Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese REPORT
1 Aug 2012
The only deaf-blind Catholic priest in recorded history, London-based Father Cyril Axelrod, who arrived in Sydney last week, will mark Ephpheta Sunday this weekend with a Mass for the city's deaf community at Punchbowl's Chapel of St France de Sales.
More than 300 are expected to attend the 10.30 am Mass and will later join Fr Cyril for an informal get together and lunch at the Archdiocese of Sydney's Ephpheta Centre.
"Fr Cyril is not only an inspiration to the deaf and hard of hearing, but to everyone who meets him," says Nicole Clark, Hearing Interpreter and Assistant to the Director of the Ephpheta Centre.
Nicole, who is also Chair of the National Committee for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing established by the Australian Catholic Bishop's Conference (ACBC) says the Ephpheta Centre has been working on having Fr Cyril visit Australia for the past year.
"Fr Cyril has a non-stop schedule and works tirelessly for the deaf worldwide. He is in constant demand as a speaker, as well as being a prolific author and renowned for the many associations and schools for the deaf he has established in countries across the world. So when we heard he had agreed to come to Australia we were thrilled," she says and points out that not only is he a wonderful example of the power of faith, he is someone who has never seen his deafness or blindness as a disability or handicap.
"Most people's view of deaf-blindness is that it is unspeakable, unthinkable, unimaginable," he frequently tells those he meets and explains that for him this was never the case. Instead being unable to hear or see offered him a new way of life, a new direction and became "the best teacher of my life."
Nicole points out that most of Sydney's deaf community have never even met a deaf priest, let alone someone like Fr Cyril who is both deaf and blind.
"For all of us but particularly our younger members having Fr Cyril in Sydney is incredibly exciting and gives them a chance not only to feel empowered and see how anything and everything is possible," she says and adds that Fr Cyril also serves as an ongoing reminder of the broadness of the Church and to be open and welcoming to all people no matter what their race, beliefs, abilities or non-abilities.
The 70-year-old South African born Redemptoris priest was born with Usher's Syndrome. This relatively rare genetic condition is initially characterised by hearing loss and later by a gradual loss of vision. In Fr Cyril's case the impact on his sight occurred over many years. Initially he suffered night blindness then a loss of his peripheral vision and as the retina deteriorated further, finally a loss of sight altogether.
Ordained a priest in Johannesburg when he was 28, Fr Cyril now lives in London where he is with the Westminster Diocese working closely with the deaf in Camden town.
Despite celebrating 40 years as a priest two years ago, he continues to travel widely and is fluent in nine languages. Until recently this fluency of language was restricted to the many different sign languages used by the deaf, but advances in technology have changed all that.
These days Fr Cyril uses the latest in Braille communication devices to communicate with the deaf as well as the hearing across the world via the internet, blogs, email and smart phone texts.
He has always strongly believed that disabled people and children are "angels sent from God" to help us learn the valuable lessons of unconditional love, trust, hope,faith and inner peace. And although he is now completely blind, he retains a clear vision for a world of inclusion where the able and disabled live and work together, and learn from each other.
Last weekend he conducted a special retreat for 40 profoundly deaf or hard of hearing members of the Ephpheta Centre at the Chevalier Centre, Kensington.
This weekend on Ephpheta Sunday, 5 August, he will celebrate Mass at St Francis de Sales Church, Punchbowl. In addition Fr Cyril will meet with Deaf Seniors from 10 am until noon today at Burwood. On Friday, 3 August he will meet members of Sydney's Deaf Club at the Parramatta RSL at 7pm and on Thursday, 9 August will join members of the Ephpheta Centre for coffee at the Centre's famous Deaf Cafe. Saturday, 10 August he will be at the Deaf Society and on Sunday 12 August will celebrate Mass for the deaf at Mary Immaculate & St Athanasius Catholic Church, Manly.
In addition next week he will address social justice students from Strathfield's St Patrick's College and Santa Sabina College.
After his three week visit to Sydney, Fr Cyril will spend a week and a half in Melbourne followed by a week in Perth. He will then fly to South Africa to continue his work there with deaf adults and children, schools and churches before finally returning to London.
