Events from 2007 to February of 2009. New events at www.deafcatholic.org
Jan 29, 2008
Confirmation Student Event in the Works
Good Students preparing for Confirmation and their Parents,
I invite and encourage the confirmation students and their parents who I teach at Sacred Heart to travel with our new catechumen, James Jones, to the cathedral as a kind of confirmation field trip on Feb. 10th. I have informed the deaf catholic community as well as the parish of Sacred Heart in General about it and would like to make it part of the confirmation program but could use some help contacting everybody, keeping track of the thing, and so fourth.
We would learn so much by going.
We could have a tour of the cathedral, meet the Bishop, and see the rite of election. All the adults preparing for Baptism travel from far and wide. It is not Mass but it is a time of prayer and calling. At the 10:30 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart on that day there will be a little rite of sending of the our Catechumen in the Mass.
What is a Catechumen? What is the RCIA? What is the rite of Election? What is a diocese, a Bishop, a Cathedral?
All these would come into clearer focus if we can swing going to the rite.
There is more information about time and place on the calendar under Masses and Events on http://www.deafcatholic.org
Let me know if you can go. My office budget has within at this point enough money so that we can rent a buss. There will be many parishes who rent buses and bring big groups for this event and it is quite an exciting thing to see the cathedral so full.
Sincerely,
Fr. St. Martin
Jan 24, 2008
Please share with others:
Governor's State of State address will be available on the internet starting at 6:45. This speech will also have open captions for the deaf and hard of hearing community. To access simply go to http://www.masslegislature.tv/ ---------------------------------------------- Carl O. Richardson III, State House ADA Coordinator The Commonwealth Of Massachusetts Bureau of State Office Buildings, State House, Room 1, Boston, MA 02133. Telephone: 617-727-1100 x35502, Fax: 617-727-7700, Email: Carl.Richardson@state.ma.us
Jan 22, 2008
Good People, Remeber the Rite of Election comming up on Suday Feb. 10th at 1:30 p.m. Let me know if you are going so that we can get a bus if we need it. After Mass we can travel with James our Catechumen and learn more about the way adults enter the Church. I would like to thank those who came to the Virtus Training. This is a program that prepares adults who work with children to help protect them. If you are volunteering for the church and are working with children you will be asked to take complete this program. I would like to thanks Bruce Bucci who is helping out with the Arise Program. This is a program for adult bible study, renewal, and sharing. I would like to thank Br. Hugh for teaching the confirmation class last week and thank all of you for the love you showed Fr. Michael Medas last week. We need to pray for a good man who is a friend to our community. For many years now he has caterered events that we have enjoyed. He has been very generous to us and we are so greatful. During the last snowstorm he was injured while using a snow blower. He has serious injuries and I have assured him of our prayers. Please remember him: Mike Richards. Next Sundays Mass, Febuary 3rd, is being offered for him and his family's intentions. We also need to pray for the repose of the soul of Prayers for Mary E Cassidy who's wake was this past Friday. She is the mother of Mary Dickinson. She was 91 years old and went to the DCC when she was well. Lastly we must pray with joy for our seminarian. He is going to named a formal candidate for the priesthood of Jesus Christ on January 30th. His parents and I will be traveling to this great event and we will bring your prayers with us. If you would like to send him a note of congradulations his address is: Shawn CareySaint Patrick's Seminary320 Middlefield Rd.Menlo Park, CA94025 Sincerely in Christ, Fr. St. Martin
Here is some text that will help explain what is a Catechumen
"Catechumen," in the early Church, was the name applied to one who had not yet been initiated into the sacred mysteries, but was undergoing a course of preparation for that purpose. The word occurs inGal. vi, 6: "Let him that is instructed in the word, [ ho katechoumenos, is qui catechizatur] communicate to him that instructeth him [to katechounti, ei qui catechizat] in all good things." Other parts of the verb katicksein occur in I Cor., xiv, 19; Luke, i, 4; Acts, xviii, 24.
