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Philadelphia Priest Pens Excellent Record Of Deaf Ministry - The Philadelphia Bulletin Archives
In chronicling the relationship between the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and its deaf community, creating a history book was the furthest thing from Fr. Anthony Russo’s mind. Though guided by a detailed timeline, In Silent Prayer is the emotionally laced biography, the story of an extraordinary movement.
The book, published by Square One Publishers and available at Pauline Books and Media, as well as Amazon.com and by special order in most bookstores, is Fr. Russo’s third on the subject. Previous publications include The God of Deaf Adolescent (Paulist Press) and Made By Hand (Knights of Columbus Press). A native of New Jersey, Fr. Russo is now stationed at Visitation BVM Parish in Kensington. Since 1967 his mission of service to the deaf and hearing impaired has never been interrupted.
On Wednesday, March 11th, at 12:30 PM, Father Russo will be at Borders (Broad & Chestnut) to sign copies of In Silent Prayer, where it will also be available for purchase.
The Bulletin: When you decided to publish this information, was it always envisioned as a book?
Fr. Russo: I was eating lunch with Deacon David Schaffer at the Windham Franklin Plaza Hotel--this was about five years ago--and he thought it would be a wonderful idea for me to write a book about my ministry to the deaf. I thought it was just a social conversation, but the next day I realized it wasn’t. I called him and he said he was serious. The Archdiocese wanted me to write it. So I rolled up my sleeves, tightened my belt buckle and got to work. That’s how it originated.
The Bulletin: Do you see the written word as a bridge between hearing people and deaf people?
Fr. Russo: Yes, the printed word is definitely a communication bridge between the hearing world and the deaf world, but it’s effectiveness partially depends upon the time a person became deaf—how much they relate to English. If they are pre-lingually deaf people, meaning they never experienced sound, then English may not be their preferred way of communicating.
The Bulletin: Did you write this specifically more for one group than another?
Fr. Russo: I would like to reach as many people as possible with this book. I would like the general public to have a better understanding of what it means to be deaf — how do you experience life as a deaf person: your social life, your work life, your religious life? The conclusion of the book has challenges in it for Catholics, and for religious leaders in general, as to how they can provide better service to the deaf, so that their faith will grow and the deaf can become holier people.
The Bulletin: The ministry began mostly to ensure that the deaf received a full Catholic education. Did anything directly spark this transformation within Church?
Fr. Russo: Everything started almost 160 years ago in St. Louis, when its bishop realized there was a need for a custom fit pastoral ministry to deaf people. He wrote a letter to a group of nuns who worked with deaf in France. They accepted his invitation and came over to work with deaf children. Later, after a visit to St. Louis, Bishop Francis Patrick Kenrick of Philadelphia invited the sisters to come to here in 1880.
The Bulletin: You note that Pope John Paul II urged the Church to “avoid understanding deaf ministry as a mere hobby with condescending charity or as a one-person apostolate.” What has the Church implemented to keep that from happening?
Fr. Russo: In America, for example, we have the National Catholic Office for the Deaf, which oversees deaf ministry throughout the country. They work tirelessly to sustain and upgrade the Church’s ministry with deaf people. Dioceses across the country have committed finances and personnel to continue the growth of this ministry.
The Bulletin: How does the Church enrich the sacramental life of the deaf? For example, is it difficult for a deaf or hard of hearing person to go to confession regularly?
Fr. Russo: People who can hear have the choice to kneel behind a screen or to go face-to-face with the priest. Deaf people have always gone to confession face-to-face. In confession, we sign back and forth. If they cannot find a priest who knows sign language they have to write the confession down and show the paper to the priest. The paper is torn up afterward.
The Bulletin: Where can one find signed Masses?
Fr. Russo: I celebrate signed masses at Our Lady of Ransom in North East Philadelphia. There’s also St. Charles in Drexel Hill, and St. Stanislaus; those are some Masses where the priests signs. Then, there are many other Masses with interpreters.
The Bulletin: The ministry’s history is marked by people of great character. Who would you say was most indispensable to the ministry in Philadelphia?
Fr. Russo: Father Landherr was an absolutely pivotal figure. He was deeply admired by all the deaf in Philadelphia. He was really a magnificent priest. [Note: Fr. Landherr’s story is written about at length in the book.]
The Bulletin: Is there anything else you’d like to convey to those who might be interested in In Silent Prayer?
Fr. Russo: Hopefully they will meet courageous deaf people who have a wonderful outlook on life, that they did not permit deafness to defeat them in any way, who were an inspiration to everyone around them. People who read this book will meet inspirational people who accepted deafness with a positive, constructive outlook on life. It’s a people-centered book. I never had to worry about temptations to magnify the people in this book, to make them larger than life, because they were that big. I think the general public will be edified.
