Resources for Deaf Catholics During COVID-19

A Pastoral Service for Persons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

The National Catholic Office for the Deaf

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Message from NCOD

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Online Masses in American Sign Language

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West Coast Retreats: Prayer, Learning, & Community

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Pastoral Week 2020 Kansas City—Memories Heart of Christ, Bread of Life

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Fr. David Walsh Award Recipient: Sr. Rita Wigginton, OSU

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May the Perpetual Light Shine Upon Them

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Learning Our Faith

Spring 2020

Volume 39/Number 1

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Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has issued the following regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19):

With the worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus, we are confronted once more with the fragility of our lives, and again we are reminded of our common humanity; that the peoples of this world are our brothers and sisters, that we are all one family under God.

God does not abandon us, he goes with us even now in this time of trial and testing. In this moment, it is important for us to anchor our hearts in the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. Now is the time to intensify our prayers and sacrifices for the love of God and the love of our neighbor. Let us draw closer to one another in our love for him, and rediscover the things

that truly matter in our lives.

United with our Holy Father Pope Francis, let us pray in solidarity for our brothers and sisters here and around the world who are sick. Let us pray for those who have lost loved ones to this virus. May God console them and grant them peace.

We pray also for doctors, nurses, and caregivers, for public health officials and all civic leaders. May God grant them courage and prudence as they seek to respond to this emergency with compassion and in service to the common good.

In this time of need, I invite all the faithful to seek together the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and I share this prayer with you:

~USCCB & NCOD

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The Official Publication of the National Catholic Office for the Deaf

Published quarterly by

NCOD Home Office 7202 Buchanan Street

Landover Hills, MD 20784 www.ncod.org

Please email your articles, pictures, or announcements

for consideration in future issues to ncodeditor@gmail.com

prior to the first of February, May, August, and November.

Episcopal Moderator Most Rev. Steven J. Raica Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan

Region I—The West Secretary Nancy Lopez—Orange, CA NCODWest1@gmail.com Region II—The South David Casanova—Fort Worth, TX NCODSouth2@gmail.com Region III—The Midwest Joan Macy—Lenexa, KS NCODMidwest3@gmail.com Region IV—Great Lakes Minette Sternke—Peoria, IL NCODGreatLakes4@gmail.com Region V—The Northeast Rick Johnston—Marlborough, MA NCODNortheast5@gmail.com Region VI—Southeast Atlantic Stephen Eubanks—Fayetteville, GA NCODSEAtlantic6@gmail.com Region VII-Mid Atlantic Vice-President Laureen Lynch-Ryan—Landover Hills, MD NCODMidAtlantic7@gmail.com Deaf Pastoral Workers’ Representative President Fr. Shawn Carey—Boston, MA ncoddeafpw@gmail.com ICDA-US Representative Terri Matenaer—Milwaukee, WI ncodicdarep@gmail.com Members at Large Pat Richey—Olathe, KS richey1976@yahoo.com Msgr. Glenn Nelson—Rockford, IL RockfordHI@aol.com R. Gregory Schott—Naples, FL rgschott@comcast.net

NCOD Board of Directors

In January we were able to gather for another successful Pastoral Week in Kansas City. We want to thank the local hosts for their hospitality which included a delicious BBQ lunch and inspiring entertainment at the banquet. We are grateful such a large number of people were able to attend to spend time together learning, praying, and sharing. We would also like to express our gratitude to Bishop Steven Raica, our Episcopal Moderator, who was able to join us for PW 2020. It was announced that on June 23, 2020, he will be installed as the new Shepherd of the Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama. Join us in congratulating Bishop Raica and offering prayers for a smooth, and healthy, transition. We want to let you know that we are praying for all of you, our brothers and sisters, around the world facing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Many places have imposed restrictions aiming to slow the spread of the coronavirus. One restriction is the public celebration of Mass in many dioceses is being suspended until further notice. In light of that, we have noticed a rise in the use of technology to broadcast the Sunday liturgy, in which several of our deaf and hearing priests now offer live-streaming of the Mass in ASL for our deaf brothers and sisters to watch from home. We have listed these on our website (www.ncod.org) and on page three of this edition of the Vision. If you know of other dioceses providing access to Mass in ASL, perhaps your own diocese, please email the information to Fr. Shawn Carey at NCODPresi-dent@gmail.com. We will be happy to add that resource on our website.

Be courageous in bringing people to Christ. Pray for religious vocations!

NCOD Board of Directors

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Continued from page 1

Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas. We fly to you today as your beloved children. We ask you to intercede for us with your Son, as you did at the wedding in Cana.

Pray for us, loving Mother, and gain for our nation and world, and for all our families and loved ones, the protection of your holy angels, that we may be spared the worst of this illness.

For those already afflicted, we ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance. Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful, wipe away their tears and help them to trust.

In this time of trial and testing, teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind. Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.

We come to you with confidence, knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother, health of the sick and cause of our joy.

