Champaign-Urbana Deaf Catholic Ministry

Happy Thanksgiving 2011!!!

As I'm writing this, the sun has decided to come out on a chilly Thanksgiving Day.  It's so good to take some time to sit and think about the things for which we are thankful.  God is so good to us!  He gives us everything that we need - even if we don't always see that.  This year, I am thankful for many things.

First, I'm thankful for my health, the fact that I have a job, a house, a car, and food on my table.  So many people do not have these things, right here in the US. I'm thankful that the job comes with people that I enjoy working with - which is good because we are together a lot! 

I am thankful for my family.  We don't get together nearly as much as I think we'd all like.  Our recent family Thanksgiving was very nice and gave me my favorite picture of the year:  my mother with my youngest nephew, Oliver.  We had the "wisest" of the family with the youngest - and it turned out beautifully.  I am also thankful for the lovely way that my mother plays with her grandkids and great-grandkids.  It's so wonderful to see how uninhibited she is as she is playing - she's not afraid to be silly.  I need to be reminded of that more.

I am thankful for my four-legged family, Molly.  She is now 4 3/4 years old and I can't imagine life without her.  She acts as my backup (sometimes primary) alarm clock, makes sure I don't dawdle on our walks, showers me with love and plenty and plenty of licks ("kisses").  She also gives me many hugs when she brings her paws up to my chest - and always lets me know when someone is coming to the door, or to the neighbor's door!  She's a great companion as I travel for work.  I'm also very grateful for the great help that my twin sister gives me with Molly.  Without her help, I would not be able to have Molly and do all the travel that I do for work. 

I am thankful for the many men and women who serve our country - both in the armed forces and as police officers, fire personnel, paramedics, and other first responders.  They put their lives on the line every day to help each and every one of us.  They work 24/7, 365 days a year, including all the holidays we like to be home taking it easy, and I've personally benefited from their help.  So - I am thankful for all that they do. 

I am thankful for our medical care professionals - doctors, nurses, techs, and different therapists (physical, occupational, etc).  This has been a year of several challenges - and God has continually reminded me that HE is the one in control, not me.  I am sure some of those health care professionals have felt at times like I'm a thorn in their side - but I am very grateful for their kindness, skill and generosity in sharing their many gifts with me and others who need them. 

I am thankful for the many spiritual guides that God has placed in my life, from parish priests who recognize that the parish is about helping people become more like the people of God, to religious who teach me about different ways of approaching God, to the "ordinary" men and women who aren't so ordinary and share their lives and faith with me.  I'm not always immediately thankful for their messages - but as I look back in my life, I realize that those were messages that I needed to hear. 

Finally - and last is definitely not least! - I'm thankful beyond words for the great gift that God has been in my life; for his Son Jesus Christ who suffered, died on the cross, and rose so that all of us could have eternal life; and for the Spirit that is sent to inspire and lead us until Christ comes again.  I would not be the person I am without God and I am thankful for His patience with my stumblings, guiding words in times of darkness, and shared joy in times of light.  May He lead me ever more closely to His light and His presence!

My wish for each person that reads this is for a Thanksgiving - and a year - that is filled with a grateful heart.  And now, in the words of an Irish blessing,

May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.

God bless each of you and angels watch over you! 

Wait a Minute - it's not Christmas Yet!

The stores these days are full of Christmas ornaments, Christmas gifts, Christmas specials, and Christmas music.  In the evening, while walking my dog, I'm noticing a few houses that already have their Christmas trees up!  Every time I see this stuff, I keep wanting to go up to their door and very politely, but quite surely, say "It's not Christmas yet!  We haven't even had Thanksgiving yet!"

There are soooo many special days that the Church celebrates before we get to Christmas!  The first, of course, in the US, is Thanksgiving Day, celebrated this Thursday, Nov. 24.  It's a lovely day set aside to gather with friends and family and give thanks for the many, many blessings we have been given this year.  At my parish Thanksgiving Mass, during the presentation of the gifts, we take up nonperishable food for the food pantry.  It's a great tradition.

On November 27, the Church begins the wonderful season of Advent.  We watch and wait with the people in Jesus' time who were waiting for the coming of the Messiah, and we also watch and wait now for the second coming of Christ, our King.  It's a time to look inside ourselves and ask if we are really ready to meet God face to face, with all our imperfections.