I. As the acceptance of Christianity involved belief in a body of doctrine and the observance of the Divine law ("teach, make disciples, scholars of them"; "teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you", Matthew 28:20), it is clear that some sort of preliminary instruction must have been given to the converts. In Apostolic times this would vary according as these were Jews or pagans, and was naturally simple in character and short in duration. When, however, the churches came to be organized, the instruction and probation would be longer and more elaborate. Thus, as early as the date of the Epistle to the Galatians (56-57?) we meet with the mention of catechist and catechumen; but we cannot infer from this that the full regulations were already in force. It was rather the danger of apostasy, or even betrayal in time of persecution which gave rise to special precautions as to admission into the Church. To avert this danger a careful intellectual and moral preparation was needed: intellectual to guard against the arguments of the pagan philosophers; moral, to give strength against the torments of the persecutors. This is the "trial of faith more precious than gold which is tried by the fire" of which St. Peter speaks (1 Peter 1:7). Hence we find in St. Justin's first Apology (c. lxi, P.G, VI, 420), distinct reference to the twofold preparation and also to the more elaborate rites of initiation: "Those who,are persuaded and believe in the truth of our teachings (didaskomena) and sayings undertake to live accordingly; they are taught to ask, with fasting, the remission of their sins; we also praying and fasting with them. Then they are led by us to a place where there is water, and they are regenerated in the same way that we have been regenerated", etc. By the end of the second century we find the catechumenate in force in all its main lines. Tertullian reproaches the heretics with disregarding it; among them, he says "one does not know which is the catechumen and which the faithful, all alike come [to the mysteries], all hear the same discourses and say the same prayers" (quis catechumenus, quis fidelis incertum est; pariter adeunt, pariter audiunt, pariter orant), "Catechumens are initiated before they are instructed" (ante sunt perfecti catechumeni quam edocti.--"De Praeser."xli, P.L., II, 56) A little later we read of Origen being in charge of the catechetical school (tou tes katecheseos didaskaleiou) at Alexandria (Eusib., Hist., Eccl., VI, iii). It is not necessary to quote further author ities for the third and fourth centuries, the age in which the catechumenate flourished in its full form. During the years of persecution the necessity of the institution was realized, and in the intervals of peace the arrangements were more and more elaborated. When, however, Christianity finally triumphed over paganism, the reasons for retaining the catechumenate became less urgent. The majority were born of Christian families, and so were brought up in the Faith, and were in no danger of falling into paganism. Moreover, with the increasing development of the doctrine of grace, and original sin the practice of early baptism became the rule. Further, the conversion of the barbarians precluded the possibility of submitting them to any prolonged period of preparation. Hence the catechumenate gradually fell into disuse, and has merely left traces in the existing rites of baptism and reception in the Church. Still, even now, an informal species of the old regulations should be observed in the case of grown up converts.
II. The catechumens were divided into mere inquirers (audientes, akromeni) and catechumens properly so-called; and in each stage there was a three-fold preparation -- catechetical, ascetical, and liturgical.
(1) If a pagan wished to become a Christian he was given some elementary instruction in the fundamental doctrines and practices of the Church (see CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE). He had to show by his conduct that he was in earnest about the step he was about to take. So far, he was only in the stage of inquiry, and was not counted as a Christian at all. He was allowed to be present at the first part of the Mass, but he was dismissed immediately after the sermon.
(2) As soon as his instructors were satisfied that he was likely to persevere, the inquirer was promoted to the rank of catechumen. He was now entitled to be called a Christian, though he was not looked upon as one of the "faithful". "Ask a man, 'Are you a Christian?' He answers, 'No', if he is a pagan or a Jew. But if he says 'Yes', ask him again, 'Are you a catechumen or one of the faithful?'" (St. Aug., "In Joan.", xliv, 2, P.L., XXXV, 1714).
