REV. CHARLES BURGER, C. SS. R.
Roman Catholic priest of the Redemporist Order.
Born and raised in Baltimore he devoted his life to the church and working with the deaf community .
In 1920's founded St. Francis De Sales Deaf-Mute Chapel in Rochester NY. Father Burger also established other centers in Canandaigua , Auburn and Elmira New York .
In addition to the Diocese of Rochester, he also touched the lives of parishioners in Cincinnati, Baltimore, Pittsburgh,Philadelphia, and Hartford,
Father Burger worked to raise the social acceptance in
an era when most of the public ignored the deaf community.
He returned home to his native Baltimore and passed away at Bon Secours Hospital after a long illness. His funeral was held at St. Michael's Church
------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO at right of Rev Burger was copied from
ST. JOSEPH'S PARISH CENTENNIAL SOUVENIR
ROCHESTER, N. Y. 1836 - 1936
REV. CHARLES BURGER, C. SS. R. (Deceased)
Founder of St. Francis De Sales Deaf-Mute Chapel
"And they bring to him one deaf and dumb; and they besought him that he would lay his hand upon him.
And taking him from the multitude apart, he put his fingers into his ears, and spitting, he touched his tongue:
And looking up to heaven, he groaned, and said to him: 'Ephpheta,' which is, Be thou opened.
And immediately his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right." (30)
The cure of the deaf-mute by Our Divine Lord naturally suggests the subject of the spiritual care of these afflicted people. In this regard St. Joseph's has shone conspicuously for the past twenty-eight years. In 1908 the Rev. William Kessel, Rector, organized the "St. Joseph's Ephpheta Society," in their interest; and twice a month he and the Rev. Aloysius Engelhardt gave an instruction to about twenty-five Catholic deaf-mutes in the sign language. They were followed by the Revs. Joseph Schnorr and Aloysius Strauss.
But in February, 1926, this work assumed a wider scope, when the Rev. Charles Burger, who had just been assigned to St. Joseph's, was appointed chaplain of all the Catholic deaf-mutes in the Diocese of Rochester by the Most Rev. Bishop Hickey. Father Burger came to his apostolate, a mature man of fifty-three, with about fourteen years experience as a missionary among the deaf-mutes. In November, 1914, he received high commendation for his remarkable zeal in this field from the Most Rev. Bishop Canevin of Pittsburgh. The following March he gave a mission to the Catholic and non-Catholic deaf-mutes in St. Philomena's Church that city, which was so successful that the Rev. Thomas F. Coakley, pastor of the deaf-mutes in Pittsburgh, sent a syndicated letter to all the Catholic papers in the country, calling attention to Father Burger's splendid work. After such nation-wide publicity his fame preceded him to Rochester, and Bishop Hickey told him that he must continue his work until a diocesan priest could be found to take his place. Such an order was really superfluous, because Father Burger was only too willing to devote the rest of his life to his beloved deaf-mutes; and as a matter of fact he continued his work with unfailing enthusiasm and unflagging zeal until mortal illness laid him low. He began his task by getting, as far as possible. The names of all the Catholic deaf-mutes in the diocese, and it was his constant endeavor to keep in close touch with all of them, on the principle laid down by Our Lord; "I know mine and mine know me." (31)
During the Lent of 1926 he conducted the Stations of the Cross on Sundays in St. Joseph's for his silent flock. On Low Sunday, April 11. Easter Communion was held at the nine o'clock Mass, about thirty-two people receiving. Father Burger explained the Mass to them and led the usual Communion prayers-all in the sign language. Pentecost Sunday, May 23, was First Communion day for one boy and seven girls from the Rochester School for the Deaf. Ephpheta Sunday, August 8, 1926, was celebrated by a General Communion, at which forty-one people approached the Holy Table. On December 12 the Sacrament of Confirmation was administered to twelve persons: two men, two women, three boys and five girls. After the services Father Burger assembled those who had been confirmed and other deaf-mutes to the number of twenty-five in the presence of the Bishop, and showed him how they prayed by signs and finger-spelling. On the first Sunday of every month he preached to them in St. Joseph's, the average attendance being twenty-five. On October 17 and 24 he addressed the deaf-mutes in St. John's Church, Elmira, ten being present on each occasion.
Besides Rochester Father Burger established centres for his work at Canandaigua, Auburn and Elmira; and when he found it impossible to reach these places regularly, he adopted the practice of sending the deaf-mutes a monthly circular, which combined the advantages of a sermon and an instruction. In one of these letters, February 21, 1930, he says:
"As usual I shall pay the travelling expenses every Sunday, to and fro, of those who come a distance of 5-200 miles to attend our Lenten services."
