. Madison IL
62060. Interment at Calvary Cemetery, Glen Carbon, IL. Memorial contributions, Masses, Deaf
Ministry, St. Andrew's in Lemay or St. Mary's in Madison Roof Fund.
Continued on page 18—Losses
17
Continued from page 17—Losses
RYAN, THOMAS JOSEPH, a longtime resident of the Highlands, passed
away June 28, 2012, his birthday.
He was born on June 28, 1935 in Louisville, KY, eldest son of the late Raymond L. and
(late) Mary Catherine (Scharfenberger) Ryan. He was a retired engineer draftsman for
the Multi Metals Division of Vermont American Corporation. On August 28, 1982, he
was ordained a Permanent Deacon of the Archdiocese of Louisville. Tom was a
member of the Louisville Catholic Deaf Society, International Catholic Deaf
Association, Louisville Deaf Senior Citizens, Louisville Association for the Deaf, the
National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, National Association for the Deaf and the
Bluegrass Chapter of the American Sing Language Teachers Association.
He is preceded in death by his brother, Raymond L. Ryan, Jr. He is survived by his
sister, Kathleen Ryan Albers (John) of Richmond, VA. His funeral Mass was on
Monday, July 2, 2012 at the Nazareth Home Chapel. Burial followed at Calvary
Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the Nazareth Home or the
Louisville Catholic Deaf Society.
Continued from page 11—Future
regular college classes. Thus, many “hearing” persons are
integrated with the deaf students. Many colleges also offer
related courses. “Most of all”, she adds, “we can pray for the
future education of the hearing impaired.”
PHOTO: S. Joan
teaching color
recognition to two
first grade boys.
Reprinted with permission
CSJ Change a publication of Sisters
of St Joseph of Carondelet
Carondelet Center
11999 Chalon Road
Los Angeles, CA 90049
18
MINISTRY TO THE
DEAF
Currently, Mount St.
Mary’s College is in
collaboration with the
John Tracy Clinic, Los
Angeles––one of the
leading diagnostic and
education centers for
young children with
hearing loss––to create
interchange programs
for those training
children with hearing
loss.
Dr. Ann McElaneyJohnson- President of
Mount St. Mary’s College,
Los Angeles
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My First Eucharist
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