Only Active Deaf and Blind Priest in the World

Fr. Cyril Axelrod, whose autobiography  was recently published by the Catholic Publishing Corp., will give a lecture on what it is that we all can do to make the world a better place for the handicapped. Fr. Axelrod is one of only 15 priests worldwide who is deaf, and the only one who is blind as well as deaf. Both Catholic papers had articles on the publication of his book and on his visit to Korea.

Born in South Africa, in 1942, into a religiously observant Orthodox Jewish family, he was diagnosed with the Usher Syndrome, which was the reason for his complete deafness at birth and subsequently going blind. He converted to Catholicism and became a Redemptorist priest, working to set up centers for the deaf in many parts of the world. He maintains that even with this handicap there is something they can do; it is his message of hope.

In South Africa, despite the apartheid policy of the government, he began a school for the deaf, regardless of race, and started centers providing education and training for employment; this was continued in the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong  and Macau.  He travels to different parts of the world to give hope to those who are deaf and blind, helping them to become self-sufficient.
 
Because of his devout Orthodox Jewish family, there were many problems with his becoming Catholic, besides the problem of his own deafness. In writing his autobiography, he did not depend on a ghost writer but wrote it himself, wanting his readers to gain courage and wisdom from hearing about his own experiences.  He said he first decided to be a Rabbi to help those of the Jewish faith who were deaf, but this was not possible because of his physical condition. The frustration was great, he said, but because of a special experience in his life he converted to Catholicism, though his decision was opposed by the family. Regardless of belief, he wants to help all those who have handicaps to live life fully, recently helping the deaf of the Jewish faith to have a meaningful Passover in South Africa. 

The Catholic Press has provided an audio of Fr. Cyril's voice, dubbed so that the visually handicapped can listen.  Part of the income from the sale of the book will go to the work for the deaf in Korea.

The only Korean deaf priest is Fr. Park, who met Fr. Cyril in 1997 at the Gallaudet University, the only liberal arts college for the deaf in the world. Fr. Park considers him the Helen Keller of the 21st century.

Fr. Park wrote in one of the articles, "The two handicaps that Father has he considers gifts and a reason he shares his love for those similarly handicapped. Fr. Cyril told him his deafness is nothing compared to the cross of Jesus, but that his personal cross shows us God's glory. Fr. Cyril is a great sign to all in the world that there is hope for the handicapped, especially to those who have lost hope because of their difficulties in life."