On seven successive Sundays, March 2-April 13, 1930, Father Burger gave his parishioners from the whole diocese a simple, practical instruction on some phase of the Holy Eucharist, thus preparing them for their Easter duty. Every Friday afternoon he had the children from the Rochester School for the Deaf brought to St. Joseph's for instruction. On June 7, 1931, he opened, in St. Joseph's Hall, St. Francis de Sales' Chapel for deaf-mutes, where Mass is celebrated every Sunday at nine o'clock.
De Sales
St. Francis De Sales Deaf-Mute Chapel
Father Burger even provided silent "movies" regularly for them. Some non-Catholics attended them, thus affording him an opportunity to get in touch with them.
In addition to his labors in the Diocese of Rochester, he also gave missions, retreats and tridua to the deaf-mutes in Cincinnati, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Hartford, Conn. Everywhere his labors were abundantly blessed.
In 1931 the Rev. William Doherty was sent to St. Joseph's to assist Father Burger; and in 1933, when the veteran deaf-mute missionary became incapacitated by the ravages of disease, Father Doherty succeeded him as chaplain of the deaf-mutes of the diocese. In 1935 he was joined by the Rev. Gerard Kuhn. Filled with the energy and enthusiasm of youth these two Redemptorists are faithfully carrying on the work so nobly done by Father Burger and his predecessors.
Through the courtesy of Father Doherty we are able to present the following summary of the deaf-mute apostolate at the present time: Number of deaf-mute adults in the City of Rochester: seventy-eight; number elsewhere in the diocese: twenty-three; total of adults: one hundred and one; number of deaf-mute children in the city: fifty; number elsewhere: twelve; total of children: sixty-two; grand total: one hundred and sixty-three. Average attendance of adults at Sunday Mass in St. Francis de Sales' Chapel, between twenty-five and thirty; but here it is to be remarked that those living at a distance usually assist at Mass in their respective parish churches; average attendance of children at Sunday Mass about fifty. They are brought from the Rochester School for the Deaf on the street car. About ninety children and adults receive Holy Communion monthly in the Chapel; others approach the Holy Table in their own churches. On special occasions, such as Easter and Ephpheta Sunday, the attendance at Mass in the Chapel is between fifty and sixty. Since 1933 there have been four marriages, one of which was mixed; during the same period there have been three converts. Lenten services, Holy Week services and Forty Hours' Devotion are regularly held for the deaf-mutes.
In January of this year Father Doherty organized a social club for the Catholic deaf of the city. It began with twenty-five members. The primary purpose of the club is to wean the Catholics away from non-Catholic social gatherings, and thus eliminate or at least minimize the danger of mixed marriages and the loss of faith. However non-Catholics are not excluded from the social affairs.
In the Catholic Courier, Rochester, N. Y., January 19, 1933, a lengthy article appeared on the deaf-mute work at St. Joseph's. It said in part:
"Although the work among the deaf is progressing, yet it is not progressing at the speed it should. Much of its tardy progress is due to the parents of these afflicted people. Sad to say, parents of the deaf are as a rule ashamed of their deaf offspring and therefore hide them from public view, until it is impossible to do so any longer. They consider the deafness of the child a reflection on themselves. Others again will not take the full interest in their children that they ought to take, with the result that their grown-up sons and daughters become shiftless. When, however, the parents are solicitous, helpful and zealous, then you have deaf men and boys, women and girls, of whom any chaplain will be proud. It is pitiful and sad to see parents careless in the spiritual education of their deaf offspring A soul is a soul, dear to God and created to His image, be it united to the body of a deaf, of a mute, of a blind or a crippled person. Heaven is its true home, as well as it is the home of your or my soul."
Before closing this article it is proper to mention that Father Burger died a most edifying death on August 20, 1934, in the Bon Secours Hospital, Baltimore, his native city. His funeral was held on the 24th from St. Michael's Church, and the interment took place in Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery. Followed by the heartfelt prayers of hundreds of Catholic deaf-mutes, to whom he had been a friend and father in Christ, this noble and zealous priest, this true Redemptorist sleeps the sleep of the just. Peace be to his ashes! Eternal rest to his soul!
------------------------------------------------------
FAMILY LINKS
Father Burger's nephew
Joseph Burger
------------------------------------------------------
Roman Catholic priest of the Redemporist Order.