Shelter us under the mantle of your protection, keep us in the embrace of your arms, help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Mass in American Sign Language

Saturdays: 1. Fr. Matthew Hysell OP – Ministerial Priest for the Archdiocese of Edmonton and Doctoral Candidate for

Sacred Theology at Dominican University College in Ottawa, Canada – ASL Vigil Mass 7:30pm EST on Face-Book Live: facebook.com/icdacanadiansection

2. Fr. Seán Loomis – Chaplain and Coordinator for the Philadelphia Deaf Apostolate, Archdiocese of Philadelphia – Sunday ASL Mass will be posted after 6pm at: facebook.com/DeafCatholicPhilly Sundays: 1. Fr. Shawn Carey – Director of the Boston Deaf Apostolate, Archdiocese of Boston, Massachusetts – Sunday

ASL Mass 9:15am EST on YouTube Live: youtube.com/user/DeafApostolateBoston After live-streaming, the video will be available at bostondeafcatholic.org which can be viewed at your convenience.

2. Monsignor Glenn Nelson J.C.L. – Director of Rockford Deaf Apostolate and Vicar General, Diocese of Rock-ford, Illinois – Sunday ASL Mass 10:00am CST on FaceBook Live: facebook.com/RockfordDeafApostolate 3. Fr. Mike Depcik – Director of Detroit Catholic Deaf Community, St John’s Deaf Center, Archdiocese of De-troit, Michigan – Sunday ASL Mass 11:30am EST on FaceBook Live: facebook.com/deafmass 4. Fr. Tom Schweitzer and Deacon Tomas Garcia – Holy Angels Catholic Church of the Deaf, Archdiocese of Los Angeles, California 8:30am PST (ASL and spoken English) & 11:30am EST (ASL and Span-ish/Español) youtube.com/user/hacofthedeaf/live 5. Interpreted Virtual Mass – Fr. Dave Korth with an ASL interpreter – Sacred Heart Church, Diocese of Omaha, Nebraska, Mass can be viewed at either the church’s website: sacredheartchurchomaha.org or their YouTube Channel:YouTube.com/SacredHeartChurchOmaha

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West Coast Retreats:

Prayer, Learning, & Community Diocese of Orange Advent Retreat with Fr. Paul Zirimenya

The Catholic Deaf Community of the Diocese of Orange hosted its annual Advent workshop and we were so very blessed with the presence of Fr. Paul Zirimenya from the Archdiocese of San Francisco. He presented to our community the role of our blessed Mother Mary and the meaning of Advent with all of its rich symbols. This Advent workshop took place at the Diocese of Orange Pastoral Center. We had a total of 30 persons attend the workshop, but at our Sunday liturgy we had the blessing of having a deaf priest celebrate Mass for our community and we had over 100 persons attend!

~Nancy Lopez, NCOD Board Member

~Vanessa Baxter

Retreat Day with Fr. Michael Depcik, OSFS

at St. Benedict Parish

SAN FRANCISCO—On Saturday, January 25, 2020, Saint Benedict Deaf Parish was graced with the presence of Fr. Michael Depcik from Chicago (currently serving in the Archdiocese of Detroit). He lead the church participants in a slideshow presentation review of the parts of the Mass and what they mean. He answered questions on the topic, gave amusing anecdotes, personal stories from his own experience and naturally led us in prayer. It was an inspiring and informative day much appreciated by the congregation.

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Pastoral Week 2020 Kansas City

Heart of Christ, Bread of Life

Fr. Scott Wallisch, Chaplain for Deaf Ministry in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, celebrated the opening Mass. He was assisted by Deacon Patrick Graybill, who was born and raised in the Archdiocese of KCK. Deacon Graybill now lives in Rochester, New York.

Fr. Christopher Klusman from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin had a packed room for his presentation on “The Heart of Christ: Calling to All”.

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Fr. Alessandro Borraccia, an Italian priest with the Apostles of the Interior Life (AVI), helped us learn how to bring others to Christ (hook, line, and sinker) with his presentation on “Emmaus: Journey with Others”.

Dr. Mike Scherslight, Co-Founder of Holy Family School of Faith, and Fr. Shawn Carey, NCOD President, conducted a “Teaching Mass” which explains how the Mass is structured and why we do what we do.

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Holy Family School of Faith & Apostles of the Interior Life lead a Spiritual Mentorship Program. Several deaf have attended.

For more information, visit https://www.schooloffaith.com/spiritual-mentorship

Katie Locus, Lead for Deaf Ministry of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas sent us off with resources in hand. The Archdiocese of KCK is leading a national project to translate the Youth Catechism (YouCat) into ASL! The project launched on January 24, the feast of St. Francis de Sales.

http://archkcks.com/home/asl-youcat

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PW 2020 Kansas City

Banquet, Awards, & Entertainment

Deacon Patrick Graybill and Fr. Shawn Carey helped us start our evening in prayer.

Fr. Bill Key and Minette Sternke introduce the recipient of the Fr. David Walsh Award—St. Rita Wigginton, OSU.

Congratulations!