To find out more about Fr Cyril Axelrod's visit log on to www.ephpheta.org.au
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
1 Aug 2012
Fluent in nine languages,
Fr Cyril signs in Chinese sign
language on a visit to the deaf
in Hong Kong
Fr Cyril signs in Chinese sign
language on a visit to the deaf
in Hong Kong
More than 300 are expected to attend the 10.30 am Mass and will later join Fr Cyril for an informal get together and lunch at the Archdiocese of Sydney's Ephpheta Centre.
"Fr Cyril is not only an inspiration to the deaf and hard of hearing, but to everyone who meets him," says Nicole Clark, Hearing Interpreter and Assistant to the Director of the Ephpheta Centre.
Nicole, who is also Chair of the National Committee for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing established by the Australian Catholic Bishop's Conference (ACBC) says the Ephpheta Centre has been working on having Fr Cyril visit Australia for the past year.
"Fr Cyril has a non-stop schedule and works tirelessly for the deaf worldwide. He is in constant demand as a speaker, as well as being a prolific author and renowned for the many associations and schools for the deaf he has established in countries across the world. So when we heard he had agreed to come to Australia we were thrilled," she says and points out that not only is he a wonderful example of the power of faith, he is someone who has never seen his deafness or blindness as a disability or handicap.
Fr Cyril Axelrod will
celebrate Mass
in Sydney
on Ephpheta Sunday
this weekend
celebrate Mass
in Sydney
on Ephpheta Sunday
this weekend
Nicole points out that most of Sydney's deaf community have never even met a deaf priest, let alone someone like Fr Cyril who is both deaf and blind.
"For all of us but particularly our younger members having Fr Cyril in Sydney is incredibly exciting and gives them a chance not only to feel empowered and see how anything and everything is possible," she says and adds that Fr Cyril also serves as an ongoing reminder of the broadness of the Church and to be open and welcoming to all people no matter what their race, beliefs, abilities or non-abilities.
The 70-year-old South African born Redemptoris priest was born with Usher's Syndrome. This relatively rare genetic condition is initially characterised by hearing loss and later by a gradual loss of vision. In Fr Cyril's case the impact on his sight occurred over many years. Initially he suffered night blindness then a loss of his peripheral vision and as the retina deteriorated further, finally a loss of sight altogether.
Father Cyril Axelrod after a meeting
with Pope Benedict XVI is led
across St Peter's Square
with Pope Benedict XVI is led
across St Peter's Square
Despite celebrating 40 years as a priest two years ago, he continues to travel widely and is fluent in nine languages. Until recently this fluency of language was restricted to the many different sign languages used by the deaf, but advances in technology have changed all that.
These days Fr Cyril uses the latest in Braille communication devices to communicate with the deaf as well as the hearing across the world via the internet, blogs, email and smart phone texts.
He has always strongly believed that disabled people and children are "angels sent from God" to help us learn the valuable lessons of unconditional love, trust, hope,faith and inner peace. And although he is now completely blind, he retains a clear vision for a world of inclusion where the able and disabled live and work together, and learn from each other.
Last weekend he conducted a special retreat for 40 profoundly deaf or hard of hearing members of the Ephpheta Centre at the Chevalier Centre, Kensington.
This weekend on Ephpheta Sunday, 5 August, he will celebrate Mass at St Francis de Sales Church, Punchbowl. In addition Fr Cyril will meet with Deaf Seniors from 10 am until noon today at Burwood. On Friday, 3 August he will meet members of Sydney's Deaf Club at the Parramatta RSL at 7pm and on Thursday, 9 August will join members of the Ephpheta Centre for coffee at the Centre's famous Deaf Cafe. Saturday, 10 August he will be at the Deaf Society and on Sunday 12 August will celebrate Mass for the deaf at Mary Immaculate & St Athanasius Catholic Church, Manly.
Fr Cyril's books are as
inpsiring as the man himself
inpsiring as the man himself
After his three week visit to Sydney, Fr Cyril will spend a week and a half in Melbourne followed by a week in Perth. He will then fly to South Africa to continue his work there with deaf adults and children, schools and churches before finally returning to London.
To find out more about Fr Cyril Axelrod's visit log on to www.ephpheta.org.au
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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