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NEWSLETTER
Xavier Society for the Blind
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Vol. 2 No. 10
October 2011
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 NFL Super Bowl Raffle
We are again a designated charity for the NFL, and are participating in the Super Bowl Raffle.
First prize is airfare for two people to the 2012 Super Bowl, two tickets to the Super Bowl, four nights in a hotel and two tickets to the Hall of Fame Alumni Dinner, with at least one Hall of Fame player at each table.
Second Prize is $1,000 in cash.
Third Prize is $500 in cash.
There are only 250 tickets available,
and they are $100 apiece.
Tickets may be purchased on our web site
(Go to the "Contributions" page)
or by calling our office
(212) 473-7800
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WHAT'S NEW AT XSB!!!!
As you can see above, the final tickets in the NFL Super Bowl Raffle are on sale, and going fast. The first round of our online yard sale has ended, but we have added a whole new series of items to make it more and more interesting. Some are gently used, like you'd find in a real garage sale - and some are of exquisite quality, that you'd find in high class shops and museums. Visit www.biddingforgood.com/xaviersociety and
see if you find something you like. It's never too early to start shopping for Christmas.
Before Christmas comes St. Lucy's Feast, and we will again be celebrating a special Mass in her honor at St. Patrick's Cathedral. On December 10, the Saturday before the feast, we will be hosting a special concert at Scandinavia House in Manhattan, at 4 PM.
If you're looking for a special gift or stocking stuffer, you can always "adopt" an owl (we have two different kinds available) and our four CDs are available on line, especially our Christmas album Amo, Amas, Amat - Have Yourself A LATIN Little Christmas!
Mark your calendars!
Our web address is:
www.xaviersocietyfortheblind.org
You can keep up with the latest news of the Xavier Society at our web site, as well as making donations, buying NFL Raffle tickets and registering for events like the December concert. One more time, the web address is:
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END OF SUMMER GOLF OUTING
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 | | Dick Morris gets ready for the first tee. We think the "hidden" golfer in the cart is Domenic Guastaferro, but we're not sure. |
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On the last full day of summer, the Xavier Society for the Blind hosted an "End of Summer" Golf Outing at the Split Rock golf course at Pelham Bay. Golfers gathered for a light brunch, goody bags and keeping anxious eyes on an overcast sky and grey clouds.  | |
Cedric Jones shows the form that made him Long Drive Champion for the day.
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But the day passed with no rain, cool and pleasant weather, we had a terrific course, great food, and raffle and of course, prizes. Some non-golfers even came just for lunch, to enjoy the company and show their support for the Xavier Society for the Blind.  | |
James Mullarkey (right), State Commander of the Catholic War Veterans, and Paul Cluskey, Adjutant, came to join us for lunch.
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Cedric Jones won the Longest Drive Contest, Dick Morris had Closest to the Pin, and the Longest Putt went to Rick Nelson. The team with the lowest score was made up of Jeff Ellis, Kevin Murphy, Terry Scanlin, and Tom Wiebold.
 | FORE! It was a beautiful day for golf and the course was in terrific shape.
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 | | Lots of people won lots of prizes, including Kate McConnell of Catholic Charities, which was the Cart Sponsor for the event. |
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CLOSING THOUGHTS As I write these words, I have just returned from my annual retreat. It is a great gift to be able to go away for some days of prayer and silence. One of the graces of retreat is that it reminds me to pay attention to what is truly important. As it says in one of our Jesuit documents, "Remember that what is most urgent is not always what is most important." We deal with many things each day, and it is important that we always keep in mind what is most important. How we spend our time, how we spend our money, where we focus our energies - we should always ask ourselves and always be aware - What is really most important? A reminder that I am available to help out at local parishes, to help spread the word about what the Xavier Society is doing. In the same way, I am also available to speak at schools, luncheons or service organizations on aspects of being blind, a presentation that is funny, educational and perhaps even inspirational. There is no charge, so if you know of a school or group (Rotary? Lions Club?) that would enjoy having something different, please don't hesitate to have them contact me. If you would like to volunteer, or would just like to learn more about what we do, please feel free to call us, send an e-mail or a letter, or drop in for a personal visit. If you know someone who could use our services, please recommend us to them. Visit our web site, and thank you for being a friend of the Xavier Society for the Blind. Sincerely,
 | | I am also Chaplain for American Legion Post 2001, the 9-11 Memorial Post. |
Fr. John R. Sheehan, SJ Xavier Society for the Blind Phone: (212) 473-7800 |
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CONDOLENCES
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We announce with regret the death of Patricia Corey, mother of Executive Director Kathleen Lynch.
Patricia A. Corey, age 83, of Oak Bluffs and Falmouth died on Monday, September 26, 2011 at Royal Nursing Center in Falmouth. She was the beloved wife of Henry Corey who predeceased her in 2010.
We extend our sympathy to Kathleen and all her family.
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WE'RE ON YELP!!
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We're not a restaurant or a hotel or even a tourist attraction. But if you would like to write a review on how we're doing, we are on Yelp, the online service that provides reviews.
Go to the Yelp site (www.yelp.com) and search for Xavier Society and it will take you to the place where you can write a review or make a comment.