Born and raised in Baltimore he devoted his life to the church and working with the deaf community .
In 1920's founded St. Francis De Sales Deaf-Mute Chapel in Rochester NY. Father Burger also established other centers in Canandaigua , Auburn and Elmira New York .
In addition to the Diocese of Rochester, he also touched the lives of parishioners in Cincinnati, Baltimore, Pittsburgh,Philadelphia, and Hartford,
Father Burger worked to raise the social acceptance in
an era when most of the public ignored the deaf community.
He returned home to his native Baltimore and passed away at Bon Secours Hospital after a long illness. His funeral was held at St. Michael's Church
------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO at right of Rev Burger was copied from
ST. JOSEPH'S PARISH CENTENNIAL SOUVENIR
ROCHESTER, N. Y. 1836 - 1936
REV. CHARLES BURGER, C. SS. R. (Deceased)
Founder of St. Francis De Sales Deaf-Mute Chapel
"And they bring to him one deaf and dumb; and they besought him that he would lay his hand upon him.
And taking him from the multitude apart, he put his fingers into his ears, and spitting, he touched his tongue:
And looking up to heaven, he groaned, and said to him: 'Ephpheta,' which is, Be thou opened.
And immediately his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right." (30)
The cure of the deaf-mute by Our Divine Lord naturally suggests the subject of the spiritual care of these afflicted people. In this regard St. Joseph's has shone conspicuously for the past twenty-eight years. In 1908 the Rev. William Kessel, Rector, organized the "St. Joseph's Ephpheta Society," in their interest; and twice a month he and the Rev. Aloysius Engelhardt gave an instruction to about twenty-five Catholic deaf-mutes in the sign language. They were followed by the Revs. Joseph Schnorr and Aloysius Strauss.
But in February, 1926, this work assumed a wider scope, when the Rev. Charles Burger, who had just been assigned to St. Joseph's, was appointed chaplain of all the Catholic deaf-mutes in the Diocese of Rochester by the Most Rev. Bishop Hickey. Father Burger came to his apostolate, a mature man of fifty-three, with about fourteen years experience as a missionary among the deaf-mutes. In November, 1914, he received high commendation for his remarkable zeal in this field from the Most Rev. Bishop Canevin of Pittsburgh. The following March he gave a mission to the Catholic and non-Catholic deaf-mutes in St. Philomena's Church that city, which was so successful that the Rev. Thomas F. Coakley, pastor of the deaf-mutes in Pittsburgh, sent a syndicated letter to all the Catholic papers in the country, calling attention to Father Burger's splendid work. After such nation-wide publicity his fame preceded him to Rochester, and Bishop Hickey told him that he must continue his work until a diocesan priest could be found to take his place. Such an order was really superfluous, because Father Burger was only too willing to devote the rest of his life to his beloved deaf-mutes; and as a matter of fact he continued his work with unfailing enthusiasm and unflagging zeal until mortal illness laid him low. He began his task by getting, as far as possible. The names of all the Catholic deaf-mutes in the diocese, and it was his constant endeavor to keep in close touch with all of them, on the principle laid down by Our Lord; "I know mine and mine know me." (31)
During the Lent of 1926 he conducted the Stations of the Cross on Sundays in St. Joseph's for his silent flock. On Low Sunday, April 11. Easter Communion was held at the nine o'clock Mass, about thirty-two people receiving. Father Burger explained the Mass to them and led the usual Communion prayers-all in the sign language. Pentecost Sunday, May 23, was First Communion day for one boy and seven girls from the Rochester School for the Deaf. Ephpheta Sunday, August 8, 1926, was celebrated by a General Communion, at which forty-one people approached the Holy Table. On December 12 the Sacrament of Confirmation was administered to twelve persons: two men, two women, three boys and five girls. After the services Father Burger assembled those who had been confirmed and other deaf-mutes to the number of twenty-five in the presence of the Bishop, and showed him how they prayed by signs and finger-spelling. On the first Sunday of every month he preached to them in St. Joseph's, the average attendance being twenty-five. On October 17 and 24 he addressed the deaf-mutes in St. John's Church, Elmira, ten being present on each occasion.
Besides Rochester Father Burger established centres for his work at Canandaigua, Auburn and Elmira; and when he found it impossible to reach these places regularly, he adopted the practice of sending the deaf-mutes a monthly circular, which combined the advantages of a sermon and an instruction. In one of these letters, February 21, 1930, he says:
"As usual I shall pay the travelling expenses every Sunday, to and fro, of those who come a distance of 5-200 miles to attend our Lenten services."
