{"id":6226,"date":"2022-05-10T10:57:42","date_gmt":"2022-05-10T16:57:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/give.archden.org\/?p=6226"},"modified":"2022-11-30T01:24:51","modified_gmt":"2022-11-30T01:24:51","slug":"serving-the-underserved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/serving-the-underserved\/","title":{"rendered":"Serving the Underserved"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3\/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]As Catholics gathered in churches all over Colorado last year on the 29th<\/sup> Sunday of Ordinary Time, they listened to the Gospel of Mark \u2014 \u201cFor the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.\u201d<\/p>\n

But at St. Bernadette Church in Lakewood, parishioners experienced those words more acutely through the perceptive fingers of Art Yochim and the fervent hands of Thomas Metz as the pair of lectors uniquely shared the gospel as they often do.<\/p>\n

Yochim, who is blind, drew his fingers across the raised braille letters of his liturgical text, while Metz, who is deaf, stood by his side and used American Sign Language (ASL) to share the gospel\u2019s words in unison with the congregation that includes fellow blind and deaf parishioners.<\/p>\n

St. Bernadette has become a beacon for Catholics in the metro Denver area who happen to be blind or deaf because it offers this version of a multi-language community that meets its members with the method they can receive Christ.<\/p>\n

The church\u2019s previous pastor was widely known for his knowledge of ASL, but he retired in 2020. Current pastor Father Joe McLagan is trying to carry on the church\u2019s distinct identity by learning ASL to serve his flock the best way he can.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a priority for me to learn to give Reconciliation in [ASL],\u201d McLagan said. \u201cA person can pull out their phone and provide a confession of their sins, but it feels more authentic if a person who is deaf can confess in their language.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are a handful of ASL interpreters at the church, but the need for more is great. It\u2019s among the top five most used languages in the United States, said Deacon Hal Goldwire, a deacon at St. Bernadette who has tried to learn ASL.[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”10″][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”left” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”5560″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”Fade In” animation_easing=”default” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”small_depth” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][nectar_single_testimonial testimonial_style=”basic” text_color=”#00833e” quote=”There\u2019s something really powerful to watch a signed mass when the priest is doing it. When I watched the mass signed, it brought the mass to a whole new level for me \u2014 not to just hear the words, but to see it and hear it.” name=”Goldwire”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”6232″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”Fade In” animation_easing=”default” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][vc_column_text]\n

American Sign Language translator Glenna Cornish signs the homily given by Father Joe McLagan.<\/h6>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2\/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]ASL is not a language of word-for-word translations, it comes in concepts of one or two signs that express a thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s something really powerful to watch a signed mass when the priest is doing it,\u201d Goldwire said. \u201cWhen I watched the mass signed, it brought the mass to a whole new level for me \u2014 not to just hear the words, but to see it and <\/em>hear it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Goldwire has an affinity for the language and appreciates the beauty of it. After having a grandmother and father with hearing aids, his daughter was born with one hearing ear who became musician of the year for Regis Jesuit High School and played for the pep band at Creighton University and even performed at Madison Square Gardens.<\/p>\n

He always wanted to learn ASL but was never presented with the opportunity until he attended a\u00a0 signed Mass.[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”10″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\u201cAll the parts of the body make up the body of Christ,\u201d Goldwire said. \u201cThe Archdiocese [of Denver] has made a great commitment to serve the underserved and help those who have been overlooked in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChrist the servant, was not the servant of those sitting in first class, but a servant for the whole ark,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Yochim has known braille since second grade and began as a lector at St. Bernadette in 2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just think it\u2019s a very spirit-loving church\u2026you can truly feel the Holy Spirit,\u201d Yochim said. \u201cPeople are really involved, so nice and so loving.\u201d<\/p>\n

A friend of Yochim used to type out the Bible verses for him on a braille typewriter until he began receiving his liturgical texts from Xavier Society for the Blind, a nonprofit providing Catholic braille materials for more than 120 years. (Read more about Xavier Society for Blind in the sidebar.)<\/p>\n

A cradle Catholic, Yochim always dreamed of being a church lector. After reading more about his faith, he become a catechist and is now part of the church team who teaches the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA).<\/p>\n

When someone experiences a mass at St. Bernadette, that person is in touch with all parts of humanity, Goldwire said.[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”10″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3\/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\u201cYou see the gospels come alive at St. Bernadette, you see how God is working through people to build up the body of Christ\u2026it pierces my heart,\u201d Goldwire said.<\/p>\n