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| OUR WEB SITE | |
The web site for the Xavier Society for the Blind was made possible by a generous grant from the Knights of Malta, and we thank them for their support of our work.
The web site is designed to be accessible to screen reading programs, and those who have registered with the XSB have a special section where they can make address changes, order books from the library and download or sign up to receive periodicals. For more information on how to register, or how to get online, contact
clientservices@xaviersocietyfortheblind.org
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FALL CLEARANCE SALE
|  We're cleaning our storerooms! People have donated items to us, and we are thrilled with their generosity. So instead of waiting until next Spring, we are having an online auction to help balance our budget. And if you do not want to wait through the tension of an auction, many items have a Buy Now price, so you can simply buy the item you want to own for your very own.
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FACTS ABOUT THE XSB
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"I was reading an obituary the other day, and and it said that instead of flowers, friends of the deceased could send money to the Xavier Society for the Blind. Why would someone do that?"
It is a wonderful thing that people who have been our friends and supporters when they were alive want to help us even after they have died.
Some people leave us money in their wills, and to be perfectly honest, those bequests have been very important to us in recent years. Instead of flowers at a funeral, some people ask their friends to give money to a favorite charity. We are delighted when people mention us, and we do our best to honor the memory of the person who was our friend and supporter when they were alive.
Some people choose to remember their loved ones by dedicating a book in our library in their name, or sponsoring an edition of our periodicals, or by donating money for a memorial in our building or to help underwrite a particular project.
If any of these is of interest to you, for yourself or on behalf of someone you love, please don't hesitate to give us a call and get more information.
To learn more about how you can get involved with the Xavier Society for the Blind, or to get more information about what we are doing and providing, please visit our web site at:
www.xaviersocietyfortheblind.org or for more specific information or questions (or to volunteer), send us an email at:
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VETERANS OUTREACH PROGRAM
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Since 2010, the Xavier Society for the Blind has embarked on a strategic initiative to serve a "forgotten" audience of both recently disabled as well as aging Veterans. "Don't Lose Sight of God!" is the theme behind our efforts. Reaching out to this admittedly niche audience is consistent with our mission to provide specialized encouragement and support, in this case to Veterans with vision impairments.
After the trauma, first you cry. Then you realize that there can be productive life after blindness or significant vision loss. It is now apparent to all of us that most visually impaired people today can do just about anything sighted people can do, albeit with a lot more effort and, perhaps, some assistance.
An eye-opening statistic: From now to the year 2020, the Veterans Administration estimates there will be over 1 million Veterans with significant visual impairment and legal blindness. Since 9/11, the number of Disabled Veterans in America has swelled from 2.1 to 3 million. 38% of Veterans of the Global War on Terror have filed disability claims. Currently, there are 157,000 Veterans in the United States who are legally blind. Veterans of previous wars are suffering from age-related macular degeneration, a chronic condition causing vision loss.
Eye injuries account for 13% of injuries to Veterans returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, where the "improvised explosive device" is the enemy's weapon of choice. About 60-70% of severe and moderate traumatic brain injury cases also include some form of visual impairment. VA statistics indicate that there will be a sustained need for services and assistance even 40 years from now.
The Xavier Society is in the forefront of bringing this problem to national attention with its participation in the Department of Defense Wounded Warrior Task Force, and by liaison with the major national Veterans organizations, including the Catholic War Veterans, the National Association of Blind Veterans, Visually Impaired Veterans of America and the American Legion. This is our contribution to the war effort and to the on-going support of those injured on the front lines while defending our freedom.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS | |
OCTOBER 28- Mass of Thanksgiving and
Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
DECEMBER 3 - Feast of St. Francis Xavier
DECEMBER 8 - A Holiday Concert
Council Senior Center
241 W. 72nd St
1:30 PM - Suggested Donation $10
DECEMBER 10 - A Concert in Honor of St. Lucy
Scandinavia House - 4:00 PM
DECEMBER 13 - Mass for the Feast of St. Lucy,
Patron Saint of the Blind.
St. Patrick's Cathedral, 6:30 PM
DECEMBER 19 - CONCERT FOR THE END OF THE YEAR
NY Public Library, 6:30 PM
5th Avenue and 41st Street
Free Admission
For more information on these or any events, please contact our office or check our web site.
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| Secure Server |
On our web site, we have a secure server connection. This means you can contribute money to the Xavier Society using your credit card in perfect safety. When you get to the web site, there is a button "Donate." If you click on that, you will be taken to the Secure Server area where you can make any contribution in complete safety. (If the server is not working, please call our office at 212 473-7800 and ask for Manuel.)
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Now On
Our Web Site |
The good news is that all four of Father John's CD's are now available on our web site. CDs are $15, or a set of all four for $50. Price includes shipping and handling. You may also order any combination of CDs at a discount of 2 for $25, but we are only able to handle those orders over the phone. Available are:
Father John Sings Sacred Songs
The Several Sides of Father John
 Father John LIVE in Concert 
Amo, Amas, Amat - Have Yourself A LATIN Little Christmas | |
Go to: www.xaviersocietyfortheblind.org (Go to the "Contributions" page) or call (212) 473-7800 to place your orders.
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