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National Braille Press Prints Braille Bible for Xavier Society

Print Production of Braille Bible to Provide Access to Religious Teachings for the Blind

Leading national braille publisher,  National Braille Press (NBP), and the Xavier Society for the Blind are partnering to create a full edition of the New American Revised Bible printed in braille. This is the second printing of the Braille Bible; a set of the four Gospels from the first printing was presented to Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican in 2011 and a full set to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. The 8,846 page Braille Bible, comprised of 45 volumes, allows braille readers to have access to the scripture and stories in the Bible.  The National Braille Press will produce 100 bibles at its printing headquarters in Boston. The production began in February and will end in April.

 

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“National Braille Press is excited to partner with the Xavier Society for the Blind to create this amazing braille edition of the New American Revised Bible,” said Brian MacDonald, President of National Braille Press. “Our mission closely aligns with the Xavier Society for the Blind to promote literacy and provide access to information through quality braille. Our volunteers and staff at NBP worked very hard to collate the braille pages of the Bible, and we are very eager to debut it.”

 

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National Braille Press, who has worked with the Xavier Society for the Blind for the past 25 years, creates the Xavier monthly and bi-monthly periodicals and other braille materials for the organization. The Braille Bibles will be distributed for free to Xavier subscribers and clientele, as well as to theological centers and libraries for the use of blind students.

 

“At the Xavier Society, our mission is to make religious and spiritual writings available to the blind, and the publication of the braille Bible is one of the  most important ways to provide accessibility to religious teachings,” said Father John R. Sheehan, SJ, Chairman of the Board at the Xavier Society for the Blind. “The Xavier Society provides free braille religious materials, and with the help of National Braille Press, we were able to accomplish this amazing production of the Bible for thousands of people.”

 

ABOUT NATIONAL BRAILLE PRESS

A non-profit braille publisher, National Braille Press promotes literacy for blind children through outreach programs and provides access to information by producing information in braille for blind children and adults. National Braille Press is the premier braille publisher in the US that specializes in producing original braille works written by blind authors expressly for blind people. www.nbp.org

 

ABOUT XAVIER SOCIETY

The Xavier “Free Publication” Society began on 16th Street in Manhattan, in a single room at the College (later the High School) of St. Francis Xavier, from which the Society derived its name. Its mission was a simple one: to make writings on religion and spirituality available to the blind. Father John R. Sheehan, SJ, continues the tradition of this Jesuit-led ministry today, working with five full-time staff members and a host of volunteers to assure that “those without sight may see.”

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