News Letter 2008 Spring
Deaf Catholic Community of the Archdiocese of Boston
Thank you Brother Hugh!
We will Miss You!
God has blessed us yet again. He has shown us His Glory. He has shown us a face of man full of love. Love that is heart felt and full of affection. Love that is quietly and humbly sacrificial. Wow! We have done nothing to desirve having such a man with us. Hugh is a sign that God is "in love with us."
Brother Hugh has helped us worhip God on Sundays. He has been there to help voice interpret and sign the readings at Mass. He has been there to help at the Altar. To help distribute the Holy Communion which is the source of our Love. He has been there to help us at the Senior Deaf Wellness program where we try to show God's love to each other through community, activities and food. He has been there to help teach some of the confirmation students during the week after a public school day of classes has finished. He has been there to help me visit the sick in their homes. He has been there to asist with the set up of the religious education program and the child protection program. He has been available to interpret for many differnet events all around the city. He has been available to hear people's ideas and concerns after Mass and convey them to me in a way that is most helpful. He has spent many hours doing office work. He has visited families in their homes with me. I remember we were able to visit the Bucci Family once and we also visited the McCarthy's.
There are so many things that Br. Hugh has done. Can you imagine the true witness he is for us. He has given up family and fortune to make a direct contribution to our good. He is not doing all this work on the side. He heart and his soul is in it! He is giving his all.
Christ did this. He gave everything he has to show us the love the Father has for us. He even died for us. When the soldier pierced his side heart blood and water flowed out. He gave us everything. He gave his heart. I think Br. Hugh is like that. He is a young man who has been caught up in God's love and he is simply trying to make his life a sign of that Love that Jesus shows us. May God make Br. Hugh's heart more and more like Jesus's Sacred Heart.
In the name of the community of believers,
Fr. St. Martin
http://landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/SacHtc.jpg
First Communion was Wonderful!
Thank you to Cheryl Johnston, her husband Rick, Annie Folkard, and many others. Because of so many people cooperating together we had a great communion class for the children in our community. They have been learning about God our Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They have studied Jesus' teachings and life, discussing his dying and rising. And they have been preparing for the Eucharist by learning about the last supper and by making a good first penance.
Wow! That is a lot of work. God's grace makes it all possible. Angela Christoffels, and Daniel Lualdi and all the parents have also supported the students in this class.
One of the greatest moments for me was being part of the first penance experience. It was a joy to help explain the sacrament of confession to the little ones. I could also witness their sorrow for their sins and their faith in God's mercy. It is a great privilege to be able to bring the forgiveness and healing of Christ.
The Knights of Columbus at Sacred Heart gave rosaries as gifts to the students who recieved their first communion as well as rosaries for the teachers. We thank them for this kind act. It encourages us to pray to and cherish the Mother of the Eucharist, Mary.
A photographer came to capture the day of the children's first communion. They will remember it for years to come. This is a gift from the Parish.
The day of first Communion was June 1st. Continue to pray to Jesus Christ our Lord and friend that we all will remember to "keep Holy the Lord's Day" by remembering to go to Mass every Sunday.
Here is a good picture of a few of our little ones just before they cut the cake.
In Christ with us in every tabernacle throughout the world,
Fr. St. Martin
Shawn Carey is with Us
Glory be to God. Shawn Carey completed his third year of theology at St. Patrick's Seminary. He is now in his final year preparing for Holy Orders. He will be ordained as a transitional Deacon in California but for Boston on November 8, 2008. In May of 2009 he will travel back to Boston where Cardinal Sean O'Malley will ordain him as a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston. Out of your midst, from the love you show each other, because of the worship you offer to God every Sunday, the Lord has raised a young man to serve as a priest of Jesus Christ our Savior. He is a son from among you, one who you can call your own. Pray that God's will be done in all this. Pray also that Shawn's good work be brought to completion. We pray that his work bear long-lasting fruit and renew the face of the earth. I believe it will and have experienced a renewal in my own priesthood as I have been of support to him on his way to the life of priestly service.
