Glenmary Challenge Winter 2022

GLENMARY.ORG WINTER 2022

Seeing Hope in Southwest Georgia

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.)

Saving Christmas

FROM THE EDITOR / John Stegeman

Once, when I was a child, there was a cardboard box on the front porch. This was before Amazon, so such a thing was noteworthy.

I opened it. To my delight, I found a box of toys!

There was a basketball, a remote-controlled car, all kinds of nice toys. When my parents got home the box “disappeared,” but lo and behold Christmas day I got a basketball and an RC car, among other gifts.

I realized on Christmas that the box was a gift of charity. For a moment I pondered what this meant. Finally, I reacted like a child and just played happily with my toys! I remember that remote-controlled car to this day. Somebody helped save Christmas.

In rural Georgia, Brother Jason Muhlenkamp and C-Hope Ministries of Blakely does more than just save Christmas. Yes, they buy gifts for people in need, but all year long they are working to address poverty in their community. Brother Jason is an example of what Glenmary is all about. Wherever we serve, Glenmary figures out the needs of a community and does everything possible to meet them.

I wonder how many Christmases will be saved because of the unheralded actions of Glenmary priests, brothers and lay coworkers, all made possible by our generous donors. There will be full stomachs, wrapped presents and Catholic churches open for worship this Dec. 25. It is a beautiful thing.

Sometimes the work of ministry and helping others is dramatic. Certainly we have stories of lifechanging encounters and moments of grace that lift people from despair. Sometimes though, the gift is of dignity. My family had a good Christmas once because someone helped.

This season, let’s all be that help for others.

ON THE COVER: Novice Jude Smith is spending part of his novitiate year in Georgia where Brother Jason and C-Hope Ministries make a difference. Among many ministries, C-Hope buys Christmas presents for those in need. By John Feister.

Seeing Hope in Southwest Georgia

Come to small-town Georgia for a visit with Brother Jason and the people he is helping to put their lives together.

PAGE 8 ∙ BY OMAR CABRERA

Glenmary’s newest lay missioner has much in common with his Latino parishioners.

By Omar

Cabrera

Glenmary Father John Brown is surviving cancer and learning more about his faith.

By John Feister

Publisher: Father Dan Dorsey

Editor: John Stegeman

Asst. Editors: Omar Cabrera, John Feister Art Director: Cassie Magnotta

12 MISSION EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

What drives missioners to be missionary? Learn from a Glenmary priest and spirituality expert.

By Father Mike Kerin

Denise Collado knows it’s the words of love that speak the loudest. She also quilts!

By John Feister

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

Glenmary’s Charismatic Family

What in the world is a charismatic family? In our case, it’s the whole Glenmary family. Let me explain.

The founder of Glenmary, Father William Howard Bishop, did not possess a “big personality.” As a priest he would not have caught your eye among his peers. At times he lacked self-confidence. What was extraordinary about this ordinary man? He was given a gift by the Holy Spirit to see what others could not see: that there are mission areas and needs here in the United States.

In Catholic theology Father Bishop was given what is known as a charism. Often we hear charismatic and think of Spirit-oriented prayer gatherings, or magnetic personalities, but I mean a broader sense. A charism is a gift, given by the Holy Spirit specifically for the building up and renewal of the Body of Christ, and the flourishing of the Kingdom of God.

Over the decades Glenmary brothers, sisters and

priests have strived to embrace Father Bishop’s charism, to adapt it to an ever-changing landscape. We recognize that this charism is not our singular possession to be jealously guarded but, rather, it is a movement of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit, the breath of God, that opens the doors of mission.

One of the true blessings and joys of the Holy Spirit in our lives is it leads us down roads we never expected to navigate. The Spirit surprises us! This can be challenging, often exciting, and yes, a bit frightening.

Imagine being in the sandals of St. Paul and then recall the early Church’s struggle with accepting Gentiles into the Church! The Spirit impels us to change and grow. And to pray, as in this prayer, from a classic hymn: “Breathe on me, Breath of God/fill me with life anew/that I may love the way you love/and do what you would do.”

I have a vivid example of the Spirit’s guidance from within Glenmary. You may have noticed over the past few years different faces in this magazine as we began to accept vocations of men from other nations. What a

FROM THE PRESIDENT / Father Dan Dorsey

The Glenmary Charismatic Family includes priests, brothers, lay coworkers and donors.

Photo by Susan Sweet

gift these men from Kenya, Mexico, Vietnam and Uganda have been in furthering the mission of Glenmary!

We’ve been praying about this, deepening our understanding of the Spirit’s work. That’s what brought us to seeing Glenmary through the lens of charismatic family. (That in itself is the work of the Holy Spirit!)

Our charismatic family extends far beyond the vocation of sister, brother and priest. Our Glenmary coworkers are an indispensable component of our charismatic family. They bring a unique perspective that both complements and enriches our understanding of Glenmary’s mission and charism.

The Glenmary’s Charismatic Family includes coworkers working on a national level, those ministering on a local level and those who work behind the scenes (e.g. the editor of this magazine) here in Cincinnati, at our national headquarters. These are younger and older, men and women, wives and husbands, fathers and mothers. Some are a part of our family for a brief time and others for an extended time.