In the early ages the rites of admission to the catechumenate were quite simple, but in the course of time they became more elaborate. At first the candidates were merely signed on the forehead with the sign of the cross, or hands were imposed on them with suitable prayers; and sometimes both ceremonies were used. Thus St. Augustine in his model of an instruction to an inquirer says: "He should be asked whether he believes what he has heard, and is ready to observe it. If he answers in the affirmative he should be solemnly signed and treated according to the custom of the Church" (solemniter signandus est et ecclesiae more tractandus.-- De Cat. Rud., xxvi, P.L., XL, 344). Eusebius mentions the imposition of hands and prayer (Vita Constantini, iv. 61, P.G., XX, 1213). Among the Latins, and especially at Rome, breathing accompanied with a form of exorcism and placing in the mouth a little exorcised salt, was employed in addition to the signing with the cross and the imposition of hands. Other rites were the opening of the ears (Mark 7:34) and anointing. See Martène, "De Antiquis Ecclesiae Ritibus" (Rouen, 1700), I, where several ordines ad fasciendum Christianum, or catechumenum, are given; Chardon, "Hist. des Sacrements", in Migne's "Theol. Cursus Completus", Paris, 1874, XX, 31 sqq., 149 sqq.
Catechumens when present at Mass were not dismissed with the inquirers, but were detained while a special prayer was recited over them. They then also withdrew before the Mass of the Faithful began. The instruction which they received is described in the article CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE. As to their standard of living they had to abstain from all immoral and pagan practices, and give proof by their virtue and works of penance that they were worthy to begin a more immediate preparation for baptism. The duration of this stage was not fixed. In general it lasted long enough to test the dispositions of the catechumen. The council of Elvira alludes to the custom of making it last two years and the civil law fixed it at this (Justinian, Novel. cxliv). But the causes which ultimately led to the abolition of the catechumenate (see above) tended also to shorten it. Thus the Council of Agde (506) allowed even Jews (with regard to whom special caution was required) to receive baptism after eight months preparation; and later on St. Gregory reduced the term to forty days. On the other hand the duration of the catechumenate might be extended, and the catechumen might be reduced to the rank of the audientes, if he was guilty of grave crimes (fifth canon of Neocæsarea, fourteenth canon of Nicaea). What seems extraordinary to our modern notions is that the catechumens themselves put off their baptisms for many years, sometimes even till their last illness. Constantine the Great is an example of this extreme delay. St. Ambrose, St. Basil, St. Gregory Nazianzen, and St. John Chrysostom were not baptized till after their thirtieth year. A question much discussed was the fate of those who died in this stage. As we have seen, they were looked upon as Christians, but not as belonging to the "faithful", because the cleansing waters of baptism had not been poured over their souls. St. Gregory describes his terror during a storm at sea lest he might be taken away unbaptized (Carmen de Vita Sua, 324, sqq., P.G. XXXVII, 994). However, St. Ambrose has no doubt about the salvation of Valentinian the Younger, who has asked for baptism, but had died before the saint could reach him ("De Obitu Valentini.", n. 51, P.L. XVI, 1374). Hence the common teaching was that the defect of baptism might be supplied by desire. This was especially held with regard to those who were in the later stage of immediate preparation, to be described presently. On this whole question see Franzelin, "De Ecclesia" (Rome, 1887), 414 sqq.
(3) When the catechumens had completed this stage of preparation and trial, their names were inscribed among the competentes; i.e. those seeking to be baptized. The Greeks called them photizomenoi. This might mean that they were being enlightened in the mysteries of the faith; or, more probably, that they were being baptized, for the Greeks commonly spoke of baptism as "light" (cf. Hebrews 6:4; 10:32). In this advanced stage they were sometimes called fideles by anticipation (e.g. St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Cat., I, 4; V, 1; P.G., XXXIII, 373, 505). Lent was the time when the three-fold preparation -- instructive, ascetical, and liturgical -- was carried on. The ascetical preparation was severe. Prayer and fasting naturally formed part of it; but the competentes were also exhorted to keep silence as far as possible and, if they were married, to observe continence. (St. Justin, "Apol.", lxi, P.G., VI, 420; St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Cat., I, sub fin.,P.G., XXXIII, col.376; St. August., "De Fide et Op.", ix, P.L. XL, 205). Confession was also enjoined (Tertullian, "De Bapt.", xx, P.L. I, 1222 where he quotes Matt., iii, 6: "they were baptized, confessing their sins". See also St. Cyril, ib.; Eusebius, "Vita Const., iv, 61). The instruction given at this time is described in the article CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE, where an account of St. Cyril's "catecheses" will be found.
