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NEWSLETTER
Xavier Society for the Blind
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Vol. 4 No. 3
April 2012
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| WHAT'S NEW AT XSB!!!!
I am currently reading Blind Courage, by Bill Irwin, about his adventures as he walked the full length of the Appalachian Trail. It is especially exciting because he is completely blind. It is another instance of the truth that a blind person can do anything a sighted person can, with the proper training and equipment. And in his case, really good boots and dry socks.
I will be going to Rome the first week in May, to be present at an audience with the Holy Father, and perhaps I will have the opportunity to present him with the Gospels in braille. I am also presenting a paper at a Vatican conference, and I will have a full report in our next e-Newsletter.
This issue has news of our upcoming event at the NY Athletic Club. The Online Auction is live, and you can bid on items right now. Some items will be sold online, and others will be available at the NYAC - but even if you're not attending, you can bid. Details available on the auction site.
One of our volunteers was received in the Church this past Easter, and we wanted to share that news with you as well.
Thank you for being a friend of the Xavier Society for the Blind.
Our web address is:
www.xaviersocietyfortheblind.org
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JOIN US AT THE NYAC
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Are you superstitious? For many people, the number 13 is actually lucky. Fr. John, for instance, was born on a Friday the 13th, was ordained a priest on June 13th, and of course, December 13 is the feast day of St. Lucy, patron saint of the blind.
This year we will celebrate the 13th time we come together for an elegant reception at the New York Athletic Club, to celebrate the work of (and raise money for) the Xavier Society for the Blind. The reception includes a Silent Auction, and there are drinks, munchies, wonderful jazz music and occasional live singers, and the chance to be with interesting people. In past years there have been raffles, door prizes, and even guest celebrities dropping in to liven things up. We're not telling you everything - but it is shaping up to be an excellent party!
It all takes place the day after Mother's Day, and what better way to celebrate than to give your wife or mother a ticket to this special event. Tickets are $125 per person ($50 is tax-deductible) and may be purchased by phone, through our web site, or by going directly to the link at the bottom of this article. Formal invitations have been mailed. If you did not get one, please don't hesitate to let us know and one will be sent out. But you can come without the invitation. So mark your calendars, save the date, and make your plans, so you don't miss this annual - and very lucky - event. If you don't want to wait for the invitation, use this link to go directly to the page where you can order your tickets for the event: http://bit.ly/xpvU1q (You may need to paste this link into your browser in order to be taken to the ordering page.) |
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WELCOMING A NEW CATHOLIC
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Laura Yung, a volunteer in the Development and Transcription departments, was received into the Catholic Church at Holy Innocents Parish, located in New York's historic Garment District, on Holy Saturday April 7th. The pastor of Holy Innocents, Father Thomas Kallamudy, who also instructed Laura in the parish's RCIA program, administered the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and first Holy Communion in a beautiful and well attended ceremony.
Laura's sponsor was Manuel Albino, XSB's Direc t Mail Manager, who helped her along the way in her preparation by answering her many questions about the Church. Among others present at the ceremony was Laura's dear friend Edgar Erickson.
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Wounded Warrior to Win Free Trip
to the National Convention of the
NFB
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LAST CALL!!!
The National Association of Blind Veterans (NABV), a division of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), has announced a free lottery for wounded warriors who have lost their sight during Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. The winner will receive a free trip to Dallas, Texas, to attend the national convention of the NFB, which will take place from June 30-July 5, 2012.
The first prize will include airfare to the convention for the winner and a companion, hotel accommodations, the convention registration fee and a banquet ticket, and the opportunity to meet and spend time with a whole organization of blind veterans. Entry to the contest is available on the National Association of Blind Veterans Web site and there is no charge to enter. Only one entry per person is permitted.
For more information about the contest or the National Association of Blind Veterans, please visit
http://www.nabv.org
or call Dwight Sayer at (407) 877-8668.
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CLOSING THOUGHTS
In May I will be going back to Rome, to present a paper at a conference at the Vatican on the problems of blindness and how Church agencies around the world are responding to the factors that cause blindness, and how they are working with those who have lost their sight. I also hope to be able to present a special braille edition of the Holy Gospels to Pope Benedict XVI.
When I return it will be to help put together the final touches on the Silent Auction and the Reception at the New York Athletic Club on May 14th.
It is no news to anyone that times are tough, and will probably remain so in the immediate future. Contributions continue to be critical, and the success of the event in May is very important. And we may be faced with having to take more measures in the future. We are very grateful for the support that we have received from so many people in the past, and we continue to pray each day for the new challenges that may come in the future.
In the meantime, though, we continue to spread the word about the Xavier Society for the Blind. I am still available to help out at local parishes, and to talk to groups about what we are doing. I am pleased to speak at schools, luncheons or service organizations on what I learned from my training about the many things blind people can do, a presentation that is funny, educational and perhaps even inspirational. There is no charge, so if you know of a school or group or service organization that would enjoy something different, please don't hesitate to have them contact me.
If you know someone who could use our services, please recommend us to them. Visit our web site, "like" us on Facebook, 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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| OUR WEB SITE | |
The web site for the Xavier Society for the Blind was made possible by a generous grant from the Order 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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FACTS ABOUT THE XSB
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"Another Fund-Raiser? Your organization should have LOTS of money by now. I can't afford to go to the New York Athletic Club."
