The Catholic News

Fr Cyril Axelrod, a deaf-blind Redemptorist priest based in London, is scheduled to give several sessions to the Catholic deaf community later this month.

The sessions are to be held at the Church of St Mary of the Angels (SMOTA) at 5 Bukit Batok East Avenue 2 and the Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre (CAEC) at 2 Highland Road.

The 70-year-old priest has served in various deaf groups in the world for 37 years of his priesthood and understands at least eight languages.

He travels to Hong Kong, South Africa, Malta and Ethiopia to offer Masses for deaf communities and also promotes a training programme to families and students on how to communicate and guide a deaf-blind person.

Fr Axelrod had also visited the Singapore Catholic Deaf Community between 1985 and 1992 and held religious classes, retreats and Masses.

“It is important to see how the deaf community are brought to understand the meaning of the faith in their daily lives,” he said in an email.

Fr Axelrod is also honorary consultant to a few organisations for the deaf, blind and other disabled people.

His programme in Singapore is as follows:

July 18, 7.30-8.30 pm (SMOTA): Living Passover from Darkness to Light of Jesus Christ.
July 19, 7-8 pm (CAEC): Living in Friendship with Jesus Christ.
July 20, 7-8 pm (CAEC): Crisis vs Hope in Jesus Christ.
July 21, 2-6 pm (SMOTA): Recollection.
July 22, 11am-4pm (CAEC): Signed Eucharist celebration, question-and-answer session.

For more information, email scdeafc@yahoo.com.sg

By Patrick Anthony