The rites connected with this stage were elaborate. There are considerable survivals of them in the first part of the order of baptism, and also traces in the Lenten Masses, especially the Mass of the Wednesday of the fourth week. The assemblies were called "scrutinies" (examination and presentation of the candidates), and were seven in number. At the first scrutiny the candidates gave in their names. After the collect of the Mass, and before the lessons, the ceremony of exorcism was performed over them. This was done at all the scrutinies except the last, by the exorcists, and then the priest signed them with the cross and laid hands upon them. It is interesting to know that the words at present used in baptism "Ergo, maledicte diabole", etc. belonged to the exorcism, and the words "Aeternam ac justissimam pietatem" etc. belonged to the laying on of hands. The third scrutiny was of a specially solemn character, for it was then that the candidates received the Gospel, the Symbol (Creed), and the Our Father. Each of these was accompanied by a short explanation. For example, St. Augustine has left four sermons (lvi-lix) "De Oratione Domenica ad competentes" (P.L., XXXVIII, 377 sqq.), and three on the delivery of the Symbol (ibid., 1058 sqq.). In our present missal the Mass of the Wednesday of the fourth week in Lent has a lesson in addition to the ordinary Epistle, or rather lesson. The former is taken from the thirty-sixth chapter of Ezechiel, the latter from the fiftieth of Isaias; and both (together with the Introit and the two Graduals, and the Gospel, the healing of the man born blind, John 9) have obvious reference to the "great scrutiny". The seventh scrutiny took place on Holy Saturday, apart from the Mass, as indeed there was formerly no Mass for that day. The priest himself performed the ceremony of the exorcism and the Ephphetha (Mark 7). Then followed the anointing on the breast and back. The candidates pronounced the three-fold renunciation of Satan and recited the Creed. The actual initiation, (baptism, confirmation, and Communion) took place at the Paschal Mass, at which the neophytes assisted for the first time, being now no longer mere catechumens. But until the Sunday after Easter they were considered as "infants", receiving further instruction, especially on the sacraments which had lately been conferred upon them (see CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE). Finally, on Low Sunday (Dominica in Albis depositis) when the Introit of the Mass speaks of the "new born babes" (1 Peter 2:2), they put off their white garments, and were henceforth counted among the regular "faithful". Publication information Written by T.B. Scannell. Transcribed by Tom Crossett.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume III. Published 1908. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Nihil Obstat, November 1, 1908. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York Bibliography
Funk (ed.), Didache, (Tuebingen , 1887); St. Justin, Apol. I in P.G. Vi, 328 sqq; Tertullian, De Baptismo, P.L. I, 1197 sqq.; St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catecheses, P.G. XXXIII, 369, sqq.; St. Augustine, De Catech. Rudibus, P.L., XL, 309, Sermones ad competentes, lvi-lix, P.L. XXXVIII, 377, sqq.; In Traditione et Redditione Symboli, P.L. XXXVIII, 1058, sqq.; Martene, De Antiquis Ecclesiae Ritibus (Rouen, 1700), tom. I, 29, sqq.; Chardon, Hist. de Sacrements in Migne, Cursus Theologiae Completus, XX; Duchesne, Origines de cult chretien (Paris, 1898), IX; Thurston, Lent and Holy Week, (London, 1904), 169, sqq.; Kuepper in Kircheniex., s.v. Katechumenat; Bareille in Dict. de theol. cath., s.v. Catechumenat.
Dominican Missionaries for the Deaf
Yesterday, the town of Castle Hills TX denied Fr Tom Coughlin's Deaf community, Dominican Missionaries for the Deaf, permission to start a seminary. (Their website is: http://www.dominicanmissionaries.org/nfwebsite/nfindex.html ) The issue is based on zoning regulations. The following sites give some information about the case.