On seven successive Sundays, March 2-April 13, 1930, Father Burger gave his parishioners from the whole diocese a simple, practical instruction on some phase of the Holy Eucharist, thus preparing them for their Easter duty. Every Friday afternoon he had the children from the Rochester School for the Deaf brought to St. Joseph's for instruction. On June 7, 1931, he opened, in St. Joseph's Hall, St. Francis de Sales' Chapel for deaf-mutes, where Mass is celebrated every Sunday at nine o'clock.
De Sales
St. Francis De Sales Deaf-Mute Chapel
Father Burger even provided silent "movies" regularly for them. Some non-Catholics attended them, thus affording him an opportunity to get in touch with them.
In addition to his labors in the Diocese of Rochester, he also gave missions, retreats and tridua to the deaf-mutes in Cincinnati, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Hartford, Conn. Everywhere his labors were abundantly blessed.
In 1931 the Rev. William Doherty was sent to St. Joseph's to assist Father Burger; and in 1933, when the veteran deaf-mute missionary became incapacitated by the ravages of disease, Father Doherty succeeded him as chaplain of the deaf-mutes of the diocese. In 1935 he was joined by the Rev. Gerard Kuhn. Filled with the energy and enthusiasm of youth these two Redemptorists are faithfully carrying on the work so nobly done by Father Burger and his predecessors.
Through the courtesy of Father Doherty we are able to present the following summary of the deaf-mute apostolate at the present time: Number of deaf-mute adults in the City of Rochester: seventy-eight; number elsewhere in the diocese: twenty-three; total of adults: one hundred and one; number of deaf-mute children in the city: fifty; number elsewhere: twelve; total of children: sixty-two; grand total: one hundred and sixty-three. Average attendance of adults at Sunday Mass in St. Francis de Sales' Chapel, between twenty-five and thirty; but here it is to be remarked that those living at a distance usually assist at Mass in their respective parish churches; average attendance of children at Sunday Mass about fifty. They are brought from the Rochester School for the Deaf on the street car. About ninety children and adults receive Holy Communion monthly in the Chapel; others approach the Holy Table in their own churches. On special occasions, such as Easter and Ephpheta Sunday, the attendance at Mass in the Chapel is between fifty and sixty. Since 1933 there have been four marriages, one of which was mixed; during the same period there have been three converts. Lenten services, Holy Week services and Forty Hours' Devotion are regularly held for the deaf-mutes.
In January of this year Father Doherty organized a social club for the Catholic deaf of the city. It began with twenty-five members. The primary purpose of the club is to wean the Catholics away from non-Catholic social gatherings, and thus eliminate or at least minimize the danger of mixed marriages and the loss of faith. However non-Catholics are not excluded from the social affairs.
In the Catholic Courier, Rochester, N. Y., January 19, 1933, a lengthy article appeared on the deaf-mute work at St. Joseph's. It said in part:
"Although the work among the deaf is progressing, yet it is not progressing at the speed it should. Much of its tardy progress is due to the parents of these afflicted people. Sad to say, parents of the deaf are as a rule ashamed of their deaf offspring and therefore hide them from public view, until it is impossible to do so any longer. They consider the deafness of the child a reflection on themselves. Others again will not take the full interest in their children that they ought to take, with the result that their grown-up sons and daughters become shiftless. When, however, the parents are solicitous, helpful and zealous, then you have deaf men and boys, women and girls, of whom any chaplain will be proud. It is pitiful and sad to see parents careless in the spiritual education of their deaf offspring A soul is a soul, dear to God and created to His image, be it united to the body of a deaf, of a mute, of a blind or a crippled person. Heaven is its true home, as well as it is the home of your or my soul."
Before closing this article it is proper to mention that Father Burger died a most edifying death on August 20, 1934, in the Bon Secours Hospital, Baltimore, his native city. His funeral was held on the 24th from St. Michael's Church, and the interment took place in Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery. Followed by the heartfelt prayers of hundreds of Catholic deaf-mutes, to whom he had been a friend and father in Christ, this noble and zealous priest, this true Redemptorist sleeps the sleep of the just. Peace be to his ashes! Eternal rest to his soul!
------------------------------------------------------
FAMILY LINKS
Father Burger's nephew
Joseph Burger
------------------------------------------------------
REV. CHARLES BURGER, C. SS. R.
