News Letter of the Office of the Deaf Apostolate 2009 August
Thank you Mrs. Kathy Carey!
Kathy Carey is missed. She did her work for the Deaf Apostolate with skill, love, kindness, speed, and she was a lot of fun to work with. We will all remember and cherish her. She will come and visit us I am sure. We congratulate her on her new job helping in the office at her home parish of St. Mary's in Wrentham. Her smile is missed and will always be remembered.
Sincerely,
Fr. St. Martin
Conclude the 2008-2009 Senior Deaf Wellness Program
by Kathy Carey
The Senior Deaf Wellness Program began the 2009 New Year with our January meeting.
We were delighted to have Denise Roskamp from the Shine Program return as a guest speaker. Denise shared her knowledge and insights on Medicare and the Medicare prescription program with the Seniors. This was followed by a lively question and answer session. Denise is always eager and happy to help the seniors with their Medicare questions and she has been a valuable friend and great resource to our program. The February meeting found the seniors busy making beautiful valentine frames. The seniors always enjoy this special craft time led by their good friend Mary Brooks. Again they demonstrated their unique talents. Our March meeting brought the return of our friends from MGH. The nursing students returned with their instructor Tom Dolan to learn about Deaf Culture and the needs of our seniors. The seniors shared their medical stories with the group. There were many very animated and interesting stories. The students are always surprised by the stories and the need of the medical community to become more aware and sensitive to the needs of the deaf community. This has become an annual event and the students always enjoy their day with the seniors. We were also delighted to have Jim Tourangeau join us from Sorenson. Jim gave an excellent presentation on Video Phones. The seniors were really excited about the video phones and had many questions regarding the use and capabilities of the VP. We thank Jim for his time and his very knowledgeable explanation of Video Phones.
Spring arrived and with it the return of our friend Karen Swiech for our April meeting. She returned to lead the group in a special Ukrainian egg craft. There were many different and beautiful designs. The seniors picked up quickly on this unique craft and were eager to show their artistic talents. Our May meeting featured a new speaker, Bethany from Deaf Inc. Bethany shared her expertise on healthy cooking and eating. The seniors had many questions regarding diabetes, cholesterol, bad fats and good fats. A very insightful question and answer session followed her presentation. Bethany hopes to return again to led the group in an exercise session and another presentation.
The May meeting also brought a wonderful surprise! I had no idea that the group had planned a birthday and good-bye party for me. My co-workers from the Office of Cultural Diversity also joined the festivities. They were so delighted to meet the seniors and share the day with them. They had heard so many wonderful stories about the Senior Deaf Wellness program and they were so happy to finally meet everyone. Our last meeting in June ended with a special bus trip to the Pastoral Center. There the seniors were greeted by many employees of the center. Janet Benestad our new Secretary for Faith Formation and Evangelization graciously lead the group on a tour of this beautiful center. The tour was followed by a beautiful Mass in the Bethany Chapel celebrated by our newly ordained priest Father Shawn Carey. This was followed by a delicious lunch in the formal dining room. This was a wonderful way to end our 2008-2009 program. This truly was special day for everyone.
A special thanks to Cher and Mary our interpreters who are always there to help us. Also, the wonderful nurses who give of their time so freely, Joan, Kathy, and Lorraine. We are very fortunate to have these wonderful people who share their talents and time with our seniors. A very special thank you to all our wonderful seniors. This program would not be the success that it is without your constant and enthusiastic support!
Last but not least, a special thank you to everyone for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful group! You have given me more joy and happiness than you can imagine!
God bless each and everyone of you!
Kathy
Golf Tournament for the Deaf: One for the Ages
-Skip Flanagan
On sunny August 10th, people celebrated the 5th anniversary of the Friendship Cup Golf Benefit for Deaf children. The Friendship Cup was a smashing success, raising approximately $65,000. The tournament, led by super-catalysts Sue and Sean Flanagan, drew mass amounts of golfers and celebrities alike; reeling in 300+ golfers and some well known celebrities. Karen Adams of the Channel 12 News in Providence, RI, gold medal goalie for the 1980 USA Olympic Team; Jim Craig, and a 1967 Cy Young winner, RedSox pitcher from the 1967 Dream Team, Jim Lonborg are among the most popular tournament attendees.
