International Catholic Deaf Association

ICDA-US invites you to membership

HISTORY - WHAT IS ICDA-US - PURPOSE - GOVERNMENT - PUBLICATION - CONVENTION - MEMBERSHIP

The International Catholic Deaf Association was founded in July, 1949, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada by prominent Catholic deaf people from Buffalo, Detroit and Toronto. This first Congress of the Catholic Deaf in both Canada and the United States of America worked with ten priests to lay plans for an International Organization. James Cardinal McGuigan, then Archbishop of Toronto, gave the project his approval. From these initial efforts evolved the International Catholic Deaf Association (ICDA).

The summer of 1987, in Hartford, Connecticut, at the annual convention of the ICDA, saw the membership deciding to establish a United States national section, following the establishment of the Canadian national section in 1974. In 1989 at the Portland, Oregon business convention of the ICDA, the first officers of the International Catholic Deaf Association - United States Section (ICDA-US) were elected. The ICDA-US constitution was adopted in July 1991 at the Cleveland, Ohio business convention.

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WHAT IS ICDA-US?
The ICDA-US is an organization of Catholic deaf people in the United States of America. Its membership comprises local Chapters and individual members. Local Chapters are affliliated with ICDA-US, but govern and manage their own activities in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws of the ICDA-US. Currently, there are 108 local chapters. The United States is divided into six Regions. Each region is entitled to have office, and to better unite, serve, and promote growth in the faith ofthe members and local Chapters within their Region.
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PURPOSE

The objects and purposes of the ICDA-US are defined in the Constitution as follows:

To promote cultural, spiritual, and social union among deaf and hard-of- hearing Catholics;

To promote the teachings and principles of the Catholic faith, among deaf and hard-of-hearing people;

To engage in all good works pertaining to the educational, social, and moral advancement of deaf and hard-of-hearing people;

To provide accurate information to the public concerning deaf and hard-of-hearing Catholics;

To provide for the exchange of ideas and information among the Chapters of the IDCA-US;

To carry on without purpose of gain for its members and any profits or other accretions to the ICDA-US shall be used in promoting objects; and

To recognize all people as brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, our Savior.

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GOVERNMENT
ICDA-US is governed by the membership and a six member elected Board of Directors consisting of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplain, and immediate Past President. With the possible exception of the Chaplain, all officers are deaf. In addition, there are few appointed officers to carry out specific projects or to fulfull special duties.
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PUBLICATION
Each member of the ICDA-US receives The Deaf Catholic, the official publication of the ICDA, which is published five times a year. Through this periodial information concerning ICDA and the worldwide Catholic Deaf Community reaches all members and others.
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CONVENTIONS
Business and Workshop Conventions are held biennial to bring together delegates, moderators, regional representatives and members from each of the United States Chapters to allow for an exchange of ideas, a sharing of knowledge, and a forum for making plans to further the apostolic work among the deaf people in the USA.
ICDA schedule

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MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Membership in the ICDA-US is open to all Catholic deaf people and to hearing people who are interested in working with deaf Catholics. Membership dues are $15.00 per year for a single person, and $20.00 per year for a married couple. According to the following categories:

ACTIVE Members shall be:

Deaf or hard-of-hearing practicing Catholics;

Those hearing, deaf, or hard-of-hearing religious or lay pastorial workers devoted to ministry with the Deaf;

A Catholic hearing spouse of a deaf or hard-of-hearing member.

ASSOCIATE Members shall be:
Hearing persons who has any active interest in the Chapter's social, educational, or spiritual welfare of deaf or hard-of-hearing persons

LIFETIME Membership in the ICDA-US is $150.00 payable in full or in installments over four years.

All memberships include a subscription to the The Deaf Catholic Magazine.
Additional info: Kathleen Kush Return to Top of page