Roman Catholic priest of the Redemporist Order.
Born and raised in Baltimore he devoted his life to the church and working with the deaf community .
In 1920's founded St. Francis De Sales Deaf-Mute Chapel in Rochester NY. Father Burger also established other centers in Canandaigua , Auburn and Elmira New York .
In addition to the Diocese of Rochester, he also touched the lives of parishioners in Cincinnati, Baltimore, Pittsburgh,Philadelphia, and Hartford,
Father Burger worked to raise the social acceptance in
an era when most of the public ignored the deaf community.
He returned home to his native Baltimore and passed away at Bon Secours Hospital after a long illness. His funeral was held at St. Michael's Church
------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO at right of Rev Burger was copied from
ST. JOSEPH'S PARISH CENTENNIAL SOUVENIR
ROCHESTER, N. Y. 1836 - 1936
REV. CHARLES BURGER, C. SS. R. (Deceased)
Founder of St. Francis De Sales Deaf-Mute Chapel
"And they bring to him one deaf and dumb; and they besought him that he would lay his hand upon him.
And taking him from the multitude apart, he put his fingers into his ears, and spitting, he touched his tongue:
And looking up to heaven, he groaned, and said to him: 'Ephpheta,' which is, Be thou opened.
And immediately his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right." (30)
The cure of the deaf-mute by Our Divine Lord naturally suggests the subject of the spiritual care of these afflicted people. In this regard St. Joseph's has shone conspicuously for the past twenty-eight years. In 1908 the Rev. William Kessel, Rector, organized the "St. Joseph's Ephpheta Society," in their interest; and twice a month he and the Rev. Aloysius Engelhardt gave an instruction to about twenty-five Catholic deaf-mutes in the sign language. They were followed by the Revs. Joseph Schnorr and Aloysius Strauss.
But in February, 1926, this work assumed a wider scope, when the Rev. Charles Burger, who had just been assigned to St. Joseph's, was appointed chaplain of all the Catholic deaf-mutes in the Diocese of Rochester by the Most Rev. Bishop Hickey. Father Burger came to his apostolate, a mature man of fifty-three, with about fourteen years experience as a missionary among the deaf-mutes. In November, 1914, he received high commendation for his remarkable zeal in this field from the Most Rev. Bishop Canevin of Pittsburgh. The following March he gave a mission to the Catholic and non-Catholic deaf-mutes in St. Philomena's Church that city, which was so successful that the Rev. Thomas F. Coakley, pastor of the deaf-mutes in Pittsburgh, sent a syndicated letter to all the Catholic papers in the country, calling attention to Father Burger's splendid work. After such nation-wide publicity his fame preceded him to Rochester, and Bishop Hickey told him that he must continue his work until a diocesan priest could be found to take his place. Such an order was really superfluous, because Father Burger was only too willing to devote the rest of his life to his beloved deaf-mutes; and as a matter of fact he continued his work with unfailing enthusiasm and unflagging zeal until mortal illness laid him low. He began his task by getting, as far as possible. The names of all the Catholic deaf-mutes in the diocese, and it was his constant endeavor to keep in close touch with all of them, on the principle laid down by Our Lord; "I know mine and mine know me." (31)
During the Lent of 1926 he conducted the Stations of the Cross on Sundays in St. Joseph's for his silent flock. On Low Sunday, April 11. Easter Communion was held at the nine o'clock Mass, about thirty-two people receiving. Father Burger explained the Mass to them and led the usual Communion prayers-all in the sign language. Pentecost Sunday, May 23, was First Communion day for one boy and seven girls from the Rochester School for the Deaf. Ephpheta Sunday, August 8, 1926, was celebrated by a General Communion, at which forty-one people approached the Holy Table. On December 12 the Sacrament of Confirmation was administered to twelve persons: two men, two women, three boys and five girls. After the services Father Burger assembled those who had been confirmed and other deaf-mutes to the number of twenty-five in the presence of the Bishop, and showed him how they prayed by signs and finger-spelling. On the first Sunday of every month he preached to them in St. Joseph's, the average attendance being twenty-five. On October 17 and 24 he addressed the deaf-mutes in St. John's Church, Elmira, ten being present on each occasion.
Besides Rochester Father Burger established centres for his work at Canandaigua, Auburn and Elmira; and when he found it impossible to reach these places regularly, he adopted the practice of sending the deaf-mutes a monthly circular, which combined the advantages of a sermon and an instruction. In one of these letters, February 21, 1930, he says:
"As usual I shall pay the travelling expenses every Sunday, to and fro, of those who come a distance of 5-200 miles to attend our Lenten services."
