Glenmary Challenge Summer 2023

MARRIED IN MINISTRY CROSSING OVER

Scott and Tammy Watford

Bringing Families into the Church

With Brother Craig

We are a Catholic society of priests and brothers who, along with numerous coworkers, establish the Catholic Church in small-town and rural America. Founded in 1939 by Father William Howard Bishop, Glenmary is the only religious community devoted exclusively to serving the spiritually and materially poor in the rural U.S. home missions. Today, supported entirely through freewill offerings, we staff missions and ministries throughout Appalachia and the South.

Glenmary missioners serve in areas where frequently less than one percent of the population is Catholic, a significant percentage have no church affiliation, and the poverty rate is often twice the national average.

Glenmary is known for respecting the many cultures encountered in the home missions. Our missionary activity includes building Catholic communities, fostering ecumenical cooperation, evangelizing the unchurched, social outreach and working for justice.

GLENMARY CHALLENGE

Our quarterly magazine has three goals: to educate Catholics about the U.S. home missions, to motivate young men to consider Glenmary priesthood or brotherhood, and to invite all Catholics to respond to their baptismal call to be missionary by partnering with Glenmary as financial contributors, prayer partners, professional coworkers and/or volunteers.

Glenmary Challenge is sent to all donors, to U.S. diocesan clergy and to anyone who requests it. (To begin receiving issues, use the contact information below.)

Ever New

FROM THE EDITOR / John Stegeman

When I look at the Church, warts and all, I see it as one of Jesus’ great miracles.

Here we have an institution, divine in origin, yet managed entirely by fallible, sinful human beings. Over the years, the Church developed ways of renewing itself, including the process wherein we select a new pope.

When the pope dies, a new person is elected to take over. He may have different priorities, different theological or political leanings than his predecessor. But we know that through Christ’s promise, no matter what, that the Church will carry on with the mission of the Gospel.

In Glenmary, nobody serves in office for life, like the pope. Our president and executive council are up for election every four years. Sometimes a member is elected to a repeat term, sure, but each Chapter of Elections creates a new council, ready to lead.

We ask you to pray for Fathers Dan Dorsey, Aaron Wessman, and Steve Pawelk as they take up these offices. As mission-minded men, no one becomes a Glenmary missioner with the goal of being an administrator, but they view their time in leadership as an opportunity to grow this community and to serve in a new way.

More than 83 years in, Glenmary’s leadership continues in the same mission as our founder, to serve the spiritual and material needs of the people where poverty is high, Catholics are few, and the soil is ripe for planting seeds of the Gospel.

Finally, my position will see a renewal as well. This is my last issue as editor. It’s been a blessing to work for Glenmary, and I know the work of God happening here will continue.

GLENMARY

P.O. Box 465618 · Cincinnati, OH 45246-5618

513-874-8900 · 800-935-0975 · challenge@glenmary.org

ON THE COVER: A server at the St. John Paul II mission in Rutledge, Tenn., carries the paschal candle at the Easter Vigil this past April. Twenty-eight people received sacraments of initiation that night. Photo by Ashley Lodge.

© 2023, Glenmary Home Missioners. Reprint permission granted upon request.

HOME MISSIONERS

Publisher: Father Dan Dorsey

Editor: John Stegeman

Asst. Editors: Omar Cabrera, John Feister

Art Director: Cassie Magnotta

Bringing Families into the Church

A strong sense of family leads to a new education model.

by john stegeman

page 8

married mission ministry

It’s Scott who was hired to serve the Georgia missions, but this ministry is a family affair. Meet Deacon Scott and Tammy Watford.

By John Feister

14

smallness of scale

Bigger is not always better. All of us in the Glenmary family know that. This lay missioner reflects on the beauty of Glenmary’s smallness.

By Polly Duncan Collum

11 16

crossing over with brother craig

“It’s all about relationships,” says Brother Craig. Here’s the story of a missioner who’s not afraid to take chances.

By Father Aaron Wessman

Planning-Review Board: Lindsay Braud, Br. Craig Digmann, Br. David Henley, Chris Phelps, Lucy Putnam, Fr. Kenn Wandera, Fr. Aaron Wessman

Glenmary’s Eucharistic Revival

"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

From the feast of Corpus Christi 2022 all the way until Pentecost 2025, Catholics across the United States are in a eucharistic revival. Maybe you know that already. The revival invites us, especially in the Eucharist, to an encounter with Jesus Christ. The celebration hopes to inspire a movement of Catholics across the United States who are healed, converted, formed, and unified and who are then sent out on mission “for the life of the world.”