OK - there are actually three questions there. Yes, we are having a fund-raiser, but it is also a tribute to a great Jesuit who was associated with our organization when he died, Fr. Joe Latella, SJ. He was working to help raise money, and even though he had throat cancer, and when he returned from the hospital he couldn't really talk any more, he came to the office every day. His generosity of spirit and his caring for others is still remembered and celebrated. In what we do, Fr. Joe's spirit is very much with us, and so this event celebrates him, and hopefully, helps to raise money.
Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of money. In fact, like many non-profits today, we're hurting. We don't charge for our services, and so the money we receive as gifts tends to get spent pretty quickly.
We are not the only ones hurting today, and I know there are many people who cannot afford to come to an event at the NY Athletic Club. You CAN go online and bid on items; you can buy an owl or a CD; or you can just send us a gift. Ten gifts of $10 carry the same weight as one gift of $100. Whatever YOU can afford to give is a lovely gesture of support for our work, and we are VERY grateful.
To learn more about how you can get involved with the Xavier Society for the Blind, how you can help spread the word, 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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| BE OUR FRIEND | 
The Xavier Society for the Blind is on Facebook, and we would like you to be our "Friend." Find us, and "like" us. It helps us get more exposure, and if you "share" some of our news items or articles with your FB friends, more and more people will learn about us and what we do. (And it won't cost us anything! Or you either.)
You can help spread the word about who we are and what we do without ever leaving home. Thank you for helping us, and sharing us with your friends.
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SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!!
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The Kilted Chef again offers a privately catered dinner for 6 as one of the items in our auction for 2012.
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Beautiful scarves from Hermes, gift certificates at some of New York's finest and most unusual restaurants, tickets to theatre, concerts and sporting events, original ballots from the Heisman awards, Notre Dame memorabilia, a signed Marcel Marceau poster from his last public appearance, a cashmere sweater trimmed with Rex fur from Peter Duffy furs, Russian plates from Leningrad Pottery - these are only some of the items we already have for the 2012 Auction.
Some items will be sold on line - some will only be available at the event on May 14th - and some will start the bidding on line but will be available for additional bidding at the event. (Last year, some of the most exciting items went to on line bidders.)
 | | A Lalique vase, valued at over $2,500, is one of the auction items available. |
Tickets to the event are now available on line, or by calling our office. On line bidding started on April 9th, and will run until May 4th. Bidders may indicate how they are willing to bid once the online auction closes, and they can thus take part in the event bidding without having to be present.
The On Line auction may be reached at:
www.Biddingforgood.com/xaviersociety
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THE NEW TESTAMENT COMES ALIVE
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Produced by Raymond Arroyo (NY Times bestselling author, broadcast journalist) and Carl Amari (award-winning radio show producer), Truth & Life is a dramatized reading of the New Testament involving over 70 actors. This 18-CD 22-hour series brings the New Testament to life in a wholly new and captivating way.
This production has been endorsed by the Vatican, bears the imprimatur of the archbishop of New York, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, and includes a special forward by Pope Benedict XVI.
Through a special arrangement with the producers, we are able to offer this extraordinary edition to you as a Thank You gift for any contribution of $75 or more between now and July. (This only applies to gifts made after March 17, 2012.)
You can sign up for this special offer by going to the following link
or by indicating with your check that you wish a copy of Truth & Life.
This is a limited offer, so please don't wait too long, or you may miss out on receiving this very special way of hearing the words of the New Testament in a new and thrilling way.
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THIS JUST IN!!!
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Just as we were getting ready to send this out, another contribution to the auction arrived: "Taxi!" a 16x20 pastel on sanded paper by Camille Cacciatore Savitz.
She has been a regular contributor to our event the last several years, and her paintings have always drawn spirited bidding. Camille is a prolific artist, but also a well-known cabaret singer around New York.
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UPCOMING EVENTS Friday, May 4 - Online Auction closes. All bids must be in by 4 PM EDT.
May 4-5 - Vatican Conference in Rome. Fr. John presenting a paper.
May 8 - Staten Island Rotary. Fr. John is the Guest speaker.
Monday, May 14 - Reception and Silent Auction at the New York Athletic Club June 8/9 - Seminar at National Federation of the Blind Baltimore, Maryland Inclusive Publishing and eBook Distribution July 1-5 - National Convention in Dallas National Federation of the Blind |
July 6 - 13 - National Convention in Louisville
American Council of the Blind
August 20-23 - National Convention in Galveston
Blinded Veterans Association
August 24-30 - National Convention in Indianapolis
American Legion
For more information on these or any events, please contact our office or check our web site.
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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
16 of your favorite sacred songs, including Ave Maria, O Holy Night, Panis Angelicus and How Great Thou Art.
 The Several Sides of Father John
Includes operatic arias, Broadway show tunes with full
orchestral accompaniment, and the song Fr. John's father
sang to his new bride at their wedding breakfast.
Father John LIVE in Concert
Recorded at several live concerts in different places, the
songs reflect the electricity of live performance,
with Fr. John singing in 8 different languages.
 Amo, Amas, Amat Have Yourself A LATIN Little Christmas
19 Christmas carols, all sung in Latin, including not only
"traditional" favorites but also Frosty the Snowman,
Rudolph and White Christmas. A word book is included
so you can sing along (and there is a braille version available as well).
Fr. John is joined by soprano Christina Holms, pianist Woody Regan,
jazz guitarist Bill Wurtzel, and cellist Marisol Lynch.
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Go to: www.xaviersocietyfortheblind.org
(Go to the "Contributions" page)
or call (212) 473-7800 to place your orders.
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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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