This year, as we start Advent, we are also starting to use the new translation of the Roman Missal.  Most parishes and dioceses have had training sessions for their parishioners to explain the translations.  For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, we have videos available online that explain the reason for the changes and also show some of the common prayers in the Mass (Gloria, Sanctus, etc) in suggested ASL translations.  This is not a REQUIRED translation but something suggested to get started.  The videos can be seen here: ASL Interpreter Training New Missal

December 6 is the feast day for St. Nicholas, of "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" fame.  St. Nicholas was a Greek bishop who was famous for helping the poor and others who needed his help.  His feast day is particularly celebrated in Greece, Italy, Germany and some of the other Slavic countries. His story reminds me to remember those who are less fortunate than me, and help those I can. 

December 8 is the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.  Many, many people ask me how Jesus came to be born 17 days after he was conceived and I say he wasn't - the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord is celebrated on March 25!  This feast celebrates His mother, Mary - and honors the fact that she was born without sin so that she could be a fitting mother for Jesus.  This feast reminds me that God always has a long-term plan, not just a short-term one. 

December 9 is the feast of Blessed Juan Diego, who was visited by the Blessed Virgin Mary in Guadalupe, Mexico.  He was a very poor peasant worker who showed great courage and faith in going to the local bishop to say he had seen the Blessed Mother - and She wanted the bishop to build a church where Blessed Juan Diego had seen her.  When the bishop asked for proof, Blessed Juan Diego went back and asked the Blessed Mother what to do.  He was told to gather roses into his cloak, and take them back to the bishop.  When he unfolded his cloak in front of the bishop, an image of the Blessed Mother that is now known as the Virgin of Guadalupe was seen.  This image can still be seen at the Shrine of Our Lady at Guadalupe in Mexico - many, many years later.  This story helps me to have courage to go against what seems the "in" way to go.

December 13 is the Feast of St. Lucy.  Lucy's name (also Lucia) means "light".  She lived in Roman times and was promised to a pagan bridegroom.  She refused to marry someone who was not Christian and told her widowed mother to give her substantial dowry to the poor.  When he found out, her intended bridegroom denounced her to the Romans.  As a result, she was tortured and suffered a martyr's death.  Many of the Scandinavian countries celebrate this as St. Lucia Day, when the oldest daughter in the house comes down early in the morning with a wreath of candles lit on her head.  It celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. 

December 14 is the feast day of St. John of the Cross.  He was a priest and Spanish mystic who helped reform the Carmelite Order along with St. Teresa of Avila.  His writings are very deep and thoughtful, and he is considered to be a Doctor of the Church (someone who knows very much about theology and the Church).  Even in his 20s, he was helping St. Teresa by establishing monasteries in Spain and helping to protest against their government.  His story helps me to persevere even when it seems everyone is against me. 

FINALLY, after four Sundays of Advent, all of these celebrations and feast days (and a few others I haven't mentioned), we arrive at Christmas - or, as the Church calls it, the Incarnation or Nativity of the Lord!  So - how about if we take a few minutes each day in all of the hustle and bustle of the "Christmas shopping season" and remember the reason we're doing this in the first place - and the people like St. Lucy who have given up their lives for their faith.  God comes down to us to be with us!  What a wonderful day to rejoice, gather and celebrate!

Now, please don't think I'm completely against the lights and Christmas trees.  I, myself, usually put my tree up about mid-December.  However, my nativity scene is not completed until December 25 because Mary and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem, and then Jesus showed up!  The Magi come later, too.  I also have an Advent wreath that I use as part of my prayer during Advent. 

 

Finally, remember that Christmas in the Catholic Church doesn't end at midnight on December 25.  I'll blog about that later (you can see last year's entry too).  We celebrate a lot more after that - so let's get ready for it first.  Let's get ready for the celebration, take our "internal shower", get our spiritual party clothes on, and REALLY get ready for the coming of Christ!

Blessings to each of you during this season! 

 

Birthday Musings

Today was my birthday.  I first went out to eat with my twin sister to celebrate, then spent some time thinking about the last year.  It's been one whopper of a year, with work challenges, health challenges, family member health challenges, and just a general change in overall outlook. 