A revival is no new idea for Glenmarians. Father William Howard Bishop, founder of Glenmary, articulated just two years after his ordination, in 1915, a very similar missionary vision of the Eucharist:

“One who has found a vast treasure which was meant for the whole human race to enjoy will not be excused for failing to try to bring his fellow-men to a knowledge of it. We have found such a treasure for we have drunk of the Water of Life, we have eaten of the Bread of Angels. We have Christ with us every day. Should we hesitate to

show the world where he is to be found?” (Father Bishop, 1917).

Indeed, this missionary understanding and vision of the Eucharist still guides and motivates Glenmary’s mission efforts today.

In Glenmary we have undertaken our own eucharistic revival for our community and all of our missionary ministries. We have four goals: Invite the Catholics in our missions to encounter more profoundly Jesus in Eucharist; reinvigorate eucharistic devotion and worship in each of our missions and ministries; deepen the knowledge and understanding of the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist; and, finally, understand the missionary sending given at each Eucharist to share the love of God and gift of the Eucharist.

Our plan of action (missioners always have plans of action!) is based on four pillars:

1. Eucharist and Catholic social teaching. Following the lead of Jesus at the Last Supper with the washing of the apostles’ feet, the Eucharist impels us into service: to seek out the lost and forgotten.

FROM THE PRESIDENT / Father Dan Dorsey

Father Samuel Mungai distributes Communion at Holy Family Parish in Macon County, Tenn. In the Eucharist we grasp the fullness of Catholic faith.

Photo by John Feister

2. Eucharist and ecumenical synodality. Once again inspired by the words of Jesus, “‘Whoever is not against you is for you” (Lk 9:50), we reach out to our fellow Christians. Synodality is sharing experience.

3. Eucharist and prayer. Twelve hours of adoration and prayer on the first Friday of Lent (February 16, 2024) will happen in each of our missions and houses of formation and residences. We seek to meditate on the mystery and the majesty of the Eucharist.

4. Eucharist and mission. We will promote eucharistic processions in all of our missions. As many of us as possible will attend the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana (July 17-21, 2024). We will provide scholarships to those in our missions who could not otherwise afford to attend.

You are members of Glenmary’s Charismatic Family—all of us who carry the Glenmary charism, the Holy Spirit’s gift of mission, into the world. I’d like to invite each of you to join us in the eucharistic revival. Watch for more detail in the coming months. But first, join me in prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus, who promised to stay with us always, until the end of time.

Send us your Holy Spirit, that our hearts may be opened more fully to encounter Jesus in the breaking of the bread as were the disciples on the road to Emmaus.

Inspire us to become more dedicated in our missionary discipleship, to reach out to those who still hunger and thirst for the Bread of Life. Amen.

glenmary news & notes

Glenmarians elect new council

leadership / 2 continue in role, one newcomer

Father Dan Dorsey was reelected president of Glenmary Home Missioners during the society’s Chapter of Elections May 17 through 21.

Glenmary’s president leads a three-person executive council consisting of himself and two vice presidents. Father Aaron Wessman was reelected first vice president and Father Steve Pawelk was elected second vice president.

Father Dan, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, is returning to the office of president for a fourth term, after serving in that post from 2003 to 2011, and again over the past four years.

Father Aaron, who grew up in Cokato, Minnesota, will begin his second term on the council after previously serving as pastor of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Windsor, North Carolina.

Father Steve, of Maple Lake, Minnesota, is new to Glenmary’s Executive Council. He has served as Glenmary’s novitiate director since 2019.

The new executive council’s term begins June 10 and runs through 2027.

The election marks the end of Brother Larry Johnson’s tenure on the council. Brother Larry served as second vice president for the past eight years. He remains in ministry in Macon County, Tennessee.

ABOVE: The new Glenmary Executive Council, from right, First Vice President Father Aaron Wessman, President Father Dan Dorsey, and Second Vice President Father Steve Pawelk. The group will lead Glenmary for the next four years.

Photo by Glenmary Home Missioners

Divine Mercy grows at HQ

faith / Special devotion a permanent part of campus

Glenmary’s novices have been cultivating a devotion to the Divine Mercy, and now a statue of Jesus’ divine love being poured out has a permanent home at the society’s Cincinnati, Ohio, headquarters outside the novitiate house.

