International Catholic Foundation for the Service of Deaf Persons (ICF Deaf Service)
Content Description
The Deaf Catholic Archives (DCA) collection includes magazines, newsletters and convention information from the International Catholic Deaf Association; magazines and convention information from the National Catholic Office for the Deaf; local newsletters from hundreds of dioceses in the US, Canada and internationally; Sign Language books, Bibles, glossed readings and videos of Biblical stories in ASL (American Sign Language). There are also religious education materials, including guidelines for teachers and materials for Deaf children and adults; yearbooks and newsletters from Catholic Schools for the Deaf; and other materials relating to the Deaf Catholic community and individuals and the pastoral care for Deaf and hard of hearing people. Additionally, there are books about Deaf Catholics and their history and culture.
The International Catholic Foundation for the Service of Deaf Persons (ICF Deaf Service) series primarily contains materials pertaining to conferences organized by the ICF. Included are programs, flyers, meeting minutes, papers and correspondence from the conferences. Additionally, there is one folder of records pertaining to a pilgrimage to Rome, Italy event that was organized by the ICF Deaf Services. Materials in this series date from 1980 to 2009.
Dates
- Event: 1980-2009
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
No Restrictions
Historical Note
In 1975, Mary Garland, a Deaf woman, gave a box of old materials about Deaf Catholics to Joseph Bruce, a Deaf Jesuit novice. These materials included news clippings, photographs, newsletters, reports and minutes of meetings relating to the Deaf Catholic community. Very quickly, other pastoral workers assigned to Deaf ministry all over the US and Canada began sending their newsletters to Mr. Bruce. The collection grew significantly in 1977 when, on a visit to Canada, Sr. Elizabeth Kass, S. P. gave Mr. Bruce several boxes of newsletters written in English that were going to be destroyed if left in French Canada, pleading with him to return with them to the US to preserve them. By 1985, the collection had grown to 15 file cabinets that traveled with the now Rev. Bruce (ordained a priest in 1981) to his various assignments. The collection was donated to the Archives and Distinctive Collections at the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA in 1990 and continues to grow, curated by Rev. Bruce.
The International Catholic Foundation for the Service of Deaf Persons (ICF Deaf Service) is a charity that raises awareness of Deaf people's presence in the Catholic Church and advocates for their spiritual needs and pastoral care. They primarily support and serve as a resource for chaplains, pastoral workers and catechists who minister to the Deaf. The ICF Deaf Service also creates teaching aids, publications and sets up training programs as well as organizes conferences and international gatherings.
Extent
.83 Linear Feet (2 document boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Spanish; Castilian
Italian
Acquisition note
The Deaf Catholic Archive collection was donated to the College of the Holy Cross in 1990 by Rev. Joseph Bruce, S. J.
Source
- Bruce, Joseph J., Rev., S. J., 1948- (Person)
- Title
- Deaf Catholic Archives
- Status
- Completed
- Subtitle
- International Catholic Foundation for the Service of Deaf Persons (ICF Deaf Service)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Deaf Catholic Archives Repository