I met Fr Coughlin last year at the NCOD Pastoral Week conference in San Antonio. He had few young Dominican friars in his missionary community. Fr Coughlin has recently founded this community specifically to work with the Deaf.
It is hard to know why the town has done this. My Franciscan province has faced similar challenges in other cities. There are many reasons why people might oppose groups living together. Sometimes, towns feel they need taxes, which religious communities do not have to pay. Sometimes, towns do not know what the religious community will do for them. Sometimes, towns think it will set precedent for other groups.
People do not understand what a "religious community" is. We are not just a college fraternity or a non-profit group. Christ calls us to holiness in a startlingly different way. Married couples find holiness and energy for their mission from their relationship within the family. Single people find energy for their mission as single people. Religious communities live together because the community gives us energy to do the work that Christ calls us to do. We live together because we share the Holy Spirit with each other. This gives us the strength to do God's work, to help build the Kingdom of God on earth.
We probably cannot do anything directly to help the Missionaries for the Deaf. If you live in Castle Hills, TX, you might be able to contact the city council.
However, there are some things that we can do to indirectly. We can learn about religious communities in your own area. We can help people, Deaf and hearing, understand the mission that Christ gives to all of us: to be happy and holy. Mostly, we can pray that the Dominican Missionaries for the Deaf. Sure, we can pray that they gain permission for their seminary. But even more, we can pray that they feel the strength of the Holy Spirit during this challenge. We can pray that they be a good example of Christian perseverence despite challenge. We can pray that we learn from their example.
Peace and good,
Br Hugh
Jan 6, 2008
Interesting THE SISTERS OF THE LITTLE MISSION FOR THE DEAF
This is a Christmas card given at the end of the Christmas Season; this is a thank you for a myriad things and people I am grateful for; this is a newsletter all rolled into one. Where will I start?
First it is good to explain about the gift giving part of Christmas. It is interesting to know that some parts of the Church give children presents on the feast of the Epiphany. This is the feast when we remember not the birth of Jesus in the world but rather his birth (that is his first showing up) in the minds of people in history. The magi are depicted in the picture on the front of this card/newsletter. They show us a world at once glorious and broken realizing the birth in Bethlehem is indeed the very birth of God made visible. The hidden life of Jesus is recalled; a time when His identity as God was not publicly known. He lived a truly human life; simple, ordinary. He comes again to be known in the epiphany at the Jordan River. His divine person-hood is finally revealed to many. He begins His public ministry. It is like a moment of “Pah!” It is like a moment of joyful dawning of truth on the mind with thrills the heart and the body. I have seen His birth in the good that you have done. There are so many instances of this. I remember the celebration of the Feast of Mary the Mother of God.
This was also the celebration of the new calendar year, a special time of prayer for world peace, a time to remember the eight days after Christ’s birth when He was presented in the temple and He was given the name that the Angel has told Mary to give the Christ child at the annunciation; the name Jesus. It is a time of Epiphany for Simian and Anna the holy people in the Temple awaiting the long promised Messiah. It is also a time when the Pope and Bishop Sean have asked us to remember that world peace is connected to good family life and so as the family needs prayers we must make this year a time of prayer especially for families. It was good to see at this Feast of Mary the goodness of Colby Mazzola. In the middle of the night as the calendar progressed from 07 to 08 he was present at St. Mary’s in Waltham with the Cardinal and many others for a time of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Praying of the Rosary, and Mass. It was a great blessing from God to be there with him. I have seen goodness in Ghislain who was our communities special Christmas “presence.” We were visited by our Seminarian Shawn Carey and his parents for our celebration of Christmas and this is a blessing for it reminds us of the great gift God is preparing for us in this families great generosity that, by God’s good will, will produce a new priest for us in a short time to come. We have all seen the goodness in Brother Hugh. His quiet willingness to serve and support makes him a great preacher. He preaches with his actions and this makes me so full of awe for God’s power. I am so grateful for his help and praise God for such a sign of His love in the world. We were able to visit some people including the Burnes family. What an artist Mrs. Burnes is!