None of this could've gone any smoother due to excellent work of the 50+ volunteers working both country clubs and raising every single penny possible to help improve deaf schools internationally. Ledgemont Country Club and Pawtucket Country Club had a formidable one-two punch of volunteer groups consisting of students and staff from UMass Amherst, Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, MA, Newton North High School, The Learning Center for the Deaf, Rhode Island School for the Deaf, and staff from the Beverly School for the Deaf. The volunteers also contributed a great deal in the silent and live auctions. Special thanks to the entire group of wonderful participants.
There were many winners at the tournament, the Teddy's Cup, in honor of Ted Gagnon, my grandfather and proud father of Sue Gagnon-Flanagan, there were winners of the raffle, auctions, mini-games, pool basketball and much more. Yet, the true winners are the ones benefitting from all of them, the deaf children. Winning never felt so good.
Karen Adams, Jim Lonborg and Jim Craig accounted for several thousand of dollars through the live auction. The team USA jersey, several autographed baseballs from the best players who ever set foot on this green earth, and opportunities to play golf with national celebs in foursomes and much more helped add to the excitement.
After leaving a putt short and losing a bet with friend Karen Adams, Sean Flanagan capped off a long, fun Aug. 10, 2009 with a huge front flip into the country club pool. Thanks to everyone and see you guys next year! This one's for the books!
--spatrick
More Access in more places! Visit St. John's in Hopkinton
By Fr. St. Martin
The good things that are happening at St. John's are God's love made visible for us to see. We thank the good people of St. John's who have been so positive and for the tallent and love of Fr. Paul Clifford the pastor. Who is he? Here is something about him. A few years ago Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley, OFM, Cap. announced the appointment of Father Paul T. Clifford from pastor of St. Marguerite D’Youville to pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Hopkinton. The effective date of that action was July 17, 2006. Fr. Paul is picking up sign language quickly and has been great working with the interpreters and even adjusting the lighting and many other things. He was very hopstilable to Seminarian Christopher Klausman when he was sick and Fr. Shawn did such a great job taking care of him.
Fr. Shawn has had a great time there. One day he did five baptisms and he has been saying Mass and preaching on the week day on Monday and Thursday at 9:00 a.m. He is also doing the Vigil Mass every 1st Saturday of the month. The other Masses are not yet regularized.
There are more people visiting www.deafcatholic.org and clicking on the calendar to see the times when Fr. Shawn celebrates Mass over at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Hopkinton. It is good and we are happy that there are more opportunities for good access to the Mass in more places and at more times. This is great for families who are generous and have many children with busy schedules.
Again, the people at St. John's have been inspired to experience the Mass in Sign Language and have been served well by great voice interpreters. Fr. Shawn has recieved great feedback and many emails from parishioners saying that they feel like they are more in contact with God through praying at Mass because now they can see the prayers. It helps so many people to see that our disabilities can actually give birth to even greater abilities. After all the greatest disability of all is death and didn't Jesus show us that death is not to be feared but that it is rather, with Him, the way to eternal and full life?
In Christ,
Fr. St. Martin
Enrollment Opens Now!
For anyone interested in learning about or becoming a member of the Catholic faith;
Or any adult who has been baptized, received First Communion but has not been confirmed;
Or any adult who has been baptized, but has not received First Communion and Confirmation:
Classes will begin in the fall. They will be held at either Sacred Heart Parish, Newton MA or at St. John the Evangelist Parish, Hopkinton MA.
To register or for further information, please contact the following persons at the Office of the Apostolate for the Deaf:
Video Phone: (866)-572-8386
Video Phone: (781)-267-7109 Email: frshawn@deafcatholic.org |
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CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR DEAF STUDENTS
ENROLLMENT OPENS NOW!
