Print Issue: January 9, 2003

Savannah Hosts National Catholic Conference For Deaf

SAVANNAH - The National Catholic Office for the Deaf Conference will be held at the Savannah DeSoto Hilton Hotel Jan. 17-22.

This conference is for deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing pastoral workers from the United States and Canada. All presentations and activities will be signed and voiced.

The keynote presentation Jan. 18 will be given by Gregory Hlibok who will speak on "Empowering With Your Faith." Hlibok lives in the Baltimore Archdiocese, is an attorney with the Disability Rights Office at the Federal Communications Commission and leader of the movement to name a deaf person as president of Gallaudet University.

On Jan. 19 the keynote presentation will be given by Michael Corso, Ph.D., on "The Faith That Moves Mountains." Corso is a coordinator at the Institute of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry at Boston College and a parish catechetical leader.

A closing keynote presentation, "Star Gazing, Not Mud Wrestling," will be given by Father Michael Medas of Boston, who serves as archdiocesan liaison to the deaf and hard of hearing communities and directs the deaf apostolate.

Mass, signed in American Sign Language, will be offered daily. On Saturday, Jan. 18, participants will attend the 5:30 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist celebrated by Msgr. William O. O'Neill, the rector.

The National Catholic Office for the Deaf encourages local participation. Ann Pinckney, Savannah diocesan director of religious education, and Sister Jackie Griffith, SSJ, diocesan director of Catholic Social Services, expressed the hope that this conference will be a "great opportunity to connect with deaf and hard of hearing persons in our own diocese." Members of the Atlanta Archdiocese have been invited also.

For registration information, contact the Savannah Catholic Pastoral Center at (912) 201-4100 or e-mail NCOD@erols.com.