Just as Jesus served all, the Archdiocese of Denver is trying to bring Christ to all. For 35 years, the archdiocese has been caring for and ministering to people with development disabilities. The Bridge Community is a residential facility that provides stability and compassion to about 6-8 residential women.<\/p>\n

The community is part of the Office of Special Religious Education and Pastoral Care for Persons with Developmental Disabilities and is operated by Father Roland Freeman. The office teaches catechism to children and adults who range in abilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur whole philosophy is that is that we all<\/em> get to walk with Jesus no matter who we are. We will need companions on that journey and these folks who need assistance have the right to be assisted in the knowledge of who God is,\u201d said Sister Mary Catherine, founder of the Bridge Community in 1985.<\/p>\n

The program brings church teachings to people at whatever level they can receive it. Some participants can receive it at a fourth-grade level, others never get beyond pictures and stories, Sister Mary Catherine said.<\/p>\n

The archdiocese is making Jesus available to everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you ask the parents of any child, \u2018do you think Jesus wants to be part of your child\u2019s life,\u2019 of course the answer is \u2018Yes!\u2019\u201d she said.[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”10″][vc_column_text]For more information about St. Bernadette parish in Lakewood, visit https:\/\/www.stbernadettelakewood.org\/<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”left” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”5560″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”Fade In” animation_easing=”default” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”small_depth” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][nectar_single_testimonial testimonial_style=”basic” text_color=”#00833e” quote=”You see the gospels come alive at St. Bernadette, you see how God is working through people to build up the body of Christ\u2026it pierces my heart.” name=”Goldwire”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”Full Width Line” line_thickness=”1″ divider_color=”default” custom_height=”10″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”60″][vc_column_text]\n

Xavier Society brings religious texts to blind Catholics for 121 years<\/strong><\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]Rita Weyler, of Thornton, was taking her college SATs in braille in the 1970s at a high school rehabilitation center for students who were blind in downtown Denver when a friend came in and told her about Catholic literature from the Xavier Society. She soon became a client for more than 50 years.<\/p>\n

Xavier Society provides free Catholic materials in braille text and other technologies. It has more than 750,000 pages of braille material such as the Mass Propers, magazine articles and religious books. One book can cost more than $1600 to produce in braille and the entire Bible can take up 45 volumes and fill an entire bookcase because of the nature of braille text, with its heavy bond paper and raised letters. The Sunday missalette is sent to clients, like Rita, all over the world in 80 countries.<\/p>\n

Weyler was born prematurely and never had a lot of eyesight. What she had, she lost by age 5 \u00bd. Growing up in Reno in the 1950s, she was sent to a public school and programs for people who were blind were just getting off the ground, she said.<\/p>\n

The summer of her 4th<\/sup> grade she made great progress with her braille lessons by putting her dolls in a chair and reading braille stories to them such as \u201cBy the Shores of Silver Lake,\u201d by Laura Ingalls Wilder.<\/p>\n

Weyler\u2019s grandmother gave her a braille Bible for her birthday in the 1980s and she cherishes it. She received the Mass Propers from Xavier Society regularly and saves them because so much goes into each copy and they feel important to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf [the Xavier Society] didn\u2019t exist, blind people would be left out in the cold and couldn\u2019t participate in the mass,\u201d Weyler said.<\/p>\n

Many Xavier Society patrons are lectors at mass and are able to actively participate in their parish, like Art Yochim, at St. Bernadette Church in Lakewood. [see article on page XX]\n

\u201cXavier Society helps me be more independent to get my own books,\u201d Yochim said. \u201cIt\u2019s really good to have a service like theirs.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more information about the Xavier Society visit https:\/\/xaviersocietyfortheblind.org\/<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”60″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” centered_text=”true” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”Full Width Line” line_thickness=”1″ divider_color=”default” custom_height=”10″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][image_with_animation image_url=”4705″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”Fade In” animation_easing=”default” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” img_link_target=”_blank” border_radius=”10px” box_shadow=”small_depth” image_loading=”default” max_width=”50%” max_width_mobile=”default” img_link=”https:\/\/give.archden.org\/”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”10″][nectar_btn size=”jumbo” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” color_override=”#dd8d13″ icon_family=”none” text=”Yes, I Want to Help!” url=”\/give” css_animation=”bounce”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none”…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6234,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","content-type":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[5,11,13],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6226","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-featured","8":"category-religious-outreach","9":"category-stories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6226"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6226\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6726,"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6226\/revisions\/6726"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6234"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}