The devotion of Divine Mercy comes from St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish saint who lived in the early 1900s. She had a vision of Jesus with pale and red rays emanating from his sacred heart. In her visions, Jesus instructed the young sister to have the image painted with the phrase, “Jesus, I trust in you,” written upon it. The devotion was actively promoted by Pope St. John Paul II, who canonized St. Faustina in 2000.

That statue has been installed just outside the Glenmary Novitiate House. Brother-in-training Corey Soignier and novice Jude Smith, with others, built a shelter for the statue. The statue was donated by Kevin and Theresa Nguyen, parishioners at Glenmary’s Holy Trinity mission in Williamston, North Carolina.

“The Divine Mercy devotion is regularly prayed by our novices,” said Father Steve Pawelk, novitiate director and second vice president elect.“This beautiful reminder of Jesus’ love and mercy now greets all who come up the Glenmary Home Missioners’ driveway.”

The devotion has also spawned a Glenmary event known as the Festival of Mercy, which took place for the second year late in April on the Glenmary headquarters grounds.

ABOVE: Brother-in-training Corey Soignier built an enclosure for the statue of Divine Mercy. God is merciful in our lives. RIGHT: Brother-in-training Erick Orandi is one of seven men in formation to renew their temporary oath this spring.

8 profess oaths

formation / 1 new, 7 renewals

The Glenmary Oath calls each man to a special practice of poverty, chastity, obedience and prayer. Men in formation make their First Oath after their novitiate year, and renew that oath annually a number of times before professing a Final Oath, which is for life.

Glenmary novice Jude Smith professed his First Oath June 10 at the Glenmary Chapter of Affairs in Charleston, West Virginia.

In April, seven Glenmary men in formation renewed their temporary oaths to the society. Brother Willy Kyagulanyi, Brother Thomas Nguyen, and Brother Corey Soignier renewed their oaths on April 29, while Brother Erick Orandi, Joseph Maundu, Frederick Ochieng’ and Cavine Okello renewed theirs on April 30.

Renewing their temporary oaths is a testament to the commitment of the seven men to Glenmary and their continued growth in the society.

Photo by Glenmary Home Missioners

Photo by Brother David Henley

Catholics and Baptists connect

ecumenism / Glenmary plays leading role in new dialogue

Leaders of the North American Baptist Fellowship (NABF) met with representatives of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops in March in Washington, DC. The meeting was facilitated by Glenmary’s Director of Ecumenism, Nathan Smith.

The NABF is an association of Baptist denominations and churches representing 19.5 million Americans and Canadians. General Secretary of the NABF Jeremy Bell said fostering unity among Baptists and Catholics in the areas of disaster relief, poverty and harm prevention was the long-term goal of the group’s meeting.

“This initial meeting could not have gone better and it gave us a chance to get to know one another on a deeper level,” Smith said. “After over two years of relationship building and meetings I was very pleased to finally host this meeting in person.”

Smith said there was a general interest from both parties in partnering moving forward.

Also of note, the NABF has added an ecumenical officer position for the first time. Though new for the NABF, many Evangelical, Pentecostal, and other denominations are creating these types of positions.

“This is a hopeful sign for the future of the ecumenical movement at large and represents new opportunities for dialogue, partnership and deepening of relations between Catholics, Evangelicals and Pentecostals,” Smith said.

• Glenmary has entered into an agreement with the Franciscan Sisters of St. Anne, a religious congregation based in Nairobi, Kenya, to provide additional staffing in the US home missions. After extensive training, two sisters will take up residence in Glenmary’s Blakely, Ga., mission. As part of the arrangement Deacon Scott Watford (see p. 11) will become pastoral coordinator, while Father Mike Kerin will be sacramental minister for the Georgia missions.

• Effective July 1, Father Kenn Wandera is named pastor of St. Michael the Archangel mission in Unicoi County, Tenn.

• Effective July 1, Father Chet Artysiewicz is named the director of the Cincinnati House, the residence at Glenmary’s headquarters. Father Dominic Duggins is named the associate director and will focus on care and oversight of Our Lady of the Fields Chapel.

• For a one-year period the Executive Council has asked all Glenmary missions to observe three feast days: the feast of Our Lady of the Fields on February 26, the feast of Founder’s Day honoring Father William Howard Bishop on June 11 and the feast of Glenmary’s Founding Day on October 19.

ABOVE: Representatives of the NABF and USCCB, as well as Glenmary Director of Ecumenism Nathan Smith (second from right) met to discuss ecumenical cooperation. RIGHT: Glenmary’s patronness, Our Lady of the Fields.

