As the only deaf student on campus at Holy Cross, he created a path for himself that hadn’t yet existed, becoming a groundbreaking figure for the deaf Catholic community across the globe, a mission that started – and continues – in Worcester.
The Sanctae Crucis Award is the highest non-degree accolade that the College awards alumni. Those who earn the distinction have distinguished themselves professionally and in the service of justice, embodying the Jesuit ideals outlined in the College’s mission.
This year, we will highlight the four winners in a series of pieces, sharing their journeys toward personal and professional excellence.
David Hinchen '65 and Donald Morrissey '65 have earned the Outstanding Community Service award. Mary Ann Ormiston Scali '90 and Rev. Joseph Bruce S.J. ‘73 have earned the Distinguished Professional Achievement award.
Bruce was ordained in 1981, after which he entered a life of service as an educator and pastoral minister to the Deaf. He also performed pastoral duties at parishes serving the hearing community, and his reputation as a homilist and retreat leader are known and admired throughout the country.
Bruce is one of the eight Deaf Jesuit priests in the United States today, and one of only 13 in the world. He created an ASL course for students at Holy Cross in 1987 which eventually became the Deaf Studies program with over 100 students enrolled in various classes per semester.
Concurrently, Bruce also created the Deaf Catholic Archives (DCA), a unique collection of newsletters, manuals, scrapbooks, photographs and other ephemera that is a spiritual, historical and cultural treasure. He has collected for and curated the DCA since 1974, and has traveled extensively throughout the country and abroad to accept and preserve materials for the archive.
Bruce began the Deaf Catholic Archive almost by accident. He intended to borrow some documents as part of his studies to become a Jesuit priest in 1973. When he was told to keep them, he became the keeper of a major part of the Deaf Catholic history.
By the 1990s the collection had over 15 filing cabinets of documents. It was during that time he donated the archive to Holy Cross. The College has since received a $250,000 grant to digitize parts of the collection.
In 2013, Father Joe was assigned as the administrator of the DCA. Of the collection, Head of Archives and Distinctive Collections Abby Stambach said “the collection will continue to shine a light on the often literal, silent voices of the Deaf Catholic community.”
Father Joe consistently exemplifies an alumnus who is always striving for the magis, the ‘more.’ Father Joe is not a special priest because he is Deaf. His deafness makes him distinctive. Father Joe is a special priest because he humbly uses his gifts, talents, intellect and spirituality to make the world better for Deaf and hearing alike.
