[Faith-talk] Blind Catholics

Mon Feb 4 12:04:16 CST 2008

	I have noticed that the Blind and Disabled have both good and bad
expereances no matter what their faith is.  I would not make that a reason
to change your faith or give it up all together.  I've even been to some
Perishs that have not been that friendly, but changed their attitudes once
they understood who I was, and what all I could do.  Remember that the
general public is not really educated at all about blindness, and because of
this ignorance they are often fearful of blindness and don't really know how
to react to us.  It's an excellent tool to use to witness our faith.  

	I became Catholic for reasons that had nothing to do with blindness
or people.  I became Catholic because I am confident that this is the church
Jesus gave us, and I believe this after studying early church history,
apologetics, and theology, among other things.

	The attitude I have with church is the same I have in my own NFB
chapter in Dayton, OH.  I see things this way, there is always going to be
problems, and there are always going to be a few bad apples in the group.
You can complain, or just put up with it, or you could give up and leave, or
you could take charge and be the change in yourself that you believe to be
true, and want for others.  

	That's just my 2 cents.  If you'd like to talk more about anything,
feel free to email me here on the list, or of the list at
vincent2872 at sbcglobal.net

Thanks 

-----Original Message-----
From: faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Beth
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 12:44 PM
To: Faith-talk, for the discussion of faith and religion
Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] Blind Catholics

Interesting.  For me, the Catholic church has benn, well, ... I don't
know really.  I've been raised Catholic, but I don't think I want to
continu with the Church because I don't like the perochial school
system and the small town I came from was very small.  The services
were few, and I didn't know about the NFB and the Xavier Association.
I lectored only once but was needed in the choir.  Even then, it was
like, well, I was discouraged from serving at the altar with the
priests, but the boys in my family have been servers.  So there is my
story.
Beth

On 2/4/08, Vincent Fugate <vincent2872 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> 	I do my lecturing by using the proper of the Mass transcribed by the
> Xavier Society of the Blind, and I get mine in Braille.  I get the First
> Friday and Saturday readings, and all the readings for Sundays, and Holy
> Days of Obligation.  They also put out a calendar with many of the
Catholic
> feast day's included, and they are now giving away the New Testament in
> Braille, and large print.  They also have a Catholic library, but it does
> not have a lot of things I'd want, but it's a nice start If you want books
> in Braille.
> 	
> 	I'm the second Blind Catholic in my area to do this.  I have a
> friend that is vice president of my chapter for the National Federation of
> the Blind in the Dayton area that Lecture every third Sunday at his
Perish.
>
> 	I became an Extraordinary Minister so I could help with Adoration.
> What I did was memorize the layout of my Perish, and all I needed to know
to
> setup and take down everything on my own without any assistance.  The only
> trouble I have is remembering to turn the lights on for the sighties.
>
> 	I am not a server, but we do have blind Priests and they do
> everything, which is something I am trying to find more about, until then
I
> think I will just do Adoration.
>
> 	I'd say that a lot of the skills I use I've gotten from being a
> blind parent of two children, and I've been to some NFB conventions also.
> This has helped me become independent, and more involved in my community
and
> church than I would have been without the NFB.  	
>
> 	I was not always blind.  I'm 35 now, and was diagnosed legally blind
> when I was 17.  I have Retinitis Pigmentosis, and my vision got so bad
about
> six years ago I had to learn to use a cane, and it got to the point I
could
> not read anything.  Most of the times I am totally blind, and what I do
see
> is very distorted, and is like looking through a very dirty window.  I
don't
> even know what my kids really look like, and I don't know what any of my
> friends look like.
>
> 	It was really hard at first dealing with my vision lost until I got
> more involved with the National Federation of the Blind.  Before that I
was
> in the ACB, but their view of things was not what I needed.  Also, during
> this time I was going through a change in faith.  I was raised Protestant,
> which is another story in its self, but to make things short, all my
> questions and needs have been met through the Catholic church and the
> National Federation of the Blind.  The Church has even helped me with my
> blindness in ways I don't believe could have been done in a Protestant
> church, at least that's how it's worked out for me, and I'm confident this
> is how God has been leading me all these years.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Beth
> Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 11:24 AM
> To: Faith-talk, for the discussion of faith and religion
> Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] Blind Catholics
>
> I am actually a Catholic myself, but I'm not really involved in
> anything except a choir and music ministry in the church.  How do you
> do your extraordinary ministry duties in the church?  How do you do
> your lecturing duties as well?
> Beth
>
> On 2/4/08, trising at sbcglobal.net <trising at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> > My husband is selling a Juliet double sided embosser. Please send a
> message
> > to
> > nickwilcox_2000 at msn.com
> >
> > if you are interested!
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
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