Photo courtesy of USCCB

Photo by Glenmary Home Missioners

Bringing Families into the Church

by john stegeman

When it came to catechesis, St. John Paul II Catholic Mission in Grainger County, Tennessee, had a problem.

Attempts to reach the youth of this largely Hispanic community in First Communion or Confirmation classes were often met with disinterested stares. As it turned out, the problem was generational.

“They really were coming just as a tradition,” says Clarisa Chavarría, pastoral associate at St. John Paul II. “What would happen is a child who had never come to church, all the sudden, is asked to come to a class and they have no involvement, no interest. It was kind of painful. So I talked to the parents and I found out [many] are as clueless about their faith as their kids. Our families were totally uncatechized. It isn’t their fault. They come from very rural places in Mexico where a priest maybe comes once or twice a year.”

The solution? Focus on the strong sense of family in the Hispanic community by bringing the generations together. Since September 2021, Clarisa has led a family catechesis model where she teaches adults and children at the same time.

“I do the catechesis with the entire family,” she says. “When we were all together there were 50 of

A strong sense of family leads to a new education model.

Nearly 30 people received sacraments of initiation at St. John Paul II's Easter Vigil this year. They came from 13 families, who all prepared together.

us in the church. I have them sit at tables with their families. It’s kind of loud. But the idea is that parents are sitting there and talking to their children and I give them time to talk about the themes.”

At most US parishes, sacramental prep for children and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults classes are separate. That wasn’t working at St. John Paul II.

“Coming into this church, it’s a very family-centered community,” Clarisa says. “I told the parents, ‘You’re not going to drop off your kid. You’re coming and you’re going to be part of this class. They have been really involved.”

The family catechesis model is working. At the Easter Vigil in April, 28 individuals from 13 families received sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist). The number is notable when one considers that across Glenmary’s 12 missions, 51 people received the sacraments on Easter weekend.

The community’s pastor, Father Neil Pezzulo, supports the approach. He tells the story of a man, 32, who brought his child to the church for First Communion, though the man had never received himself. When Father Neil asked why, he learned the man had

LEFT: The Paschal Candle, held by pastor Father Neil Pezzulo, and the fire in the foreground, open the Easter Vigil. ABOVE: The congregation processes into the church.

Clarisa Chavarría, pastoral associate at St. John Paul II, is the prayerful force behind the family catechesis model. She teaches the class of 50 in both English and Spanish.

A young girl’s godparents assist her after being baptized. The strong family ties of the Hispanic community played a role in bringing the generations together to learn.

Photos by Ashley Lodge

never received any sacraments of initiation. This Easter, he received all three, surrounded by the smiles of his children and family.

The family catechesis model isn’t without challenges. In addition to needing more space and having sometimes loud young children present, there’s a language barrier. Clarisa is fluent in Spanish and English, but often within the families she teaches there is a divide. The adults speak Spanish, while the children are more comfortable with English. In one case, a parent’s first language was a native dialect. They could speak Spanish, but not read it. Cases like this require her special attention.

“It’s not perfect and I’m always trying ways to improve,” she says. “I think people are enjoying it and it is working for our community.’

Clarisa also reports that in the process of catechesis, several couples took the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage. Many were in long-term committed relationships with children, but they had not been married in the Church.

New church effect

Though the primary reason for a 28-person sacramental crowd was the new family catechesis model, Clarisa admits that the parish is growing in part due to the new church building, dedicated in May of last year.

“I think God is doing the work in our community,” she says. “We’re just trying to be welcoming to the

people, to be present. When people come here they feel at home.

“It’s a beautiful church,” she adds. “It’s bright. It’s a space where you feel welcome… I think that sense

of ambiance helps to experience God’s presence. The space we had before was small, no good lighting, cramped. It worked for what we needed at the time but we outgrew it.”

The growing mission is still small. Clarisa estimates 200 Hispanic parishioners and 50 anglos are among the members. Still the impact on parishioners and the larger community is being felt.

“The presence of Glenmary is so important and I think people recognize that,” she says. “Glenmary is out there reaching out and always willing to help with basic needs or spiritual needs, whether you’re a member of our mission or not, Catholic or not Catholic, that’s besides the point. If there’s someone in need, Glenmary steps in.”

TOP: Not every parish has the privilege of welcoming catechumens and candidates on the Easter Vigil. Thanks to the family catechesis model, St. John Paul II had 28.

