Priesthood came from ‘dreaming big’

Deafness didn’t deter Carmelo Giuffre

By Cheri Perkins Mantz Catholic Herald Staff

Carmelo Giuffre will be ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan on May 18. (Catholic Herald photo by Sam Lucero) ST. FRANCIS — Carmelo Giuffre will fulfill his lifelong goal May 18 when he is ordained a priest at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Giuffre was born deaf, but is an avid lip-reader. He said he is looking forward to learning sign language, as he knows there is a need for priests to be able to celebrate Mass in sign language. “My parents instilled in me that I should never let my deafness interfere with what I want to do,” said Giuffre, in an interview with your Catholic Herald. “It never stopped me from doing anything and I thank God for that and thank my parents for that.” Giuffre, who asked that his age not be given, didn’t let his deafness deter him from the seminary, nor deter him from officiating high school basketball, softball and football games. “That’s helped me make quick decisions on my feet and know when to turn my hearing aid off when people curse me,” he said with a laugh. Prior to entering Saint Francis Seminary, he worked for 11 years at a sign-making company. His co-workers will attend his ordination. “First of all, they know me as a co-worker,” he said. “I think they’re in awe of me because it’s not a very easy ministry to go into based on the world. They think it’s easier for me to make signs than to try to solve the problems in the world.” The journey to ordination was not always easy, according to Giuffre, but he said he is where he belongs. “I remember when I told (my mom) I was thinking of becoming a priest, I was afraid she’d try to convince me not to, but her reaction was ‘What took you so long?’” Giuffre recalled. “The calling for the priesthood was in my mind, but it wasn’t until my brother’s ordination in 1997 (as a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia) that I began to take it seriously,” he explained. “That was the turning point. “(My brother) and I always had a vocation to the priesthood, we’d ‘play Mass’ in the basement,” said Giuffre. “We attended Corpus Christi (in Milwaukee) when Fr. Leo Belda was there and he inspired both of us. He was a quiet, holy man, but he had such an impact on us. I have his chalice and it’s an honor. I’ll use it at my Mass of Thanksgiving.” Giuffre, who has a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Cardinal Stritch University, said he has always been studious. “As much as I love to study and read books, I prefer to work in the parish and be with people,” he said. “I spent so many years behind a computer, I’d rather be with people. That gives me the biggest joy. Being around people energizes me.” Giuffre fulfilled his internship requirement at St. Andrew Parish in Delavan, and said he discovered that he enjoys teaching. “I learned in my internship that I enjoy going into the classroom and teaching the kids about Christ,” he said. “If you make it so they can understand, the kids get excited about their faith. It’s something I like to do.” Other aspects of his future priestly life appeal to him as well, said Giuffre. “The joy of being a service to others,” he said. “The joy of bringing Christ to those who are having difficulties or struggling in their lives. I consider myself a passionate listener because I’ve struggled in my life with my hearing impairment.” In fact, Giuffre faced a struggle when he entered Saint Francis Seminary. “There was hesitation on behalf of the archdiocese to accept me because I was then the only deaf seminarian,” said Giuffre. There is one other deaf seminarian currently attending the seminary. “I had a meeting with Fr. Joe Hornacek (former vicar for clergy) and after that he said, ‘I don’t see any problems,’” he said. After his ordination, Giuffre said he looks forward to “being present for people, for being with kids, visiting shut-ins, the sick and those who can’t attend Mass so they feel part of the church.” Giuffre said he is prepared to leave Saint Francis Seminary, his home of five years. “I’m anxious to move on,” he explained. “I think the seminary did a wonderful job of forming me as a priest. Everything people were saying at the parish (during my internship), they spoke highly of me, but I’d like to give credit to the seminary. They’re the ones who should take the credit, not me.” Following his internship at St. Andrew in Delavan, Giuffre said he gained a confidence that even with his hearing loss, he could fulfill his goal of becoming a priest. “I pretty much knew after I came back from my internship,” he said. “I realized that I can do this ministry and my deafness is not a hindrance, but a gift. I didn’t see that at first; it took years of convincing myself that I could do it.” Giuffre said he’s been thinking of the parishioners with whom he will be working. He doesn’t want them to think differently of him because he’s deaf. “I don’t like to focus on my deafness,” he said. “I’ve been praying for them and trusting the Spirit for wherever God is calling me to serve. I know wherever I go, the people will be very accommodating to me.” He also offers advice to others working hard to reach a goal, be it becoming a priest or otherwise. “Don’t be afraid to dream big,” he said. “If God is behind the dream, God will see it through.”