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NEWSLETTER
Xavier Society for the Blind
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Vol. 4 No. 5
May 2012
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| WHAT'S NEW AT XSB!!!!
In this issue there is a report on Father John's trip to Rome, a special dinner with Cardinals Dolan and O'Brien, the woman who was the bride at Fr. Joe Latella's first wedding, Fr. Groeschel exchanges notes with Fr. John, and a reminder of our upcoming Reception and Silent Auction at the New York Athletic Club.
Thank you for being a friend of the Xavier Society for the Blind.
Our web address is:
www.xaviersocietyfortheblind.org
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A TRIP TO ROME
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When the US Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a new translation of the Bible, it meant that the Xavier Society for the Blind had to produce a new version of the text in all three formats: braille, audio and large-print. At the same time, we decided to have a special edition of the 4 Gospels made in braille. The Holy Father, Benedict XVI, has often spoken of the need to make God's Word available to all people, especially those who need special help to receive it. We thought it would be an important gesture of support to give the Holy Father a sample of braille Scripture.
Fr. John was invited to take part in a conference and deliver a paper at the Vatican sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers on Ecclesial Concern for Unsighted Persons. Since he would be going to Rome for the conference, it seemed a perfect opportunity to make the presentation.
On Wednesday, May 2nd, Fr. John was presented to the Holy Father, and had the chance to say a few words about the Xavier Society, and what we have been doing. Later in the week, in front of the 300 delegates from 45 different countries, he had the chance to make a longer presentation about our work, and the problems of the blind and visually impaired in the U.S.
 | The vice-president of one of the Italian blind associations make a contribution from the audience.
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A number of blind people were present, both as presenters and audience members.
One of the presentations outlined a special exhibit at the museum of Mantua that lets the blind touch exhibits, including being able to feel paintings with the aid of a special three-dimensional reproduction.
 | | Here is what the picture looks like to the sighted person. |
 | | Here you can see the three dimensional version that has been added over the painting, so the blind can feel the display. |
A longer and more personal description of the trip is available on Fr. John's blog www.frjohn.blogspot.com |
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MEETING INTERESTING PEOPLE
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 | | Fr. John and Fr. Groeschel take time out to pose for a picture. |
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Going out into the community to talk about the Xavier Society for the Blind, and to support the activities of friends of the Society, often lets us meet interesting and inspiring people.
Father John was at a Communion breakfast in March that was run by the Knights of Columbus. Father Benedict Groeschel was the homilist at the Mass and the speaker at the breakfast. He and Fr. John had a chance to talk during the breakfast, and exchanged a lot of good ideas.
 At another breakfast, this time in April and sponsored by Catholic War Veterans, Fr. John had the chance to talk to the whole group about the Xavier Society for the Blind. Afterwards a woman came up to introduce herself and said that she and her husband were the first couple that a young Fr. Joe Latella ever married.
Since both Cardinal Dolan and Cardinal O'Brien are members of the New York Athletic Club, a special dinner was held in their honor on April 30th. Cardinal Dolan has been a supporter of the work of the XSB since he came to New York, and while Cardinal O'Brien more recently has been in Baltimore, he was Fr. Sheehan's Superior when Fr. John was a chaplain  at an Army base in the South Pacific. Fr. John had been in Rome for their elevation, and at this party, he had the chance to present Cardinal O'Brien with a special 9-11 commemorative coin on behalf of the American Legion.
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CLOSING THOUGHTS
Getting to meet the Pope personally is a great honor, and being asked to take part in an international conference at the Vatican is as well. (I confess, for a while I thought they had made a mistake, and I kept waiting for the letter telling me not to come.) But to tell the truth, the greatest honor I have, next to being able to celebrate Mass, is being able to help provide the Word of God to people who otherwise might not be able to receive it.
As I send this out, we are in the final days of preparing for our annual event at the New York Athletic Club. It is the biggest single event we have for fund-raising, and this year perhaps more than ever, we pray that many people will be inspired to come out and to support the XSB.
Not all of our efforts are as dramatic as meeting the Pope or as elegant as a party at the NY Athletic Club. More often, our celebrations involve potato chips and diet soda, and our projects involve a lot of carrying of boxes. But the goal of all these activities is the same, to spread the word of what we do, and to help find ways to do it better.
In the meantime, though, we continue to spread the word about the Xavier Society for the Blind. I regularly help out at local parishes, and 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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JOIN US AT THE NYAC
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In a very few days - Monday, May 14th, as a matter of fact - one of the great annual events for the Xavier Society for the Blind will be taking place at the New York Athletic Club.
 Thirteen years ago, Fr. Joe Latella was trying to help raise money for the XSB, and a group of his friends at the NYAC wanted to help him out, so they had a cocktail party to help encourage people to contribute.
Over the years the event has grown, and now is not just a party but also includes a Silent Auction, raffles, and more recently, all accompanied by the gentle jazz of Bill Wurtzel.
 Tickets are $125, and are available by phone, online through the web site, or by clicking on the link at the end of this article. If you are coming and want to buy your tickets at the door, PLEASE call us or send an email and tell us, so we know how many to plan for. If you can't come, you can still support the event with a contribution. Some people buy a ticket so that we can invite clients who might not otherwise be able to come.  The date is May 14th, and the auction items are ready, the musicians are prepared and the cooks and bartenders are all set. All we need is you. Please come and join the fun, get some good bargains, and help the Xavier Society all at the same time. Again, you can 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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FACTS ABOUT THE XSB
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"Father John went to Rome? I thought the Xavier Society needed money for its programs. How can you afford to spend that kind of money?"
Certainly anyone who donates money to an organization wants to be sure that their gift is going to support the work involved. Fr. John was invited to go to Rome to take part in the conference, and the Pontifical Council that invited him also paid for his trip, and for his accommodations while he was in Rome.
One of the goals of the Xavier Society for the Blind is to spread awareness that we exist, but also to educate people about the needs of the blind community, and the many accomplishments of its members. It is also important for us to keep abreast of the latest medical and technological developments. As we work with those who are blind or with limited vision, it is important that we have access to the latest information and resources.
Being able to present the Holy Father with the gospels in braille helps make the use and importance of braille more evident to sighted people. Taking part in the two-day conference helped inform the delegates from 45 countries of our work, and at the same time, it made sure we were informed about the latest developments in medicine and technology. For the cost of transportation to and from the airport, that seems to us to be not only a necessary trip but a pretty good investment.
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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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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AUCTION ITEMS
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Here is a last look at some of the special items we will have available at the Silent Auction on May 14th.
Three sets of original ballots from the Heisman Award elections. Three with Notre Dame winners (Lattner, Hornung and Huarte), Army (Blanchard, Davis and Dawkins) and Navy (Bellino and Staubach). A poster signed by Marcel Marceau. A Fa berge crystal egg (with documentation in the original box) A special visit to an exclusive shooting club, including instruction. Certificates for Sardi's, the Glass House, the Boat House (with a gondola ride), Rosie O'Grady's, Neary's and several other elegant eateries.  A chance to have a professional singer come and sing at your party or special event.
A special workshop with Bill Wurtzel, on how to make your breakfasts fun and very different. And sports items, including tickets to the U.S. Open, an autographed football, as well as jewelry, fashions, art, food and things that are just plain fun. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS MAY 14 - THE 13TH ANNUAL RECEPTION AND SILENT AUCTION
IN HONOR OF FR. JOSEPH LATELLA, SJ New York Athletic Club - 5:30 - 8 PM Tickets $125 per person 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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