‘I think God is doing the work in our community.…When people come here they feel at home.’

Photo by Ashley Lodge

Married Mission Ministry

by john feister

To say the Southwest counties of Georgia is tough territory for Catholic missioners is an understatement. Glenmary is at work in six counties there, at the far reaches of the Savannah diocese near Alabama, in an area where there is a tiny Catholic minority, extreme local poverty and evidence of abandonment all around. Plenty of people have left for opportunity elsewhere.

That may seem a natural situation for Glenmarians— no challenge seems to put them off. Imagine, though, a couple, long-married, one a permanent deacon, coming to town to help animate the two local parishes. That would be Deacon Scott Watford and his wife, Tammy. Based in Early County, they serve the needs of the communities there and in the other five counties. Holy Family parish is in Blakely, seat of Early County; St. Luke is in Cuthbert, Randolph County’s seat. People from four other counties (Miller, Clay, Stewart and Quitman) find their way to one of these two parishes.

Deacon Scott and Tammy Watford

It’s Scott who was hired to serve these Georgia missions, but this ministry is a family affair.

Deacon Scott and Tammy Watford are a dynamic team in Glenmary’s mission area in South Georgia. He’s the administrator; she volunteers as choir director.

Photo by John Feister

Deacon Scott serves side by side with Glenmary Father Mike Kerin, along with Brothers Jason Muhlenkamp and Levis Kuwa. Although Tammy is not officially part of the ministry team, she is a parishioner at Holy Family parish and generously volunteers.

“I was a pastoral associate for eight years in Kansas,” explains the deacon. Father Neil came and gave a talk on the Glenmary missions.

“I thought that was great, because I’m from South Carolina, and I’m a convert,” Scott says. “I talked with him, and he encouraged me to look at the pastoral associate position.” Some years later, in 2019, sure enough, there was an opportunity to serve at Glenmary. I thought it was almost too good to be true!”

Path to Rome

Scott has an unusual background for a Catholic deacon—he attended Duke University Divinity School and then served as minister in a Methodist, then a Lutheran congregation. But he was drawn toward Roman Catholicism.

“It was kind of a gradual move,” he says. Tammy adds that she followed a similar path: “We kind of made this progress together.” Tammy, once a Southern Baptist, admits, “He was more ready than I was at first!” But now she feels at home.

The gradual move started in divinity school, says Scott, when he took a course on Catholicism. He needed an elective, and wanted to stay in divinity courses: “I knew nothing about Catholicism, and had no interest!” he says with a laugh. He read books,

wrote papers, and attended daily Mass. Then the surprise: “I’d never experienced Mass. It spoke to me.” Seeds of interest and desire were planted.

His readings in Church history continued after divinity school, when he was in ministry. He was involved as pastor in the broader ecumenical movement. “But I didn't end up converting for over 20 years,” he says. He switched to Lutheranism, “I thought just being more sacramental would work for me. But, like Tammy, I never really felt at home.”

Deacon Scott is careful not to discount the value of Protestant Christianity. “But at Eucharist, I felt, in Vatican II language, the fullness of faith. It’s not that others are wrong, or that they don’t receive grace. But I was being called to something else, which I struggled with for a long time.”

For starters, he was a professional minister. He couldn’t just switch churches without finding a new profession, he thought. But he made the move nonetheless, “and everything fell into place after that. I have no idea how!” he says, laughing again. One senses the hand of Providence.

Tammy’s faith journey

The Watfords had children while they were at Duke— a boy and twin sisters, now grown. Tammy worked in banking. Then, “I was a stay-at-home mom until they were old enough to go to school. Then I worked at the school, until they got older. And now I’m back into banking, in the loan department.”

As Scott was becoming interested in Roman Ca-

Glenmary Father Mike Kerin smiles from behind as Deacon Scott shares one of his humorous stories during the homily at Mass in Randolph County, Georgia.

Photo by John Feister

tholicism, she was watching, and her own faith was moved. “I love being Catholic,” she says now. “I don’t think my prayer life was as good. Catholicism is just comforting to me; it’s like a home to me.

“I love the Mass,” she continues. And she appreciates the constancy of Catholic faith. As a volunteer, Tammy organized the parish choir. “I lead the music. That’s my talent!” she says with a laugh.