(EThis picture was taken in California at his seminary's chapel where Br. Hugh was able to visit him when he was made a Candidate for Holy Orders recently)
As Shawn has been preparing in California, his formation will keep him away from us for his final year in the seminary before he becomes a priest. The Diocese wants to help him renew the ties of friendship and affection that knit him to us. Therefore, the Diocese has assigned him to work this summer for the Deaf Catholic Ministries Office of the Archdiocese of Boston. As the Coordinator of the office, I am pleased on many levels to be part of carrying out this decision. The plan pleases me because it will help to build up our excitement about his becoming a priest for us. This is God's plan for us in which we will experience His saving love. For this reason He sent His Only Son in to the world. For this reason He now sends priests to us in our own day. Thank God for Shawn's presence this summer. He will return to be ordained in May 23, 2009 and to live as a priest for us in Boston.
The priesthood taken up by a man these days shows that God's plan for our salvation comes only through His love that is willing to accept sacrifice. Shawn is a strong and deep witness of this kind of love. With his talents and education, he believes that God has called him to give his whole life to serve the institution of the Catholic Church. It is one thing to consider. It is quite another thing to prepare to do this for many years and then actually do it. And yet we can see that happening. God is telling us very clearly that His graccomes to us in Sunday Communion and that all that the Church teaches is the truth that will set us free.
Sacrifice of the Mass: How does it show these things? Imagine if anyone, could simply stand up on a Sunday, put on some robes, read some prayers, and give the bread and wine. If such a person were to tell us that this bread and wine had really become Christ's body and blood what do you think we would understand by that teaching? Would we think that it was very important? Would we be inclined to think that it was a teaching we should spend some time thinking about? The Eucharist that we celebrate every day in the Church, and must celebrate every Sunday and Holy Day, can only come about if a man, one of our sons, freely chooses to give up his whole life to do it. This helps us to begin to understand that something dramatic is happening. It helps us to know that the bread and the wine really do become Jesus' body and blood, his life, his love. Why else would a talented healthy young man like Shawn become a priest if this were not real?
Even when a man believes that God is calling him to priesthood, the Church does not ordain him until the Church has spent many years formally training, educating, and evaluating him. Then, if the Church thinks that God has indeed called the man and only if it is crystal clear that he understands, holds, and longs to share with others all that the Church teaches about faith and morals, only then is the man ordained to lead us in the prayers of the Mass that bring about Christ body and blood. Wow!
This shows that the Eucharist is indeed something powerful and good. The Eucharist is the product of a great project of which the ordained priesthood is a major part. The Eucharist is not just a trifle that gives us an inspirational boost. If it were just a sign, the priesthood and all the necessary formation and sacrifice would not fit. As it is, the Eucharist is indeed the one and only true God with us in a special and unique way. Shawn will help us see this truth once again and in a renewed way. How? By pouring his whole life out in a thoughtful and determined way so as to point to this Eucharist of the Church, i.e. he will (God willing) become an ordained priest. May God bring what he has begun in Shawn to completion.
Here is a Vocation Prayer written by Cardinal Seán. and an image that you can pray everyday for him:
| To Mary, Mother of the Divine Shepherd
| anxious to proclaim the Good News of everlasting life. Draw them near to the heart of your son so that they can understand the beauty and the joy that awaits them when the Lord Jesus calls them to be his witnesses. Amen. |
This summer Shawn and I are tending to the needs of the flock.
In Christ, our true Priest,
Fr. St. Martin
World Youth Day Plans
Thanks to the generosity of a donor we can announce that our community will go to World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney Australia. The Pope has invited the youth of the world to join him there for a week of prayer, learning, fun, and friendship. The week will culminate with a giant outdoor Mass. About a million young people will offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass together with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict, presiding.
