University of the Incarnate Word Deaf Awareness Night 2009
San Antonio, Texas
co-sponsored by the Campus Activities Board and Walk, Roll & Read
student organization
Thursday, March 26, Marian Hall Ballroom (university map:
http://www.uiw.edu/map/maplarge.html)
Open to all interested persons, with no admission fee
* 6:00 p.m. Doors open
* 6:30 p.m. Refreshments available in front hallway of Marian Hall
(outside the ballroom) [The tables would take up too much seating
space inside the ballroom.]
* 6:55 p.m. Opening prayer by UIW Chancellor Sister Helena Monahan,
and introduction of Campus Activities Board and Walk, Roll & Read
officers and members; other introductions
* 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Father Tom Coughlin, the only Deaf man ever yet
ordained as a Roman Catholic priest, will present information about
“Mutism: The Darkside of Deafness” and share his personal journey to
become a priest and his current work to mentor Deaf Apostolates in the
hopes of encouraging future priests for Deaf congregations. [See more
biographical information at end of message]
* 8:30 – 9:00 p.m. Formal question and answer with Fr. Tom Coughlin
* 9:00 – 10:00 p.m. Informal discussion as participants exit into
Student Center
CONTACT PERSON FOR DEAF AWARENESS NIGHT:
DEMETRIUS SMITH, WALK, ROLL & READ VICE PRESIDENT
Email: [email protected]
Fr. Coughlin was born to deaf parents and maternal grandparents in
northern New York near Quebec border in 1947 and obtained his High
School education at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf in Buffalo, NY, BA
degree in English from Gallaudet University; MA in Theology from the
Catholic University of Washington, D.C. He was ordained as the first
deaf priest in North America and worked several years as home
missionary priest for the International Catholic Deaf Association. He
purchased a bankrupt resort hotel in Old Forge, New York in 1981,
converting the 9 acre waterfront hotel into Camp Mark Seven, a
Catholic deaf youth camp. In 1996, he became a Registered Nurse for
Camp Mark Seven and worked also as School Nurse at Schools for the
Deaf. In 2004, with Bishop Vigneron of Oakland, California assistance,
he formed a new religious congregation for deaf and hearing religious
vocations: The Dominican Missionaries for the Deaf Apostolate.
Currently the congregation was relocated to San Antonio and there are
nine members in the community. Father Coughlin continues to serve as
Prior General of the congregation and works as Director of the Deaf
Apostolate at San Francisco di Paola Church in downtown San Antonio
and as a chaplain and Registered Nurse at Camp Mark Seven in Old Forge
during the summer months.
Sent by:
Rachel Cywinski, President
Walk, Roll & Read student organization of the University of the
Incarnate Word
Advocating for students with disabilities
sponsor of the annual Deaf Awareness Night and annual Disability
Awareness Week