Nuts and bolts

All of this growth in spirituality, this love as a couple, this love of ministry, has led Deacon Scott to a new opportunity. This summer he will become pastoral coordinator for both parishes. Father Mike will remain as sacramental minister as he works toward developing a Christian spirituality center in Cuthbert.

Much of the pastoral coordinator’s work is anything but glamorous—even small missions have accounting books, bulletins to print, a website and Facebook page to maintain (search for Holy Family Blakely to see his work). The more energizing part is his diaconal ministry: visiting the sick, leading Communion services and his role at Mass. “Working with Father Mike, I do a lot of preaching, at both parishes,” he says, gratefully. Deacon Scott is a good preacher.

That appreciation and sharing of the fullness of Catholicism is why Father Mike is so delighted with the Watfords’ presence. He considers it “a tremendous privilege” to serve with Deacon Scott. He adds that “Scott is a gifted and dedicated missionary.” Tammy’s

gift of helping parishioners to sing is also on Father Mike’s gratitude list.

“It’s amazing how things just keep working here,” says Deacon Scott. “Somehow, though I hit the brick walls, all of a sudden, here comes the right person, and it gets done, much less expensively than without volunteer help. God just keeps sending the right help.”

Marriage in ministry

But something is different for a married deacon. Scott and Tammy both draw on their commitment as a married couple, “our primary vocation,” to ground their faith. He struggles not to devote inordinate time to his ministry. Each feeds the other’s practice of the faith. “That’s what’s kept us together for 40 years,” he says. (“Forty two,” she reminds him.) “We both share the really important things, like spirituality. But if we didn’t share our commitment and love of the Church, it wouldn’t be a good marriage. We’ve both come to love the Church.”

At the end of the day, Scott’s been at church all day, and “sometimes it gets pretty intense,” he says. “My favorite thing is if we just get in our [side by side] recliners, agree on a movie, and just sit together and watch. Tammy nods in agreement. Their favorite? “Now we both liked the new Top Gun,” she says. He nods in agreement. Then, back and forth, they start trying to remember all of the other ones they’ve enjoyed—together. Love shared in the mission is nurtured in everyday living.

Tammy Watford works by day as a banker, but volunteers plenty of time building and directing a choir at Holy Family Parish in Early County, Georgia.

Photo by John Feister

Smallness of Scale

by polly duncan

Last week I was driving through the Appalachian Mountains returning home to central Kentucky from one of our Glenmary missions, St. Teresa of Kolkata, in eastern Tennessee. I have been enjoying that drive for the past few months, going back and forth to lead a Catholic social teaching series for the community there.

I do thank God for the splendor of the Appalachians, which have always captivated me—stretching back to hiking in the White Mountains as a college student in New Hampshire, to our family’s camping trips along the Appalachian Trail, and to my years visiting parishes in eastern Kentucky when I worked for the Diocese of Lexington.

Last week’s drive brought to my mind comments of friends from western states, or my Colorado-obsessed “14-er” son, who turn up their noses at our eastern mountains as being, well, second rate. Remembering those attitudes reminded me of a lens through which Glenmarians and we lay coworkers view our ministry: “Appreciation for smallness of scale.”

And I smiled to myself.

Whether in the context of mountain ranges or

Bigger is not always better.

Glenmarians, and all of us in the Glenmary family, know that.

collum

In an area where there is not even a church building, folks can make do: The People of God in tent, at altar, with primitive font, gather for Baptism.

Photo by John Feister

church ministry, bigger is not necessarily better. Glenmary serves in rural and small-town counties in the South where there are few Catholics, a significant percentage of the population has no church affiliation and the poverty rate is often twice the national average. In other words, we work in areas that don’t really register on the national church scene, among people generally on the margins of American society who don’t seem to count for much with the powers that be. And we really come to love those people and places.

What Glenmary does is to call together very small mission communities, by reaching out to individuals and families one by one. Years ago, when I led a Glenmary mission in northern Mississippi as pastoral coordinator, I would consider 12 or 15 people coming to worship a great Sunday. In an era of parish consolidation into bigger faith communities or clusters, our Glenmary approach seems rather out of step.

Yet appreciation for smallness of scale is not unique to Glenmary. Is it not the Gospel way? This ministry lens points to the tiny mustard seed and the hidden yeast, the Little Way of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the personalism of Peter Maurin and Dorothy Day, the welcome offered by St. Andre Bessette the doorkeeper, and this sentiment from St. Teresa of Kolkata: “I do not agree with the big way of doing things.”