In chronicling the relationship between the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and its deaf community, creating a history book was the furthest thing from Fr. Anthony Russo’s mind. Though guided by a detailed timeline, In Silent Prayer is the emotionally laced biography, the story of an extraordinary movement.
The book, published by Square One Publishers and available at Pauline Books and Media, as well as Amazon.com and by special order in most bookstores, is Fr. Russo’s third on the subject. Previous publications include The God of Deaf Adolescent (Paulist Press) and Made By Hand (Knights of Columbus Press). A native of New Jersey, Fr. Russo is now stationed at Visitation BVM Parish in Kensington. Since 1967 his mission of service to the deaf and hearing impaired has never been interrupted.
On Wednesday, March 11th, at 12:30 PM, Father Russo will be at Borders (Broad & Chestnut) to sign copies of In Silent Prayer, where it will also be available for purchase.
The Bulletin: When you decided to publish this information, was it always envisioned as a book?
Fr. Russo: I was eating lunch with Deacon David Schaffer at the Windham Franklin Plaza Hotel--this was about five years ago--and he thought it would be a wonderful idea for me to write a book about my ministry to the deaf. I thought it was just a social conversation, but the next day I realized it wasn’t. I called him and he said he was serious. The Archdiocese wanted me to write it. So I rolled up my sleeves, tightened my belt buckle and got to work. That’s how it originated.
The Bulletin: Do you see the written word as a bridge between hearing people and deaf people?
Fr. Russo: Yes, the printed word is definitely a communication bridge between the hearing world and the deaf world, but it’s effectiveness partially depends upon the time a person became deaf—how much they relate to English. If they are pre-lingually deaf people, meaning they never experienced sound, then English may not be their preferred way of communicating.
The Bulletin: Did you write this specifically more for one group than another?
Fr. Russo: I would like to reach as many people as possible with this book. I would like the general public to have a better understanding of what it means to be deaf — how do you experience life as a deaf person: your social life, your work life, your religious life? The conclusion of the book has challenges in it for Catholics, and for religious leaders in general, as to how they can provide better service to the deaf, so that their faith will grow and the deaf can become holier people.
The Bulletin: The ministry began mostly to ensure that the deaf received a full Catholic education. Did anything directly spark this transformation within Church?
Fr. Russo: Everything started almost 160 years ago in St. Louis, when its bishop realized there was a need for a custom fit pastoral ministry to deaf people. He wrote a letter to a group of nuns who worked with deaf in France. They accepted his invitation and came over to work with deaf children. Later, after a visit to St. Louis, Bishop Francis Patrick Kenrick of Philadelphia invited the sisters to come to here in 1880.
The Bulletin: You note that Pope John Paul II urged the Church to “avoid understanding deaf ministry as a mere hobby with condescending charity or as a one-person apostolate.” What has the Church implemented to keep that from happening?
Fr. Russo: In America, for example, we have the National Catholic Office for the Deaf, which oversees deaf ministry throughout the country. They work tirelessly to sustain and upgrade the Church’s ministry with deaf people. Dioceses across the country have committed finances and personnel to continue the growth of this ministry.
The Bulletin: How does the Church enrich the sacramental life of the deaf? For example, is it difficult for a deaf or hard of hearing person to go to confession regularly?
Fr. Russo: People who can hear have the choice to kneel behind a screen or to go face-to-face with the priest. Deaf people have always gone to confession face-to-face. In confession, we sign back and forth. If they cannot find a priest who knows sign language they have to write the confession down and show the paper to the priest. The paper is torn up afterward.
The Bulletin: Where can one find signed Masses?
Fr. Russo: I celebrate signed masses at Our Lady of Ransom in North East Philadelphia. There’s also St. Charles in Drexel Hill, and St. Stanislaus; those are some Masses where the priests signs. Then, there are many other Masses with interpreters.
The Bulletin: The ministry’s history is marked by people of great character. Who would you say was most indispensable to the ministry in Philadelphia?
Fr. Russo: Father Landherr was an absolutely pivotal figure. He was deeply admired by all the deaf in Philadelphia. He was really a magnificent priest. [Note: Fr. Landherr’s story is written about at length in the book.]
The Bulletin: Is there anything else you’d like to convey to those who might be interested in In Silent Prayer?
Fr. Russo: Hopefully they will meet courageous deaf people who have a wonderful outlook on life, that they did not permit deafness to defeat them in any way, who were an inspiration to everyone around them. People who read this book will meet inspirational people who accepted deafness with a positive, constructive outlook on life. It’s a people-centered book. I never had to worry about temptations to magnify the people in this book, to make them larger than life, because they were that big. I think the general public will be edified.