The universal Church has provided stellar access to this event. They provide interpreters for a wide range of different sign languages. When we registered online they asked if we needed an interpreter for the week. Then they gave us a selection of about 20 different forms of sign language to choose from. We could even choose multiple sign languages. They have made this event accessible to all youths from the ground up. They are not waiting to the last minute to provide access to youths who are deaf. They mean it. They have put the love of Christ into action by doing a good and joyful job of rejoicing in the reality of the sign languages of the world.
Catholics from all over the world who are deaf and hearing will have a chance to meet each other, and they will have a great location for the final Mass--right in the front. This is great. The other times I have gone my seat in the mighty throng of youths, I couldn't see the Pope except by video screen. It will be a great moment to be close to the Eucharist as it is being confected at that time of great pilgrimage.
Seminarian Shawn Carey is working with me to lead this youth pilgrimage. We will fly to San Francisco, California and St. Patrick's Seminary (Shawn's school) will welcome us as pilgrims. We will meet the Deaf Catholic Community there, relax, rest and prepare for the suffering of the pilgrimage. Then we will board a plane filled with young pilgrims for the 15 hour flight to Sydney. Then we will meet young Deaf Catholics from around the world and make the most of the program they have planned for us that week. Pray for us. I hope to make a video of our trip to show when we return.
In Christ,
Fr. St. Martin
Senior Deaf Wellness Program
The Senior Deaf Wellness Program started the 2007-2008 season with a trip to Saint Anthony Shrine the Church on Arch Street on September 11, 2007. A group of twenty seniors enjoyed a day of remembrance and prayer for the victims of 9/11. The group traveled by bus to the shrine, where Brother Hugh Macsherry greeted them. Brother Hugh gave the seniors a tour of the shrine and then interpreted for the memorial ceremony. All enjoyed a box lunch and social in the lunchroom at the shrine. We were blessed to have Brother Hugh lead on this special day of prayer and remembrance. October found the seniors enjoying a discussion on Guardian Angels, as we celebrated this feast on October 2nd. This was followed by the making of paper angels, led by Fr. Jeremy St. Martin.
With the holidays fast approaching, November’s meeting included a pumpkin turkey craft. About 25 pumpkins were decorated with popsicle sticks, googley eyes, and brightly colored paper feathers to resemble turkeys for Thanksgiving. A number of the “turkey pumpkins” were donated to our friends at the New England Home for the Deaf. At December’s meeting Father Jeremy St. Martin led the group in the beautiful creation of Advent wreaths, complete with real holly berries, greens and the pink and purple candles representing the four weeks of Advent.
January found the seniors busy listening to Denise Rosenkamp from the Shine Program sharing her expert advice on Medicare and Part D prescription plans. A question and answer period followed the discussion. At the February meeting the seniors enjoyed the guest speaker Jerry Stebner, an AARP tax aide advisor. We were also very fortunate to have a group of student nurse practitioners from MGH led by Tom Dolan join us for the day. The seniors shared their stories, experiences and concerns with the students. The students enjoyed the day so much that they asked to return again in April. The feast of St. Patrick was celebrated at the March meeting. Fr. St. Martin spoke on the history of St. Patrick followed by the making of paper shamrocks with the sign for “I Love You” in the center of the shamrock.
Our meeting in April included another visit from the student nurse practioners from MGH, stories by the seniors and a super special “Ukranian Egg Craft”, led by Karen Switch. The seniors were busy using hot wax on the eggs for their designs and then dipping the eggs in the brightly colored jars of dye. All had a great time and we are thankful to Karen for sharing her time and talents with us. Our last meeting in May featured a visit from our friend Mary Books, who showed us how to make decorated picture frames. The program concluded in June with a Duck Tour of Boston and lunch at Cheers!
