“For Bishop Rosati this was a dream realized. He now had the personnel (the two newly arrived CSJ’s) needed to initiate the work among the deaf.” Courtesy of CSJ archives
179 years ago today, our founding Sisters of St Joseph of Carondelet travelled an exhausting journey up the Mississippi to serve children with hearing loss. They arrived months later, worn out and a little frightened of this new world and its language. Bishop Rosati, who had requested them to begin with, welcomed them and helped establish their foothold in the new world. Fast forward to today and this isn’t so removed from our families today who travel physically or figuratively to get the help they need for their children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Whether it’s travel to our centers for evaluation, travel to receive a hearing aid adjustment for better sound quality or even figurative travel via the internet, all are seeking a better outcome for their child. And it is a new world for them, filled with tiny hearing devices, skills they must learn and a language that they may not understand.
Thousands of students later, we are proud to say we can provide a better outcome for families who select listening and spoken language communication for their child. Children who might have chosen futures based on limitations and outcomes may now choose futures based on dreams and hopes. Our students, ranging from a mainstreamed third grader to a physician with an active practice, literally change the way the world thinks about those with hearing loss. And our world is better for the interaction with them.
“Hearing our children sing a song, create a YouTube video, or blow us a kiss fill us with inspiration to serve the dear neighbor where ever the neighbor is, whether in St. Louis or in Russia. How can we feel anything else but blessed to be a part of a mission that offers hope to families? And that is what they tell us – we offer them hope sometimes when they feel there is no where else to turn and the world is caving in on them.”
— Cheryl Broekelmann, Director of St Louis services and SJI employee for more than 30 years.
Why continue to provide this service when the world of deaf education is changing so rapidly, so dramatically? Our services are life changing but more importantly, our services provide hope. Hope for a child who wants to play soccer with his friends. Hope for a family that desires a regular dinnertime conversation. Hope for children who wish to attend college. It’s all possible with listening and spoken language which in turn, connects the child to society. Those of us that serve this mission wish to do so fully, completely and with joy. SJI President Teri Ouellette says,” I serve joyfully! I believe God has brought me to this moment to join with the Sisters to serve children and families in ways we never dreamed possible. The values we share with the CSJs have continued the service of the “dear neighbor” across Missouri, Indiana, 18 states and the world.”
We couldn’t agree more. Happy birthday to us and many happy returns!