To us, what matters is an individual. I am about to head out on my daily walk down our rural lane in Kentucky. After more than 17 years, I never cease to be thrilled when I come over a hill and see what we central Kentuckians call “the knobs,” those small hills in the distance.

points of understanding

Polly Duncan Collum (see accompanying article) provides training and experience in Glenmary parishes, helping to name the importance of social justice in being fully Catholic. “There’s a huge body of work known as Catholic social teaching,” she says. “Generally, the Catholic faithful might have a cursory knowledge of that, but not very deep.” She travels from parish to parish, providing catechesis, that is, “faith-learning,” on justice, peace and the integrity of creation. They are three dimensions of the same gospel truth: love one another.

In her workshops she covers three main points:

1 2 3

Where is the pain? She helps parish members identify signs of injustice such as dangerous housing, unfair work conditions, neglected children.

What can we do about it? What can a parish do to address the injustice? How can local Catholics stand in solidarity with those who are being treated unjustly? One example was the widespread hospitality that parishioners in Tennessee showed for victims of an immigration raid that tore apart families.

How can social teaching guide us in our efforts? For instance, the dignity, the human person is a key understanding in Christianity. Says Polly, “In our workshop, we talked a lot about that. Why is that important? How does that guide us very concretely and specifically in our local action?”

—John Feister

Polly Duncan Collum is the Director of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation for Glenmary Home Missioners.

Brother Craig

The Man Who Crosses Over

by father aaron wessman

Glenmarians are marked by the characteristic of any good missioner: the ability to cross over into another person’s life. By crossing over, I simply mean to get to know another person, even someone with a very different background from my own, to form a loving communion. How can I step out of polarized, fractured groups, and begin living the mission of Jesus more fully? That’s a question for all of us.

To do it requires intention. We need to go out of our way to know the other. Luckily, I find examples among many Glenmary missioners, whether they be Glenmarians, or coworkers, even supporters in our Glenmary family. One example I offered in my book The Church’s Mission in a Polarized World is Glenmary Brother Craig Digmann.

A white, middle-aged man, Brother Craig has crossed over into cultures not his own. As a Catholic serving in rural, southern counties in the United States, he’s accustomed to living around the majority Protestant—mostly evangelical and Pentecostal— Christian population. He’s also aware of the division

that exists between Catholics and Protestants, one where both sides often share the blame. This division is regularly coupled with misunderstanding, prejudice, and sometimes, even hatred.

Brother Craig feels inspired to overcome these divides. He orders his life and mission around Jesus’ prayer that all Christians would be one (see Jesus’ prayer in John 17). That members of the same body of Christ could find reasons to hate each other is, to him, unacceptable, though he understands well the long, sad history of division between Christians. So, he devotes himself, one relationship at a time, to overcoming this hatred and bringing about unity.

A public witness

As he is known to say: “It’s about relationships.” To build these relationships, he dedicates himself to visiting every church in the county in which he lives. This process begins by meticulously mapping out the churches, often hundreds of them, recording their address, logging contacts, and planning for a visit. Once

“It’s all about relationships,” says Brother Craig. Here’s the story of a missioner who's not afraid to take chances.

Photo by John Feister

mapped out, Brother Craig resolutely determines to fulfill his passion: to visit them all.

Arriving early at the various churches, Brother Craig often sees a few friendly faces he has met throughout the town—some have invited him to attend their services. With those he meets for the first time, he smiles, shakes hands, talks about the weather, comments on local high school sports, asks questions, and then readies himself to pray.

He’s aware that, for many of the people he meets, he is the first Catholic that they have ever talked to. Once the worship service begins, Brother Craig follows the lead of the congregation. As a Catholic who deeply loves the Mass, what he encounters is not his usual style of worship. The hymns are different, the sermons are usually longer, and, though not common, he’s seen communities still practice snake handling, seen as a test of biblical faith.

But Brother Craig bows his head, listens attentively, and sings. (He would never handle snakes, by the way.) In some situations, Brother Craig is called upon to lead a prayer in front of the group. That’s remarkable in that he’s often the first Catholic to cross the threshold of these worship spaces.

Unity among differences

Brother Craig’s presence in leading the prayer, along with the community’s hospitality extended to him, image an important reality: that unity can exist even when there are differences. Brother Craig’s approach is humble and nonthreatening. As he says, “I have tried to not be intrusive or to force my faith on any I have met, but to walk with people wherever they are in their lives.”

In one of his assignments as a missioner, he visited nearly 200 Protestant churches (all in his area).

