Check out Xavier Society for the Blind and our clients profiled in various publications and broadcasts.
Colton Reinhart just received his First Holy Communion in the Diocese of New Ulm. Our transcriber Terrence McCafferty has been a great help transcribing and embossing the textbooks Colton needed to study for the Sacraments alongside his sighted classmates. Read more about Colton and his big day by clicking here.
Kaydence is one of our newest patrons who was registered by her CCD teacher to receive our braille materials. In particular, she needed braille textbooks to follow along with her sighted classmates. She was profiled in this lovely article from the Diocese of Savannah's Southern Cross Magazine. Read this inspiring piece by clicking here.
Our braille patron Robert Malunda in Zimbabwe sent us this awesome article from Sunday News Zimbabwe about him lectoring at Mass. Robert receives our braille Mass Propers which is essentially the Missalette for Mass, and many other braille materials which assist him in learning about and practicing his faith. He read at the Archdiocese of Bulawayo's Chrism Mass. Read more about Robert, and check out the excellent video of him lectoring and reading braille. This really exemplifies our 123-year-old mission of serving God and the blind! Read more about him and the materials he receives by clicking here.
Father Sam Kachuba is a priest at St. Piux X in Fairfield, CT. He had a great chat with our Executive Director Malachy Fallon about Xavier Society for the Blind, our offerings, and the people we serve worldwide. Have a listen below!
Mary Clarke is one of our many patrons in Iowa. She is an incredible lady who shares her gifts with many others in her parish in the Diocese of Des Moines. Unlike most of our braille patrons, Mary learned braille as an adult after losing her sight to Retinitis Pigmentosa. She's incredible! Read more about her and the materials she receives by clicking here.
Although we may be based in New York City, we serve patrons throughout our home state! Mary and Heather are two of our patrons in the Diocese of Syracuse. Read about their lives and faith by clicking here.
Neva Fairchild and Zachary Thibodeaux are two of the many patrons we serve many patrons in the great state of Texas! Both were featured in a great article from North Texas Catholic. Read all about it by clicking here.
Chris Stefanick is the author of Living Joy: 9 Rules to Help You Rediscover and Live Joy Every Day which was added to our braille library in November 2022. Check out this great clip from his show in which he discusses receiving a braille copy of the book.
Make sure to check out this great episode of Practicing Catholic from the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis! We're delighted this also aired nationwide on Relevant Radio. Our Executive Director Malachy Fallon and Communications and Fundraising Manager Aisling Redican chatted with host Patrick Conley about our mission and the materials we provide to patrons in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and worldwide! Click below to listen to the podcast in full.
Art Yochim is one of our many patrons in Colorado, and he serves his parish as a lector using our braille Mass Propers. This great article also interviews Rita Weyler, another patron of ours, and also explores the various ministries serving the disabled in the Archdiocese of Denver. Click here to read the article as a PDF. If you prefer to read the article as a word document please click here to download it.
Check out our Executive Director Malachy Fallon in the Summer 2022 edition of Fordham Business magazine. Malachy is a graduate of Fordham University and following a career at Standard and Poor's he enrolled in the Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership Program at the Gabelli School of Business and Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service. In addition to discussing Xavier Society's history and mission, Malachy talks about how the stars aligned (or perhaps divine intervention!) leading him from a career in finance to the non-profit sector. We are very lucky to have had him at the helm since 2016!.
This episode features our braille client Dr. Kimberly Aguillard. She receives our braille materials in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and is the Second Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind, Texas.
Ann Musgrave is a braille patron of ours in the Archdiocese of Toronto. She was profiled by The Catholic Register in a great piece in which she discusses the materials she receives from us and how these help her practice her Faith. You can read the article by clicking here.
In March 2022 our Executive Director Malachy Fallon was a guest on Church Life Today podcast with Leonard DeLorenzo. Leonard is the author of one of our books in braille and audio Model of Faith: Model of Faith: Reflecting on the Litany of Saint Joseph. Click here to listen to the podcast.
Our client Jessica Minneci from Kentucky was a guest on A Shower of Roses podcast. Hosted by Jenna Violi, this podcast focuses on the readings for a given Sunday. Jessica and Jenna discussed the readings and Gospel for the First Sunday in Lent 2022.
Our Executive Director Malachy Fallon was a guest on Kathie Duggan's show Sacred Treasures which airs on Radio Maria. Have a listen to the interview below in which Malachy discusses our ministry, the services we provide, and the clients we serve worldwide.