As I look over all the challenges that God threw my way this year, I remember first asking the inevitable question of "why me?"  As someone wise told me, this isn't a good question to ask - because God answers it in his own time and his own way, which rarely is the same as what you would want or expect.  But, I also recognize the many graces that God gave me through this time.  I had unexpected visitors who would come and visit with me.  People from church brought food, and would actively seek me out after Mass to ask how I was doing.  Even now, I'm told that the woman I've just started taking yoga lessons from was present in my hospital room one day.  (I didn't know her or recognize her but my friend did.)  There are lines that weave and intersect our lives, and we never know exactly how it will all work out.  All I can do is trust in God.  He alone has the answers, and knows everything I need. 

That's not to say I'm passive about it all.  I'm exercising more, watching what I eat, taking care of myself better.   I'm doing my part, and I know God will do His.  He's already doing it, sending me so many blessings and gifts.  Chief among them is my twin sister, who took care of me and continues to watch and worry about me sometimes.  My dog does her part, urging me along on our walks and not letting me "just stroll".  I have amazing doctors who watch what's going on health-wise to keep me on the right track. 

So - while this has certainly been a challenging year, it's also been a grace-filled year.  Thanks be to God for his great and marvelous gifts, including the precious gift of my life, my faith, and His unswerving presence in my life.  No matter what else changes, He is always there, ready to catch me, guide me, or simply walk with me.  To God be the glory for the many great things He has done in my life!

10th Anniversary 9-11-01

It’s hard to believe that 10 years ago today, we as a nation experienced a devastating loss.  I remember watching the 2^nd plane hit and just feeling numb, not knowing exactly what to do or how to handle all of this information.  That day, we experienced the best and the worst of what can happen in America.  The worst is obvious – 2,977 mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, and friends were killed that day.  The best was those that lived – and reached out to those that were hurt.  The policemen, firemen and other first responders who not only went INTO THE TOWERS (and some lost their lives), but also helped direct the evacuation of Manhattan and the Pentagon.  The doctors and nurses who cared for the wounded tirelessly.  The boat pilots who gave people rides home to other parts of New York.  People who stopped just to offer a cup of coffee, a bite to eat, a listening ear, to those who were passing by. 

10 years later, we are a country forever changed.  We cannot let those who did this win.  Unfortunately, we do that every day.  How?  Every day that we judge others or hate others simply because they are Muslim/Black/somehow different from us, we let them win.  Every day we choose to live in a state of constant fear instead of hope for our country, we let them win.  Yes, the men who killed those on 9/11/01 were Muslim.  However, I know other Muslim people who are kind, generous, and good.  I know some so-called Christians who need to go back to the Bible and remember what Jesus talked about.  Jesus said there are two great commandments.  The first:  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.”  The second – which can be much harder – “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Guess what?  Those people in Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Guatemala, Brazil, India, and all those other countries that are just struggling to live from day to day – those are OUR neighbors.  Yes, some of those countries practice other religions, but can God really be put into one little “Christian” box?  I don’t think so.  I think S/He is much, much bigger than that.  If my mother can answer to more than one name, I think the same can be said of God. 

Henri Nouwen was a brilliant Catholic priest from Holland who lived and worked with severely handicapped people in the L’Arche community in Toronto, Canada towards the end of his life.  In Finding My Way Home, he writes of the path of peace.  There are two things that struck me the most.  First, he shared the story of a severely handicapped man he helped take care of, who was truly the peacemaker of the house.  His peacemaking was rooted in “being” – being present to others ; in his heart – he loves freely; but was also (and this was most important to me) rooted in community.   By himself, this man could not live, but within the community he could both live and thrive - and spread his peace throughout the community.  The same is with us – our ability to spread peace is rooted in being with our God and with others in our mutual brokenness; by loving others freely; and by being a part of a community. 

Second, Henri ends his meditation on peace with a Hasidic (Jewish) story that really tells the truth in a great way.   A rabbi asked his students:  “How can we determine the hour of dawn, when the night ends and the day begins?”  One of the rabbi’s students suggested: “When from a distance you can distinguish between a dog and a sheep?”  “No,” was the answer of the rabbi.  “Is it when one can distinguish between a fig tree and a grapevine?” asked a second student.  “No,” the rabbi said.  “Please tell us the answer then,” said the students.  “It is then,” said the wise teacher, “when you can look into the face of another human being and you have enough light in you to recognize your brother or your sister.  Until then it is night, and darkness is still with us.” 