From these momentous efforts, it is easy to understand how Protestants in the area have considered him, a Catholic, their ‘pastor.’ Furthermore, those he encountered regularly sought his advice in church matters, asked him for prayers, invited him to talk about Catholicism, accompanied him to Catholic

worship, and even called upon him to give the sermon in the absence of their own minister!

One Protestant man from the county where Brother Craig served summarized the brother’s presence

like this: “[In] my numerous experiences of fellowship with him, [he] has exemplified a deep respect of my community and its culture. He has become one of us, exhibiting utmost kindness.”

That’s the kind of public witness that might well encourage others not only to cross over into his life, but also to the lives of others in their community.

“We enjoy his presence in our community and his willingness to know our culture, our names, and even our struggles,” the man continued. What testimony! Few more complimentary words could be said about a person who has given his life to a mission of crossing over.

‘I have tried to not be intrusive or to force my faith on any I have met, but to walk with people wherever they are in their lives.’

RIGHT: Glenmary Brother Craig Digmann (right) visits Protestant churches throughout Trousdale County, Tenn. He’s paving the way for what could become a permanent Catholic presence.

Father Aaron Wessman is first vice president of Glenmary. This article is adapted from his book, The Church’s Mission in a Polarized World (New City Press).

Photo by John Stegeman

letters

GREAT STORY

That was a great story about Father François (Spring 2023) and the prisons.

Donald Konechne · Rapid City, SD

GOD IS WORKING

I thoroughly enjoyed Volume 87 (Spring 2023), especially the story that featured Megan Headley. God is working at his best. Pray for me!

Dr. Rodolfo Leyva · Los Angeles, CA

KUDOS

Kudos to the editor and staff of the Spring 2023 Challenge! I thought you really developed Father William Howard Bishop’s message, “Our quest for the neglected and forgotten takes us out beyond the boundaries of where the Church is present…” Articles like Father Bruce celebrating the first Mass in the new chapel in Smith County, Tennessee, Father Pete celebrating Mass at Maple Knoll Assisted Living, Father François’ presence in the pris-

ons and to troubled married couples, Megan Headley’s first encounter with Glenmary and becoming a Catholic, Father Aaron’s book which hopefully will reach thousands of unchurched, polarized people and finally the new face of Glenmary seen in its members, developed the message beautifully. Proud to be a part of this faith loving and growing team of missionary workers.

Ruth Holtel · Cincinnati, OH

LOVE FATHER FRANÇOIS

We just received the Glenmary Challenge in the mail today. I was surprised and excited to see Father François on the cover, and then to read the article about him. I'd like to thank you for such a nice article. We have always felt that Father is special, and we love him. It felt good to read about his time with Glenmary and see him recognized. We feel like he has been devoted to Glenmary and done wonderful work. Our marriage was the first one he blessed, in West Liberty, Ky. at Prince of Peace Catholic Church. That was in 1982. We have remained in contact with him over the years. I

felt joy when I saw the pictures and read the article. I called him and we talked for 1.5 hours! Thanks so much!

Laura and Tom Zipp · Marengo, IN

LOVE THE NEWS

We’re so grateful for the newsy magazine on the Home Missioners. Father Chet visited our home parish a few years ago and that’s pretty much all we knew about your missions, so the magazine was very helpful. Thank you for all you do to “bring the Church to them.” Just as the lost are rescued when someone cares enough to stop and help, those who work with you seem to enjoy going that extra mile. Thank you so much and may God bless you all.

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald W. Brynes Geneva, OH

we want your feedback ! Send to: Editor, Glenmary Challenge, PO Box 465618, Cincinnati, OH 45246. Email: challenge@glenmary.org. Comments are printed at the discretion of the editor and may be edited for clarity and space. Please include a postal address with your letter.

of the Blessed Virgin aren't common in rural parts of East Tennessee, but this statue will soon stand humbly at the Glenmary Group Volunteer site on Joppa Mountain.

On this day in 1915, our founder Fr. Bishop was ordained a priest. Inspired by the Holy Spirit and his early ministry in rural Clarksville, MD, Fr. Bishop saw it wasn't just far away places that needed missionaries, we needed them here in the USA, as well! 24 years later, Fr. Bishop received permission from his bishop to change paths, and Glenmary was founded!

The Glenmary family at our Headquarters in Cincinnati recently held an Easter brunch and Easter egg hunt celebration. Happy Easter to all of our friends and supporters around the country and beyond!