This is the second episode featuring our client Francesca! Hosted and produced by Julia Strukley, Seven Mile Chats is a Catholic podcast where guests chat with Julia about a Scripture verse each week. This episode discusses Psalm 121. Francesca is an English Professor at Broward College and a great ambassador for Xavier Society for the Blind.
This episode features our braille client Mary Wilson. She receives our braille materials in the Archdiocese of Washington and she is a great ambassador for Xavier Society for the Blind. Unlike the majority of our braille clients, Mary was born fully sighted and learned braille later in life!
World Braille Day is celebrated every January 4th in honor of Louis Braille's birthday and it is a reminder of the importance of accessibility and independence for people who are blind or visually impaired. Vatican News published a great article for World Braille Day 2022 featuring one of our clients in Kenya - Sister Veronica of Don Orione Sisters Kenya. You can read the entire article by clicking here.
Our braille client Joanne Callahan has many accomplishments under her belt. She has worked for the CIA and after retiring, taught braille to blind children in Peru. She receives our braille materials in the Archdiocese of Atlanta to learn about and practice her faith. Read her inspiring story by clicking here.
Shirley Schmid is a braille patron of ours in the Diocese of Green Bay. She was profiled by The Compass in a great piece in which she discusses the materials she receives from us and how these help her practice her Faith. You can read the article by clicking here.
Our braille client Father Michael Joly was highlighted in an article titled Dog is ‘visible guardian angel’ for blind priest from the Diocese of Richmond's newspaper The Catholic Virginian. Father Joly is the pastor of St. Joan of Arc in Yorktown, VA and has been receiving our braille materials from quite some time. Read this inspiring article by clicking here.
Hosted and produced by Julia Strukley, Seven Mile Chats is a Catholic podcast where guests chat with Julia about a Scripture verse each week. This episode features our braille client Francesca Marinaro. Francesca is an English Professor at Broward College and a great ambassador for Xavier Society for the Blind.
Hosted and produced by Rachel Wong, The Feminine Genius Podcast is a Catholic podcast that celebrates all women of God and their unique genius. This episode features our braille client Kate Crohan. Kate is a great ambassador for Xavier Society. She lectors at Mass using our braille Propers of the Sunday Mass and sings in the choir! In addition, Kate teaches technology and braille at Perkins School for the Blind. Click here to go to the episode page where you can read the show's notes, episode transcript, and listen to the episode in full!
Our Executive Director Malachy Fallon chatted with CFN Live's Colleen McVey about our 120 year history, the books we provide in braille and audio, and the clients we serve worldwide. There are some great shots of our current office as well as historical photos of those who built our mission from the ground up! Special cameos from our clients Father Jamie Dennis of Blessed Mother Catholic Church in the Diocese of Owensboro, Bill McCann of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and president/founder of Dancing Dots Braille Music Tech, and Sharlene Kraft of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
In January 2021, Xavier Society for the Blind was profiled in an article by Aleteia - a worldwide media outlet providing content that inspires readers daily. Two of our clients were also mentioned as well, Father Jamie Dennis of the Diocese of Owensboro and Father Larry Gillick of Creighton University. Click here to read the article in its entirety.
Cyrus Habib is an American politician, lawyer, and educator who served as the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Washington. In March 2020 he announced he would not seek reelection as he was entering the Society of Jesus. He explained his decision in a great article in America Magazine which you can read by clicking here. The New York Times did a great opinion piece which you can read by clicking here. We look forward to helping Cyrus on his journey to the priesthood!
The Diocese of Brooklyn's Currents News interviewed our client Donna for a segment on how the Covid-19 pandemic was impacting blind Catholics. You can watch the entire interview here!
Our clients Donna, Roger, and Father Jamie Dennis were featured in a great episode of Faith Full Podcast. All three spoke with Tony Ganzer, a journalist and host, about their Faith, the materials they receive from Xavier Society for the Blind, and how they are navigating life in the era of Covid-19. Check it out!
Father Jamie was also the subject of a second episode of Faith Full. Always the inspiration, Father Jamie chats more in depth about his life, ministry and hobbies.
Wayne Smith is a braille patron of ours in the Archdiocese of Chicago. He wrote a great article in National Catholic Register about some of the blind spots he has encountered within the church. You can read the article by clicking here.