On seven successive Sundays, March 2-April 13, 1930, Father Burger gave his parishioners from the whole diocese a simple, practical instruction on some phase of the Holy Eucharist, thus preparing them for their Easter duty. Every Friday afternoon he had the children from the Rochester School for the Deaf brought to St. Joseph's for instruction. On June 7, 1931, he opened, in St. Joseph's Hall, St. Francis de Sales' Chapel for deaf-mutes, where Mass is celebrated every Sunday at nine o'clock.
De Sales
St. Francis De Sales Deaf-Mute Chapel
Father Burger even provided silent "movies" regularly for them. Some non-Catholics attended them, thus affording him an opportunity to get in touch with them.
In addition to his labors in the Diocese of Rochester, he also gave missions, retreats and tridua to the deaf-mutes in Cincinnati, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Hartford, Conn. Everywhere his labors were abundantly blessed.
In 1931 the Rev. William Doherty was sent to St. Joseph's to assist Father Burger; and in 1933, when the veteran deaf-mute missionary became incapacitated by the ravages of disease, Father Doherty succeeded him as chaplain of the deaf-mutes of the diocese. In 1935 he was joined by the Rev. Gerard Kuhn. Filled with the energy and enthusiasm of youth these two Redemptorists are faithfully carrying on the work so nobly done by Father Burger and his predecessors.
Through the courtesy of Father Doherty we are able to present the following summary of the deaf-mute apostolate at the present time: Number of deaf-mute adults in the City of Rochester: seventy-eight; number elsewhere in the diocese: twenty-three; total of adults: one hundred and one; number of deaf-mute children in the city: fifty; number elsewhere: twelve; total of children: sixty-two; grand total: one hundred and sixty-three. Average attendance of adults at Sunday Mass in St. Francis de Sales' Chapel, between twenty-five and thirty; but here it is to be remarked that those living at a distance usually assist at Mass in their respective parish churches; average attendance of children at Sunday Mass about fifty. They are brought from the Rochester School for the Deaf on the street car. About ninety children and adults receive Holy Communion monthly in the Chapel; others approach the Holy Table in their own churches. On special occasions, such as Easter and Ephpheta Sunday, the attendance at Mass in the Chapel is between fifty and sixty. Since 1933 there have been four marriages, one of which was mixed; during the same period there have been three converts. Lenten services, Holy Week services and Forty Hours' Devotion are regularly held for the deaf-mutes.
In January of this year Father Doherty organized a social club for the Catholic deaf of the city. It began with twenty-five members. The primary purpose of the club is to wean the Catholics away from non-Catholic social gatherings, and thus eliminate or at least minimize the danger of mixed marriages and the loss of faith. However non-Catholics are not excluded from the social affairs.
In the Catholic Courier, Rochester, N. Y., January 19, 1933, a lengthy article appeared on the deaf-mute work at St. Joseph's. It said in part:
"Although the work among the deaf is progressing, yet it is not progressing at the speed it should. Much of its tardy progress is due to the parents of these afflicted people. Sad to say, parents of the deaf are as a rule ashamed of their deaf offspring and therefore hide them from public view, until it is impossible to do so any longer. They consider the deafness of the child a reflection on themselves. Others again will not take the full interest in their children that they ought to take, with the result that their grown-up sons and daughters become shiftless. When, however, the parents are solicitous, helpful and zealous, then you have deaf men and boys, women and girls, of whom any chaplain will be proud. It is pitiful and sad to see parents careless in the spiritual education of their deaf offspring A soul is a soul, dear to God and created to His image, be it united to the body of a deaf, of a mute, of a blind or a crippled person. Heaven is its true home, as well as it is the home of your or my soul."
Before closing this article it is proper to mention that Father Burger died a most edifying death on August 20, 1934, in the Bon Secours Hospital, Baltimore, his native city. His funeral was held on the 24th from St. Michael's Church, and the interment took place in Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery. Followed by the heartfelt prayers of hundreds of Catholic deaf-mutes, to whom he had been a friend and father in Christ, this noble and zealous priest, this true Redemptorist sleeps the sleep of the just. Peace be to his ashes! Eternal rest to his soul!
------------------------------------------------------
FAMILY LINKS
Father Burger's nephew
Joseph Burger
------------------------------------------------------
Roman Catholic priest of the Redemporist Order.