Darkness is still with us today.  As Henri says, “Let us pray for the light.  It is the peace the world cannot give.” 

(Image courtesy of http://new-yorkled.imagekind.com)

Bucket List

I'm currently at grad school taking a class in human and faith development.  Today, we watched "The Bucket List", a movie starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson.  In the movie, both men are older and are told they have terminal cancer with a certain amount of time left to live.  They develop a "bucket list" of things they want to do before they die - skydive, see something majestic, laugh until they cry, the list goes on.  So, they take off together to try to fulfill all the things on this list.  Jack's character is very wealthy so he is easily able to finance the trip.  As they are sitting at the top of one of Egypt's great Pyramids, Morgan's character tells Jack's character that the Egyptians believed that when you go to heaven, before you are allowed entrance, you are asked two questions.  Your answers to those questions determine whether you enter or are turned away.  The questions:

1.  Have you experienced joy in your life?

2.  Have you given joy to others in your life? 

These two questions struck me - and still do as I write this.  They are actually not a bad way to think about living your life.  Everyone needs joy.  Maybe not all the time, maybe not even every day, but I believe everyone needs to experience joy at some point in their life.  As my professor noted, it's not the same as being happy.  Joy is deeper, more grounded, more fulfilling.  And, as a Christian, God tells us to share the gifts we have been given.  Joy is a gift, and it is a gift well worth sharing.  So - for myself, I'm going to be thinking about these two questions more as I go through life.  "Is this something that could give someone joy, or is this something that could give someone pain?"  If it could give someone pain, is it really worth doing?  Maybe it is.  Doctors often have to hurt patients while they heal them, especially those with cancer.  But, if I have a choice between joy and pain, I will definitely try as best I can to choose and practice joy.

Interpreter Workshop May 7, 2010 in Urbana

St Patrick Parish in Urbana, IL is hosting an interpreter workshop Saturday, May 7, 2011 from 9 am to 4 pm.  Sue Gudenkauf, a truly gifted interpreter from Madison, WI, will be the instructor and has agreed to stay and interpret the 5 pm Mass at St Patrick's after the workshop.  CEU's have been approved by RID - see flyer for details.  Please pass this information on to others who might be interested. 

Download Liturgical_Interpreting_Workshop_flyer_05-07-11(2)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

March 17, as just about everyone in the Western world knows, is St. Patrick's Day.  St Patrick was born in Scotland and taken to Ireland as a slave as a teenaged boy.  He later escaped from his captors and fled to Britain, where he was reunited with his family.  He had a dream about the people of Ireland, who begged him to come back to their country.  So - he studied and became a priest, and was later ordained a bishop.  After becoming a bishop, Patrick went back to Ireland.  At that time, it was ruled by many pagan tribes with various chieftains.  He was able to convert the chieftains and tribes to Christianity and built many churches all over Ireland.  He died on March 17, 461.  In Catholic tradition, we always celebrate feast days of saints on the day they died, not the day they were born.  We do this because the day they died is the same day they were "born into eternal life" - Heaven!  Talk about a great birthday to celebrate! 

Patrick is famous for using the shamrock to teach about the trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and is also said to have chased all the snakes out of Ireland!  To this day, Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and we are happy to celebrate his feast day! 

Blizzards and God

As I write this, Champaign-Urbana is in the midst of what some are calling "Snowmageddon".  It's a very dangerous winter storm.  We have already had freezing rain, some of which started yesterday, and sleet.  Snow is on the way and is to continue tomorrow.  Schools have closed (even in Chicago!), and even the medical clinics here in town have announced they are closing tomorrow so their employees can stay home and be safe. (The hospitals will, of course, still be open and have staff!)

So - what does all this have to do with God?  Well, God created the Earth and everything in it, including the seas and other things that affect our weather patterns.  Once he was done, he proclaimed everything "Good"!  Humans have, of course, had a significant effect on some things that affect our weather patterns but there are still things in nature that can have a pretty big effect on things here in the Midwest.  I've read that sometimes an event that is very small in the Pacific Ocean can start a process that causes a big rainstorm or event across the US. 