None of this would be possible without the help received from everyone involved! Thanks to all the seniors for their continued support of this wonderful program. A special thanks to the nurses, Joan and Lorraine who faithfully joined our group for the blood pressure screenings. Thank you to Fran Noll for the wonderful breakfast she setup at every meeting and to John McCarthy for his help at the door! A big thanks to Mrs. Barbara Neem from Sacred Heart Parish who joined our meetings to offer her support and help. Thank you to the caterers who provided us with us with a delicious lunch and Mr. David Nahabedian, Facilities Custodian, for setting up the tables and chairs for the meetings. A very special thank you to our interpreters Cher Allen, Pat Diamond and Mary Brooks, whose expertise allowed us to continue this very special program. Last but not least, thank you to Fr. St. Martin for continuing this program and to all you very special seniors, without you and your participation this very special program would not be possible!
Sincerely,
Kathyn Carey
Two More Teens Preparing for Confirmation
For the past months Br. Hugh has been working with two teenage boys for Confirmation preparation. Their families originally came from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. So the classes really involve four cultures: Deaf, Dominican, Puerto Rican and American hearing.
The students and their families are very excited. The two boys really want to make their confirmations. They are eager to ask questions in class and happy to share their own experiences. Their families are happy to see that they can be confirmed. One boy’s brother was the first to ask, "Why hasn’t he made his first communion yet, or been confirmed?" In the fall, Sr Virginia Mulhern from St Mary of the Angels Parish in Dorchester first contacted us. She mentioned that a Deaf boy needed preparation for the sacraments. She helped us to contact his family. The other student’s friend came to Fr Jeremy to ask about sacramental preparation. The concern of family and friends and pastoral workers demonstrates precisely what evangelization is all about.
Both boys live in Dorchester and their families belong to parishes there. It is difficult but sometimes they can go the Deaf Mass at Sacred Heart. At the moment the classes take place at the Horace-Mann Community Center in Allston. We are grateful to Horace-Mann Community Center for the use of their space.
(article by Br. Hugh)
A Note from Brother Hugh
Dear brothers and sisters,
You may know that my internship year is almost done. On June 20, I will move back to Washington DC for my final year of study. I have one more year of theology study before I can be ordained a priest. Shawn Carey and I will celebrate our ordinations around the same time. I am very excited to be finishing my beginning formation with the friars and for ordination.
Working here in Boston, working with you I really enjoyed myself. I have spent time working in the office with Fr. Jeremy (mainly phone calls and computer work.) But that has all been necessary. And I am thankful that the other people who work there. People from the Archdiocese’s offices are such wonderful co-workers. They made it a joy to go in to work. However, I don’t think that I will miss office work too much! (Smile!)
Most of all I will miss my time with you. I have been able to celebrate Mass with you almost every Sunday. What a joy! Working with the servers, with readers and ushers who all do wonderful work—working with you has helped me recognize the importance of all the different jobs at Mass. I love that the community here in Boston is very involved in everything. I have enjoyed spending time with you at the social hour after Mass as well. I have had time to get to know you and chat with you. You have been very welcoming and hospitable.
I have had so many wonderful experiences: visiting a Deaf prison inmate in Shirley MA; helping the interpreters; seeing the religious education start; helping people do their CORI checks; helping with Confirmation preparation; our Deaf retreat last November; enjoying the visits of Shawn Carey, Ghislain and Fr. Paul. So many things....
You have helped me so much. You have taught me more signs. You have taught me about Deaf culture. You have taught me about God’s presence in the community. Fran, Andy and Colby have been a special help. They and Fr Jeremy have discussed my ministry with me. They have met with me throughout the year and talked with me about my experiences here. They have helped me to see God in our ministry and community. I will certainly miss working with you all.
As I go back to DC, I have one more year of study. I will make my final vows to the Franciscans in August. That will be my permanent commitment to the Friars. I will then be ordained a deacon. I hope to work with the Deaf community in Washington next year. After my ordination to priesthood next May, I do not know where I will go. God knows. I certainly hope at some point to come back to Boston… at least to visit your wonderful community again.
Please, pray for me. I will also pray for you!
Peace and Good,
Brother Hugh