Classes are now forming for religious education for the Deaf youth from First Communion through Confirmation age. Classes are offered at Sacred Heart Parish in Newton and St John the Evangelist Parish in Hopkinton.
They can also be offered throughout the Metro Boston area if you wish to arrange for your Deaf child to be enrolled at a nearby parish closer to your hometown. Should you wish for this option, please contact us immediately so we can plan accordingly as we will have to contact the parish to set up classes.
To register or for further information, please contact the following persons at the Office of the Apostolate for the Deaf:
Video Phone: (866)-572-8386
Video Phone: (781)-267-7109 Email: frshawn@deafcatholic.org |
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All classes are coordinated by the Office of the Apostolate for the Deaf. Our office is located at:
The Pastoral Center - Archdiocese of Boston, 66 Brooks Drive, Braintree, MA 02184
Extreme East happened on July 31-August 2. We had a good group.
This was at URI
Thank you to Amy, our female adult chaperone from R.I., for her organizational skills and her leadership.you to our interpreters who came from Louisiana to interpret as well!
Maximo got the Fr. St. Martin Cool award, Jose got the Leader Award, Rachel got the Most Fun award, Jasmine got the Most Patient award. These were simple titles announced by myself. Special thanks to Seminarian Christopher Klusman who must have taken this picture because he was there and I don't see him in this picture. Thanks to Rachel's mom too.
Upcoming Youth Events
NCYC
WYD
NCYC is coming up in the fall. Fr. Shawn will be a speaker at that. It is in Kansas City from November 19-21, 2009
Kathy Stebbins works in the Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults in the Archdiocese of Boston. Thanks be to God for her help. She is coordinating groups, including ours, who want to attend NCYC. Her email is kstebbins@rcab.org
We are going to meet many Deaf young people from all over the country at this event. There is a good group of Deaf young people coming from Connecticut and I think there is another from the West Coast. I will be going with you and we will meet Fr. Shawn and Fr. Mike Depcik in Kansas City.
This is for High School students. There are over 20,000 people at this event and it is a lot of fun!!!!!! There are forms to permit you to get out of school without penalty, medical forms, and a permission form that will all need to be filled out.
We will be flying. The cost is still being worked out but we will stay in a hotel and with airfare it will be around $900.00 However, we have a gift of money that we can use for those who cannot pay or can only pay some.
We need to say yes to this asap. Rooms are available for November and NCYC are also available. We will need to pay the conference ticket price up front ($195) and make a $200 deposit on the hotel and ground transportation. So initial deposit will be $400. We will arrive in Kansas City, MO on Wednesday evening/night. We can make airline reservations when we have definite names of those who are going. Please send deposits of $400 and make checks payable to:
Office of the Deaf Apostolate
Pastoral Center
66 Brooks Drive
Braintree, MA 02184
This is all to prepare for: . . . . . .
If you are interested in joining the pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain, in August of 2011 please see Fr. Shawn Carey or contact him. He is in the process of planning this exciting spiritual trip which may include a visit in a diocese where the Deaf Catholics in Spain live. The dates, August 15-21 are for the actual events going on in Madrid. We may be going earlier than August 15th for a few days with the Deaf Catholics of Europe. It will be a blast! If you have any questions about World Youth Day experiences, please see Dominick Boyd and his mother, Teri to share with you their experience in World Youth Day 2009 Sydney, Australia. Youth over ages 18 to 40 are welcome to join. For those who are 16 or 17, an accompanying parent is required. For further information, let Fr. Shawn know.
For this we will be having a Basket Ball Game Fundraiser between the Youth Group and the Priests (and brothers) on Sept. 13th after Mass in the Hall. Tickets will be coming soon. Stay tuned.
Sincerely,
Fr. St. Martin
BASKETBALL FACEOFF
YOUTH GROUP VS CLERICS WYD FUNDRAISER SEP 13 SACRED HEART
The priests will win
