Six years ago, Maria Zoerlein, 17, discovered what it means to participate fully in the Mass. Blind since age 5 as the result of a rare tumor that damaged her optic nerve, Zoerlein learned about the Xavier Society for the Blind and uses its free Braille materials for Mass.
“It’s very valuable. If I didn’t have it, I would definitely be put out,” she said. Zoerlein uses the readings for every Sunday Mass and also sings using Braille copies of hymns. “Even when we travel, it’s great. They come like clockwork in the mail,” said Maria’s Father Tim Zoerlein. “It’s certainly a blessing. I want her to be connected to what’s going on in Mass. I think she’s more connected with the Mass than I was when I was 17 years old.”
Founded in 1900, the Xavier Society helps blind and visually impaired Catholics with Braille and audio resources. “Our clients really have no other way of getting these resources,” said Aisling Redican, Xavier Society coordinator of communications. “A lot of our clients were people who were sighted at some stage and have lost vision over the years. They’ve gotten older and have cataracts or macular degeneration, so audiobooks play a huge role in their lives because they don’t read Braille.”
Linda Schneider, 72, has used Xavier Society Braille and audiobook materials since she was a young girl. She graduated from Trinity College in 1974 with a degree in English literature and earned a law degree from Georgetown before a long career at the Securities and Exchange Commission. She credits Xavier Society for giving her a life of independence, allowing her to participate fully in her professional and Catholic life. “I don’t know how you quantify something like that. It’s been wonderful to have a source of material that is faith oriented.”
Schneider lives just three blocks from Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Arlington, where she has walked to church with her beloved guide dogs since 1977. “It’s so very useful to have those readings and to be able to follow along. It’s been a very big blessing,” she said.
The readings for Sunday Mass are the most popular materials produced by the Xavier Society, but the demand for recordings of the Bible are increasing. “We get asked for it all the time,” said Redican. “We’re in the process of recording the most recent edition of the New American Bible, which is the translation approved by the USCCB, so that’s going to be huge.”
Along with the increasing demand for audiobooks, the quality of the recordings is improving as actors and retired broadcasters are part of the regular rotation of readers. Books on the lives of the Saints, Bible studies and recordings of popular authors such as Matthew Kelly are all in production. “We are just trying to reach people who need these resources and we want them to know that the resources are here and provided free of charge,” said Redican. “Please use them.”