Our Executive Director Malachy Fallon was a guest on Son Rise Morning Show on Sacred Heart Radio! Malachy chatted with hosts Matt and Anna about XSB, our clients, and our 120-year-old mission! Check it out (segment starts around 2:24:00).
Executive Director Malachy Fallon chatted with Judy Comeaux of Red-C Roundup about Xavier Society, our mission, and the people we serve in central Texas and beyond!
In August 2020, Malachy was a featured guest on Catholic Community Radio's Wake Up! morning show. Malachy talked about our materials and the services we provide. Click here to listen to the show (segment starts around 38:00 mark).
In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, our client Francesca spoke to Florida Catholic about life in the era of social distancing and the "new normal." Francesca receives our braille materials to learn about, develop, and practice her Faith. Click here to read the article in its entirety.
Our Executive Director Malachy Fallon was a featured guest on Blind and Beyond Radio Show in June 2020. He discussed our 120-year-old mission, our offerings and the people we serve. Click here to tune in (segment starts around 18:00).
Annabelle Moseley, a Catholic Author, Poet, and Professor of Theology, celebrated her book Sacred Braille being transcribed into braille by interviewing our Executive Director Malachy Fallon on her radio show Destination Sainthood. They discussed our important and fascinating ministry, as well as the significant theological, literary and devotional works we provide in braille and audio. Check out the interview which starts around the 16:00 mark by clicking here!
Father Patrick Martin has received audio materials from Xavier Society to help him develop and practice his Faith, as well as serve others. He has written many books on blindness and being called to a vocation, and has led 1,200 missions over four decades. Read more about him in this profile from Florida Catholic, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Miami, by clicking here.
Sister Dolores Dean is a longtime braille client and also proofreads many of our new additions in braille. A Benedictine nun, she is quite the inspiration. Read more about her in The Arlington Catholic Herald, the newspaper of the Diocese of Arlington, by clicking here.
The Tablet (Diocesan newspaper of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens) covered our 2019 St. Lucy Mass, in honor of the patron saint of the blind. The Mass was celebrated in St. Francis Xavier Church by Father Jamie Dennis, a blind priest from the Diocese of Owensboro in Kentucky. We also streamed the Mass which you can watch here and Currents news featured on our Mass on their daily program which you can watch here.
Our braille client Tony from the Diocese of Orange is currently attending Mount Angel Abbey & Seminary in Oregon. He is the first blind seminarian to attend in the Seminary's 130 year history! Tony is one of our many clients who has entered religious life and is an inspiration to all. Check out this great article from the Archdiocese of Portland's diocesan newspaper by clicking here.
As many of our clients lost their vision later in life, many of the people we serve do not read braille. Father Bernard Ezaki of the Diocese of Allentown, is one of those clients. He received large print and audio materials from us to serve his parish and practice his Faith. Check out this article on him that appeared in Crux by clicking here.
New Jersey Catholic showcases Catholics from around the Archdiocese of Newark and how they practice their faith, inspiring readers with examples on how they can do the same in whatever their walk of life. Our braille client Eileen Scrivani was one of the inspiring parishioners that was profiled by the magazine in October 2019. Check out the article by clicking here.
Father Jamie Dennis celebrated our most recent St. Lucy Mass in honor of our patron saint at St. Francis Xavier Church. We were blessed to have many other clients participate as lectors and serving on the altar. Tim Harfmann, a reporter with Currents News, was there. Currents News is a nightly news program featuring local, national and international events and interviews on NET-TV, a Catholic cable TV network based in the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens. Check it out by clicking here.
Many of our clients are located outside of the United States and use of braille materials in order to understand, develop and practice their Faith. One of these inspirational clients is Father Mikkel Trestrail of Trinidad and Tobago. Father Trestrail was recently ordained a priest, and you can read more about his ordination here. Since being ordained, he has been making waves and has also been featured in The Guardian. You can read more about him and his journey to the priesthood by clicking here. We are blessed to have him as a client!
In mid-May 2019, Malachy and our longtime braille patron Bob White stopped by the Just Love Radio Show at Sirius XM studios in midtown Manhattan. Hosted by Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of New York, Just Love is a popular program on The Catholic Channel, XM 129. Malachy and Bob chatted with Monsignor Sullivan about our mission and the materials we provide to patrons worldwide.