Born and raised in Baltimore he devoted his life to the church and working with the deaf community .
In 1920's founded St. Francis De Sales Deaf-Mute Chapel in Rochester NY. Father Burger also established other centers in Canandaigua , Auburn and Elmira New York .
In addition to the Diocese of Rochester, he also touched the lives of parishioners in Cincinnati, Baltimore, Pittsburgh,Philadelphia, and Hartford,
Father Burger worked to raise the social acceptance in
an era when most of the public ignored the deaf community.
He returned home to his native Baltimore and passed away at Bon Secours Hospital after a long illness. His funeral was held at St. Michael's Church
------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO at right of Rev Burger was copied from
ST. JOSEPH'S PARISH CENTENNIAL SOUVENIR
ROCHESTER, N. Y. 1836 - 1936
REV. CHARLES BURGER, C. SS. R. (Deceased)
Founder of St. Francis De Sales Deaf-Mute Chapel
"And they bring to him one deaf and dumb; and they besought him that he would lay his hand upon him.
And taking him from the multitude apart, he put his fingers into his ears, and spitting, he touched his tongue:
And looking up to heaven, he groaned, and said to him: 'Ephpheta,' which is, Be thou opened.
And immediately his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right." (30)
The cure of the deaf-mute by Our Divine Lord naturally suggests the subject of the spiritual care of these afflicted people. In this regard St. Joseph's has shone conspicuously for the past twenty-eight years. In 1908 the Rev. William Kessel, Rector, organized the "St. Joseph's Ephpheta Society," in their interest; and twice a month he and the Rev. Aloysius Engelhardt gave an instruction to about twenty-five Catholic deaf-mutes in the sign language. They were followed by the Revs. Joseph Schnorr and Aloysius Strauss.
But in February, 1926, this work assumed a wider scope, when the Rev. Charles Burger, who had just been assigned to St. Joseph's, was appointed chaplain of all the Catholic deaf-mutes in the Diocese of Rochester by the Most Rev. Bishop Hickey. Father Burger came to his apostolate, a mature man of fifty-three, with about fourteen years experience as a missionary among the deaf-mutes. In November, 1914, he received high commendation for his remarkable zeal in this field from the Most Rev. Bishop Canevin of Pittsburgh. The following March he gave a mission to the Catholic and non-Catholic deaf-mutes in St. Philomena's Church that city, which was so successful that the Rev. Thomas F. Coakley, pastor of the deaf-mutes in Pittsburgh, sent a syndicated letter to all the Catholic papers in the country, calling attention to Father Burger's splendid work. After such nation-wide publicity his fame preceded him to Rochester, and Bishop Hickey told him that he must continue his work until a diocesan priest could be found to take his place. Such an order was really superfluous, because Father Burger was only too willing to devote the rest of his life to his beloved deaf-mutes; and as a matter of fact he continued his work with unfailing enthusiasm and unflagging zeal until mortal illness laid him low. He began his task by getting, as far as possible. The names of all the Catholic deaf-mutes in the diocese, and it was his constant endeavor to keep in close touch with all of them, on the principle laid down by Our Lord; "I know mine and mine know me." (31)
During the Lent of 1926 he conducted the Stations of the Cross on Sundays in St. Joseph's for his silent flock. On Low Sunday, April 11. Easter Communion was held at the nine o'clock Mass, about thirty-two people receiving. Father Burger explained the Mass to them and led the usual Communion prayers-all in the sign language. Pentecost Sunday, May 23, was First Communion day for one boy and seven girls from the Rochester School for the Deaf. Ephpheta Sunday, August 8, 1926, was celebrated by a General Communion, at which forty-one people approached the Holy Table. On December 12 the Sacrament of Confirmation was administered to twelve persons: two men, two women, three boys and five girls. After the services Father Burger assembled those who had been confirmed and other deaf-mutes to the number of twenty-five in the presence of the Bishop, and showed him how they prayed by signs and finger-spelling. On the first Sunday of every month he preached to them in St. Joseph's, the average attendance being twenty-five. On October 17 and 24 he addressed the deaf-mutes in St. John's Church, Elmira, ten being present on each occasion.
Besides Rochester Father Burger established centres for his work at Canandaigua, Auburn and Elmira; and when he found it impossible to reach these places regularly, he adopted the practice of sending the deaf-mutes a monthly circular, which combined the advantages of a sermon and an instruction. In one of these letters, February 21, 1930, he says:
"As usual I shall pay the travelling expenses every Sunday, to and fro, of those who come a distance of 5-200 miles to attend our Lenten services."