There are so many people in the Deaf Community who are a praise of God’s glory. We have our Catechumen, James Jones, who by God’s grace is preparing as an adult with seriousness and many hours of study for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Communion. The wonderful Bucci family is helping him and for this I again, praise God. He will be received into the process of formation formally and more deeply by the Cardinal at the Cathedral at the beginning of Lent.
There are the people who help us to know that the Sunday Eucharist is the source and summit of our lives. I can’t believe how wonderful the people who read are, how reverent and helpful the servers are, how excellent and talented the interpreters are, how serious and gentle the Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers are. I thank Winnie for helping us to be more organized. I thank the community for the great visual sign of the banners that help give us atmosphere and mood enhancement to our liturgy as the Church wants us to do since music is not part of the experience of Mass in the Deaf Community.
We are all blessed by the parents, grandparents, interpreters, and helpers who are supporting our confirmation students. We have a good group who are making me proud with their attendance and their learning. We will do what we must to make sure they are all educated according to their ability. There are some who have special challenges with transportation and as the classes continue to progress I will continue to ask questions of the students to discover if they know what they should know. As the summer confirmation gets closer I will set up extra time for education as needed to help make up for what might be lacking in the knowledge of the content of the faith in these students. We are studying the Creed, the Sacraments, and will study the moral life, and prayer in weeks to come.
We had a nice time for the children with St. Nicholas. He was good to me the Christmas. I now have two helicopters. They are little matchbox type helicopters and although they are not exactly what I had in mind they are very nice to have and I am touched by your love and affection. There were so many wonderful cards and gifts of food and sweets and cloths and financial generosity I am humbled. You are so merciful to me and I am forever in your debt. My gratitude could never match your goodness and patience with me your unworthy servant.
I would like to set up a ski retreat as you have enjoyed this in the past. If anyone would like to help with this please let me know. We have this and many events coming up that will depend on your active involvement. I need help with setting up a program, which the archdiocese of Boston requires for the protection of children. This is a work in progress and if you would like to get involved please do. I need help with a kind of shadow play that would be great to do for Lent when we remember Christ’s passion. Anyone who had theater experience, please talk with me about that.
In the long term I would like to set up a team that will help families who are deaf and in need. There are a few and I need your help to meet their needs.
What about the Wednesday Mass at the New England Home for the Deaf and the Senior Deaf Wellness Program. These two works are a delight. There is so much faith and love present in these groups. What a witness! Kathy Carey and many people from the Deaf Community work quietly to make these events good. But the thing that is most impressive is the enthusiasm of the people these two works so beautiful. I think back to the sisters who gave their lives to serve those people who are deaf many years ago. They tried their best to be special second mothers to many in the community and I think that they did a good job of sharing the faith with that generation. The love of God and His Church, and the love for neighbor that comes only from this is so beautiful to see. What a joy it is to serve these beautiful people. They are a treasure for us all. Some day maybe we can start a Catholic Grammar School for the Deaf with sisters who wish to make that education available to the poor who are deaf by the giving of their full live as a gospel witness. This is a dream that might very well come about some day. Who knows?
We have good news from Catholic TV. I am collecting money for them so that they can have their second most popular show about the rosary, captioned. If you would like to contribute let me know.
There are a million things that should be said but I could never say them all. What I will end with has to do with families. We all need to have a special place in our prayers for them. We all need to think of ways we can help support them. If we are old we need to reach out to the young and share our stories. If we are parents we need to ask the old for advice. Ask the old about how you can better help your children. Ask the old about how you can help your teenagers as they begin to become independent. Ask the old how we can pray. I encourage you elders to make it you goal to think about how you can become a special sign of grandmother and grandfather love to the deaf youth who are in your midst. What you have in terms of faith and love is a treasure. You share it by your good example and your prayers I know. Keep this up. And if you can, take delight in conversations with the young families about serious things. There are many good moments of “Pah!” that will come of such exchanges I am sure. Christ will be born in our minds and hearts again and we will truly live the life of happy Epiphany we all so deeply desire.