Please click here to listen to the broadcast (starts around 6:04)! If you are in the Archdiocese of New York, you may recognize Bob - since 1987 he has presented the Mass on Sundays on WFUV Fordham Radio. Like many patrons who lector, Bob uses our Propers of the Sunday Mass in braille as well as the Holy Week Triduum.
Andrea is a 17 year old high school student who receives our braille materials.She also LOVES to lector at her parish St. Leo the Great in Fairfax, VA. She claims to be introverted, but we need more convincing! Click here to read the fantastic article by George Goss of The Arlington Catholic Herald in the Diocese of Arlington and make sure to listen to the podcast she features in as well. Her enthusiasm for her Catholic Faith is very inspiring.
Our young braille client Mara was profiled in her diocesan newspaper The Leaven (Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas). Click here to read it. Mara has certainly been stealing the spotlight since our 2018 St. Lucy Mass and we couldn't be more proud! If you missed any of the other publications she has been featured in check out our January 2019 newsletter by clicking here. Also, she made a great video explaining what materials she receives from Xavier Society and how it helps her practice her Faith. Be sure to check that out as well by clicking here!
Net-TV the Catholic television network of the Diocese of Brooklyn featured our Executive Director Malachy Fallon and Director of Technology Donald Salvato about the history and services of XSB. Click here to watch the entire segment.
Detroit Catholic, the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Detroit, profiled our clients Mike and Frank. Both men are very active in their parishes - Mike cantors and facilitates the music program at St. Mark parish in Warren, MI and Frank has worked with the Archdiocesan Special Needs ministry. Check out this great piece by Kelly Luttinen by clicking here.
Chicago Catholic, the diocesan newspaper of the Archdiocese of Chicago, published this great piece detailing the materials we provide to clients in Chicago and beyond. There's a great quote in this article about how we want to serve more people, and it's all about getting the word out about our mission and what we do. We think this article does a pretty good job of that! Read the article by clicking here.
Here's great article from The Boston Globe featuring our braille Bible which we produced in partnership with National Braille Press and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops some years ago. Click here to read more about this momentous undertaking!
Brooke Petro is a braille patron and a very talented young lady. She was one of 50 to qualify for the 2019 Braille Challenge and her Diocesan newspaper featured her in an article. Click here to read more from The Leaven.
Executive Director Malachy Fallon appeared on Catholic TV's This is the Day show with Bishop Robert Reed to discuss our conversion to digital Talking Book format and about the other braille and audio materials available from our library. If you missed the interview or would like to watch it again click here! Thank you to all at Catholic TV, particularly Bonnie Rodgers and Bishop Reed, for helping to spread word of our mission to provide the Word of God to those who cannot see.
Our client and Advisory Group member Sharlene Kraft was profiled in The Tablet, the Diocesan newspaper of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens. Sharlene has been active in her parish as a lector, and is a great ambassador for Xavier Society for the Blind. She was also profiled on Currents News, and you can watch that segment here.
We serve a very inspiring order of nuns in Kenya - the Sacramentine Sisters of Don Orione! We are blessed to provide them with braille materials to assist them in prayer and their day to day lives. These Sisters are an inspiration to all with and without sight. Learn more about this order located in many countries throughout the world by clicking here.
Our braille client Neil was featured in an article in The Catholic Commentator, official newspaper for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Neil loves music, reading, and most importantly his Faith! Click here to read more.
Justin McDevitt is a braille patron of Xavier Society for the Blind, and like many of our patrons, he uses his Propers of the Sunday Mass to lector. Amazingly, his sighted daughter Maeve lectors right alongside him - she just so happens to be deaf and signs for other hearing impaired parishioners. Thanks to Joe Ruff and all at The Catholic Spirit, the diocesan newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, for this incredible story. Read the article by clicking here.
Florida Catholic, the diocesan newspaper serving the dioceses of Orlando, Palm Beach, Venice and the Archdiocese of Miami printed a great article on our clients in Florida and the materials they receive in order for them to learn about, develop and practice their Faith. The article also interviewed Dolores Hanley McDiarmid who is in our Advisory Group and has been instrumental in spreading word of our mission, particularly in south Florida. She has also written a book about her experience working with people living with blindness or visual impairments entitled Moved by the Spirit: A Call to Work with People Living with Blindness and Visual Impairments. We have her book available in our braille and audio libraries, please let us know if you'd like to request it. To read the Florida Catholic article click here.