Local Catholic artist, Mike Debus, entertained and inspired the audience with music, movement, and beautiful art!

Thank you, Mike!

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Let the Perpetual Light Shine Upon Them

Prayer for Vocations God our Father, we thank you for calling men and women to serve in your Son’s Kingdom as priests, deacons, religious, and consecrated persons. Send your Holy Spirit to help us respond

generously and courageously to your call. May our community of faith support vocations of sacrificial love in our youth. We ask

this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Deacon Ralph Hinch

January 5, 1926—March 23, 2020

Catholic Office of the Deaf of the Archdiocese of Chicago

With sadness, but trusting in the promise of New Life in Jesus Christ, we announce the death of Deacon Ralph Hinch. Ralph died Monday, March 23, at home surrounded by his family. He did NOT die because of the coronavirus. His funeral service was March 28th. A memorial Mass will be celebrated later this year with the family and community at St. Francis Borgia Deaf Center.

We have lost a wonderful and outgoing man whom we have enjoyed knowing and whose smiling presence has always been at many NCOD Pastoral Week Conferences. His presence, especially the times he served our Masses as a deaf deacon all these years, will be greatly missed. We will never forget how he kept going no matter his age!

Father Anthony Russo, C.Ss.R.

November 1, 1933—March31, 2020

Deaf Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Fr. Anthony Russo died during the night on March 31 while in hospice care at Stella Maris, Timonium, Maryland. All who knew and loved Fr. Russo mourn his passing and also rejoice in his heavenly homecoming. He served and loved us with all his heart, just as he served his Lord, Jesus and loved God with all his heart. Due to the coronavirus, arrangements for the funeral Mass will not be announced until after the quarantine. The Mass, visitation, and burial will be in Philadelphia.

Fr. Russo wrote three books: Made by Hand, A Catechesis for the Deaf, Topic: Creation; The God of the Deaf Adolescent: An Inside View; and In Silent Prayer: A History of Ministry with the Deaf Community in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. May he rest in the peace of the Savior!

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Learning Our Faith: The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

This edition is pulled from Part Two: The Celebration of the Christian Mystery; Section One—The Sacramental Economy; Chapter One “The Paschal Mystery in the Age of the Church”

What is the liturgy? (1066-1070) The liturgy is the celebration of the mystery of Christ and in particular his Paschal Mystery. Through the exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ the liturgy manifests in signs and brings about the sanctification of humankind. The public worship which is due to God is offered by the Mystical Body of Christ, that is, by its head and by its members.

What place does the liturgy occupy in the life of the Church? (1071-1075) The liturgy as the sacred action par excellence is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed and it is likewise the font from which all her power flows. Through the liturgy Christ continues the work of our redemption in, with and through his Church.

In what does the sacramental economy consist? (1076) The sacramental economy consists in the communication of the fruits of Christ’s redemption through the celebration of the sacraments of the Church, most especially that of the Eucharist, “until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).

The Liturgy—Work of the Most Holy Trinity

In what way is the Father the source and the goal of the liturgy? (1077-1083, 1110) Through the liturgy the Father fills us with his blessings in the Word made flesh who died and rose for us and pours into our hearts the Holy Spirit. At the same time, the Church blesses the Father by her worship, praise, and thanksgiving and begs him for the gift of his Son and the Holy Spirit.

What is the work of Christ in the liturgy? (1084-1090) In the liturgy of the Church, it is his own Paschal Mystery that Christ signifies and makes present. By giving the Holy Spirit to his Apostles he entrusted to them and their successors the power to make present the work of salvation through the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments, in which he himself acts to communicate his grace to the faithful of all times and places throughout the world.

How does the Holy Spirit work in the liturgy of the Church? (1091-1109, 1112) The very closest cooperation is at work in the liturgy between the Holy Spirit and the Church. The Holy Spirit prepares the Church to encounter her Lord. He recalls and manifests Christ to the faith of the assembly. He makes the mystery of Christ really present. He unites the Church to the life and mission of Christ and makes the gift of communion bear fruit in the Church.

The Paschal Mystery in the Sacraments of the Church

What are the sacraments and which are they? (1113-1131) The sacraments, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, are efficacious signs of grace perceptible to the senses. Through them divine life is bestowed upon us. There are seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.

What is the relationship of the sacraments to Christ? (1114-1116) The mysteries of Christ’s life are the foundations of what he would henceforth dispense in the sacraments, through the ministers of his Church.

“What was visible in our Savior has passed over into his mysteries.” (St. Leo the Great)

What is the link between the sacraments and the Church? (1117-1119) Christ has entrusted the sacraments to his Church. They are the sacraments “of the Church” in a twofold sense: they are “from her” insofar as they are actions of the Church which is the sacrament of Christ’s action; and they are “for her” in as much as they build up the Church.

What is the relationship between the sacraments and everlasting life? (1130) In the sacraments the Church already receives a foretaste of eternal life, while “awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

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NCOD Mission Statement:

Spread God’s message through the support of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Pastoral Ministry so that we may all be one in Christ