Parish bulletin is no mystery to blind woman, thanks to friend

She never reads her Sunday bulletin anymore, but 83-year-old Laura can tell you everything that's in it.

That's because her bulletin from St. Vincent de Paul Church in Albany comes to her not on paper -- but on audiotape.

Laura (who asked that her last name not be published) is at the receiving end of an innovative lay outreach ministry that focuses on helping the visually impaired keep their pulse on parish life.

"Before I became legally blind, I used to read my bulletin religiously from cover-to-cover," explains Laura. "After I lost my sight, I missed reading about things that were going on in the parish -- who the Masses were being said for, who was getting married, or what special events were being planned."

Enter Marilyn Bellafiore and the colorful, child-proof "Playskool" cassette tape-recorder she picked up for 50 cents at a garage sale for her 15-month-old and a three-year-old children.

"If anyone stopped by and saw me reading the bulletin aloud into my children's tape recorder, they'd probably get quite a laugh," she admits. "I mean, it looks like a toy, but actually, it makes excellent recordings."

Mrs. Bellafiore assumed her unusual ministry after seeing an ad in the church bulletin seeking a volunteer who would be willing to tape-record the bulletin for a visually impaired parishioner on a weekly basis.

"I've really had to cut back on my volunteer activities since the children came along," explained Mrs. Bellafiore. "Anything that requires attending regular meetings and things of that nature just isn't possible right now, so I had been looking for something I could do from my own home when the kids were asleep. When I saw the ad, I thought: `This would be perfect,' and I gave Walt a call."

"Walt" is Walter Chura, who had started the bulletin reading ministry to aid a different blind parishioner at St. Vincent's several years before. According to Mr. Chura, credit for the lay ministry's founding actually belongs to the late Betty O'Toole.

"She asked me several years ago if I would consider reading the bulletin into a tape recorder so she could stay in touch with parish happenings," he explained.

Over the next six or seven years, Mr. Chura, who is also a lector, faithfully read the bulletin to the visually impaired woman.

"It was a lot of fun," recalls Mr. Chura, noting that he read Mrs. O'Toole every single item inside the weekly bulletins, from community announcements and coming events to the pastor's message and the amount of the previous week's collection.

"Three or four times a year, if there wasn't a lot inside, I'd go over the information on the front cover and talk about the ads, too," he said.

Although he found the reading ministry rewarding, Mr. Chura had to phase it out of his weekly schedule due a change in his employment situation. That's when he decided to place an item in the bulletin seeking someone to take his place.

He was delighted when Marilyn Bellafiore called him. He was particularly struck by her enthusiasm, which comes across in her voice. It's something Laura also finds appealing.

"Marilyn does a beautiful job of reading the bulletin," Laura said. "She has such a nice way about her. She puts a lot of feeling into what she is reading, and it makes it a pleasure to listen to the tapes."

While Laura and Mrs. Bellafiore are now familiar with each other's voices and exchange little notes, they have yet to meet in person.

"I bring the tapes to the church when I'm done and then they are given to Laura, but I'm hoping our paths will cross in the near future," said Mrs. Bellafiore. "She sounds like such a dear soul on the phone. I'd really love to meet her."

(04-10-97)

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