And so it goes with God.  Sometimes the smallest event in our lives, something as simple as a beautiful sunset or how beautiful the trees look covered with ice, can have a profound effect on how we feel about Him.  We often notice the "big events" more - the graduations, the new jobs or babies, the marriages - just as we tend to notice the "big weather events" more.  But, God can sometimes speak even more eloquently to us in those still, small moments when it's "just Him and me". 

For those of you in the Midwest, then in the East as the storm moves, please stay safe during this storm.  Do NOT go out and travel unless you absolutely have to.  If you do, PLEASE drive responsibly and keep plenty of space between yourself and everyone else.

For those of you NOT in the Midwest, please pray for us! 

NCOD Pastoral Week

Every year, the National Catholic Office of the Deaf (NCOD) hosts a Pastoral Week conference during Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend.  The purpose of the weekend is to bring together those who are working in Deaf ministry so that we can help each other and learn from each other.  This year, the conference is in Atlanta and celebrates the 40TH BIRTHDAY of NCOD!  i am very excited that I am going to be there.  We will be discussing many important topics, including the upcoming changes in the Roman Missal and how to make sure that the Deaf community (and the interpreters) know what's coming up.  It should be a very fun and informative weekend - I will be blogging when I can so that everyone can stay up to date. 

I expect we will also have some sort of memorial to remember two very important people that our community lost this year:  NANCY HUBER and MONIQUE MOULTON.  Nancy served the Deaf community in Chicago for many, many years before dying of complications from cancer.  Monique served the Deaf community in Louisiana for a number of years, and had a Masters in Pastoral Ministry (Deaf Ministry emphasis) from St. Thomas University.  She also served on the Board of NCOD.  There are others members of our national Deaf community who, I'm sure, have gone home to God this year.  We will remember them all and give thanks for their gifts and service. 

Please pray for safe travels for all who attend NCOD and hope that we will all work together for the greater glory of God! 

Why did Christ Come???

I'm so fortunate to be able to learn from other people on the Internet.  Father Joe Mulcrone, of the Catholic Office of the Deaf in Chicago (and St. Francis Borgia parish), posted the following meditation on his blog.  It is a reflection originally written in Spanish, "Todos Los Dias Nace El Senor (Every Day the Lord is Born)" by Juan Antonio Espinosa and translated into English by Fr. Kevin Hays:

"For this darkened world, the Lord in born; to conquer darkness, the Lord is born; to change our life,everyday the Lord is born.

To bring us freedom, the Lord is born; to smash our chains, the Lord is born; in each person who is free, everyday the Lord is born.
To take away oppression, the Lord is born; to wipe out injustice, the Lord is born; in those people who cry out, everyday the Lord is born.
To conquer poverty, the Lord is born; for the poor who suffer, the Lord is born; for the equality of the poor, everyday the Lord is born.
To bring us peace, the Lord is born; for a bleeding world, the Lord is born; for each person who struggles, everyday the Lord is born.
To bring us love, the Lord is born; to conquer selfishness, the Lord is born; to take us by the hand, everyday the Lord is born.
For a sleeping world, the Lord is born; to disturb our lives, the Lord is born; in each person who hopes,everyday the Lord is born."

I was very moved by this meditation because it reminds me that the Lord was not just born a little over 2,000 years ago.  He's born everyday, right now, to help with all of these "impossible" causes, dreams and hopes.  As Father Joe noted, it is easy to lose sight of the "real purpose" of Christmas in all of the hustle and bustle of the presents, the tree, the decorations, the parties, the toys.  This meditation reminds us of the TRUE meaning of the Incarnation.

I'm also reminded that "Emmanuel" means "God with us" - God is with us in our struggles, in our troubles, in our triumphs, and in our everyday lives.  He takes "us by the hand" to lead us through this life - IF we let Him.  I've had some health challenges recently and they have brought home to me how much I truly miss God if I don't make the time and space for Him.  For this next year, let's try to remember to make time for the Lord, to recognize the God-with-us, and give thanks for his presence.