Catholic Philly profiled our clients Suzanne and Bill in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia who receive our braille materials to participate in the Mass and learn about their Faith. Suzanne is a parishioner of Our Lady of Hope Parish, where she plays the piano and cantors. Bill, a member of our Advisory Group, has lectored at our most recent St. Lucy Mass and is the president and founder of Dancing Dots Braille Music Tech. Click here to read the full article.
Intermountain Catholic, the Diocese of Salt Lake City's newspaper, profiled our client Ernest who lost his sight during the Vietnam War. Read more about him here.
Suzie Yost receives our braille materials to learn about, develop, and practice her Faith. Read more about her in this great piece from the Archdiocese of New Orleans' Clarion Herald newspaper by clicking here.
In 2016, we were blessed to have our St. Lucy Mass celebrated for the first time by Father Jamie Dennis. He was recently ordained as a priest, and it was inspiring to have our clients and supporters together on the Feast of the patron saint of the blind. Catholic New York was also with us and featured the Mass which you can read by clicking here.
After our St. Lucy Mass in 2016, The Western Kentucky Catholic profiled Father Jamie Dennis in its January 2017 issue. Father Dennis is well known in the Diocese of Owensboro and it was a big deal for him to celebrate Mass at the Lady Chapel in St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC. His homily on being a blind priest was also very inspiring. Click here to read more.
Our client Sophia Mikowas was featured in a great article from The Evangelist, the diocesan newspaper of the Diocese of Albany. Click here to read the article in its entirety.
Shelly Gray is a member of our Advisory Group, and was profiled in her diocesan newspaper. A longtime braille patron of ours, she is also a gifted musician and plays the guitar at her parish. To learn more about Shelly check out The Archdiocese of Omaha's Catholic Voice by clicking here.
Bridget Bowers is an inspiration to those with and without sight. A convert to Catholicism, Bridget lectors at her parish St. Luke the Evangelist in Indianapolis with the help of our Propers of the Sunday Mass in braille. She is also a member of our Advisory Group, helping us select new titles in braille and audio and advising us on new initiatives. To learn more about Bridget check out the article that appeared in The Archdiocese of Indianpolis' newspaper The Criterion by clicking here.
Our client David was featured in an article from the Diocese of Greensburg's newspaper The Catholic Accent in which he talks about the importance of his faith. Click here to read the article in its entirety.
Following our 2018 St. Lucy Mass, the Metuchen Catholic Spirit published an article written by one of our board members - Father Hank Hilton! Father Hilton is a great ambassador for our organization and his article really helped get the word out about us in the Diocese of Metuchen and beyond. Click here to read more.
Jed Surdyke Jed Surdyke is a postulant Catholic Brother in the order of Little Brothers of the Lamb, a monastery in Kansas City, KS who has received our braille materials. Click here to read more about his journey to the religious life.
Our audio client Inés was featured in the Diocese of Tucson's publication Catholic Outlook. Inés is a Spiritual Director in the Diocese of Tucson & attended SAAVI Services for the Blind. She receives our audio materials, and also is a member of our Advisory Group. To read more, check out the article by clicking here.
Robert Dittman, a braille client from Texas, is also a successful lawyer and a volunteer member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Above all, he is committed to his Catholic Faith. You can read more about Robert, his life, and career, by clicking here.
Our Advisory Group member Dolores McDiarmid along with some of the people we serve were featured in an article from Florida Catholic, the diocesan newspaper for the Archdiocese of Miami. Click here to read more!
Heaven is a client of ours in the Diocese of Fresno, and her classmates took part in a blindfold experiment. Click here to read more about the challenge and how Heaven inspires her fellow students.
Our braille client (and very talented golfer!) David Meador was profiled in a blog post by Ned Andrew Solomon in which he discusses his life, faith, and last but certainly not least, his golf game. Click here to read more.
Catholic Charities of New York posted a blog post about Xavier Society, our clients, and the services we provide on their website. You can read more by clicking here.
Our client Ann traveled to India to teach blind students and was profiled in an article from Catholic Courier, the newspaper of the Diocese of Rochester. Click here to read more!
Our client Susan was highlighted by The University Daily Kansan in which she talked about her life, her work, and the tools she uses to help her and others who are visually impaired. Click here to read the article in full. She was profiled in an article on LJWorld.com in which she discussed being blind and how her faith is important to her. Click here to read more.