On seven successive Sundays, March 2-April 13, 1930, Father Burger gave his parishioners from the whole diocese a simple, practical instruction on some phase of the Holy Eucharist, thus preparing them for their Easter duty. Every Friday afternoon he had the children from the Rochester School for the Deaf brought to St. Joseph's for instruction. On June 7, 1931, he opened, in St. Joseph's Hall, St. Francis de Sales' Chapel for deaf-mutes, where Mass is celebrated every Sunday at nine o'clock.
De Sales
St. Francis De Sales Deaf-Mute Chapel
Father Burger even provided silent "movies" regularly for them. Some non-Catholics attended them, thus affording him an opportunity to get in touch with them.
In addition to his labors in the Diocese of Rochester, he also gave missions, retreats and tridua to the deaf-mutes in Cincinnati, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Hartford, Conn. Everywhere his labors were abundantly blessed.
In 1931 the Rev. William Doherty was sent to St. Joseph's to assist Father Burger; and in 1933, when the veteran deaf-mute missionary became incapacitated by the ravages of disease, Father Doherty succeeded him as chaplain of the deaf-mutes of the diocese. In 1935 he was joined by the Rev. Gerard Kuhn. Filled with the energy and enthusiasm of youth these two Redemptorists are faithfully carrying on the work so nobly done by Father Burger and his predecessors.
Through the courtesy of Father Doherty we are able to present the following summary of the deaf-mute apostolate at the present time: Number of deaf-mute adults in the City of Rochester: seventy-eight; number elsewhere in the diocese: twenty-three; total of adults: one hundred and one; number of deaf-mute children in the city: fifty; number elsewhere: twelve; total of children: sixty-two; grand total: one hundred and sixty-three. Average attendance of adults at Sunday Mass in St. Francis de Sales' Chapel, between twenty-five and thirty; but here it is to be remarked that those living at a distance usually assist at Mass in their respective parish churches; average attendance of children at Sunday Mass about fifty. They are brought from the Rochester School for the Deaf on the street car. About ninety children and adults receive Holy Communion monthly in the Chapel; others approach the Holy Table in their own churches. On special occasions, such as Easter and Ephpheta Sunday, the attendance at Mass in the Chapel is between fifty and sixty. Since 1933 there have been four marriages, one of which was mixed; during the same period there have been three converts. Lenten services, Holy Week services and Forty Hours' Devotion are regularly held for the deaf-mutes.
In January of this year Father Doherty organized a social club for the Catholic deaf of the city. It began with twenty-five members. The primary purpose of the club is to wean the Catholics away from non-Catholic social gatherings, and thus eliminate or at least minimize the danger of mixed marriages and the loss of faith. However non-Catholics are not excluded from the social affairs.
In the Catholic Courier, Rochester, N. Y., January 19, 1933, a lengthy article appeared on the deaf-mute work at St. Joseph's. It said in part:
"Although the work among the deaf is progressing, yet it is not progressing at the speed it should. Much of its tardy progress is due to the parents of these afflicted people. Sad to say, parents of the deaf are as a rule ashamed of their deaf offspring and therefore hide them from public view, until it is impossible to do so any longer. They consider the deafness of the child a reflection on themselves. Others again will not take the full interest in their children that they ought to take, with the result that their grown-up sons and daughters become shiftless. When, however, the parents are solicitous, helpful and zealous, then you have deaf men and boys, women and girls, of whom any chaplain will be proud. It is pitiful and sad to see parents careless in the spiritual education of their deaf offspring A soul is a soul, dear to God and created to His image, be it united to the body of a deaf, of a mute, of a blind or a crippled person. Heaven is its true home, as well as it is the home of your or my soul."
Before closing this article it is proper to mention that Father Burger died a most edifying death on August 20, 1934, in the Bon Secours Hospital, Baltimore, his native city. His funeral was held on the 24th from St. Michael's Church, and the interment took place in Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery. Followed by the heartfelt prayers of hundreds of Catholic deaf-mutes, to whom he had been a friend and father in Christ, this noble and zealous priest, this true Redemptorist sleeps the sleep of the just. Peace be to his ashes! Eternal rest to his soul!
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FAMILY LINKS
Father Burger's nephew
Joseph Burger
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Inscription
C.Ss.R.
Born July 27,1873
Prof.Aug. 2,1894
Ord. Dec. 21,1899
Died Aug. 20,1934
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