Our coworkers are partners in our mission charism, implementing and dreaming the future of mission here in the rural areas of the United States. You, too, are partners in mission, part of our charismatic family. Without your continued prayers and financial support our missionary effort would cease to exist.

During this Advent and Christmas season we want you to know how important you are to our charismatic family. With a deep sense of gratitude we say, “Thanks very much. It is a blessing to have you in our family!”

glenmary news & notes

Catholic Extension visits Erwin

awareness / Mission a model of multicultural parish

“It was interesting to hear Father Tom Charters speak about building a community that really believes they are a community.” Those are words from Bishop Emeritus Gerald Kicanas, of the Diocese of Tucson, after visiting Glenmary’s St. Michael the Archangel parish in Unicoi County, Tenn., on October 7.

Bishop Kicanas, vice-chancellor of the Chicago-based Catholic Church Extension Society, leads Extension’s mission committee, a group of Catholic leaders who help guide the funding for Church construction and other projects across the United States. They were visiting

some of the churches that Extension has helped to build.

Joe Boland, vice-president of mission for Catholic Extension, says, “It’s a church that really started with nothing, and the people took ownership of their church.” He notes, too, “It’s a great example of what a multicultural parish looks like,” referring to the mix of Anglo and Hispanic parishioners that comprise St. Michael’s. “It’s a community where everyone feels they have a home.” It’s a great story of the ongoing mission of Glenmary, Boland says. “Our team walked into a place where there was nothing, and now there’s a church!”

“They’re very, very proud of their church,” says Bishop Kicanas. “What’s impressive is their willingness to work with people of other faiths to do the work of the Lord.” He chuckles, recalling the way someone there used to speak of Catholics: “They may not be Christian, but they certainly act like it!”

ABOVE: Glenmary Lay Missioner Kathy O’Brien, left, greets Bishop Emeritus Gerald Kicanas and representatives of the Catholic Extension Society on their recent trip to St. Michael the Archangel mission in Unicoi County, Tenn.

Photo by Catholic Extension

Former mission celebrates milestone

legacy / Grayson, Ky., parish a Glenmary success story

On Nov. 13 representatives of Glenmary Home Missioners joined parishioners and staff in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the dedication of Sts. John and Elizabeth Catholic Church in Grayson, Ky.

Sts. John and Elizabeth Catholic Church was established by Glenmary Home Missioners in 1964 at the request of the Diocese of Covington. Like many Glenmary missions, the first Masses were offered in trailers or homes before the construction of a permanent worship space. Prior to the 1972 construction of the present building, the mission was known as The Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church. The current name is in honor of Saint John the Baptist and his mother, Elizabeth; as well as in memory of the parents of one of the mission’s early benefactors.

“It is wonderful to see the fruits of Glenmary’s ministry,” said Father Dave Glockner, a Glenmary senior member and the last Glenmary priest to staff the parish. “The people were friendly, the music was great. It’s a pretty little church. They embraced the Glenmary style for sure.”

In 1998 the parish became part of the newly erected Diocese of Lexington. Glenmary handed pastoral care of the mission to the diocese in July of 2013. Glenmary has established more than 120 parishes in its 83-year history.

TOP: Glenmary has established 120 missions like Sts. John and Elizabeth. ABOVE

LEFT: Brother Dennis Craig was part of the Brothers’ Building Crew that constructed Sts. John and Elizabeth. RIGHT: Father Dan Dorsey holds a winning ticket.

Raffle success

fundraising / $5k to winner

Glenmary president Father Dan Dorsey and others drew the winners of the 2022 Country Raffle sweepstakes on Sept. 9 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The $5,000 winner was Kent Bartlo of Rollinsville, Colo. The $3,000 winner was Karen Simmons of Fairfield, Conn., and the $1,500 prize went to William Berwick of Valley Stream, N.Y. Eleven $100 prizes were also awarded, as was a handmade quilt.

This year’s raffle raised $143,330 to support Glenmary’s mission. More than 3,500 people participated in the raffle.

While donations were not required to enter the raffle, those who support the Country Raffle help Glenmary continue nurturing the Catholic Church in areas of the country without an effective Church presence. Without outside support, Glenmary could not care for the spiritual and material needs of all those living in mission counties in Appalachia and the South.

Photo by John Stegeman

Photos by Laura Ecklund

Program to address polarization

education / Mission to study Catholic social teaching

A book study will begin Jan. 11 in Glenmary’s Maynardville and Rutledge, Tenn., missions to explore Catholic Social Teaching.

Polly Duncan Collum, Glenmary’s Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation director, is planning the study of author Mark Shea’s The Church’s Best Kept Secret: A Primer on Catholic Social Teaching, along with parishioner John Sweitzer.

“We plan to bring together folks across the current divisions in our country. We will ask participants to consider where their identity comes from. Is it from their faith, or from their political party, or something else?” said Duncan Collum. “In forming our opinions on social issues, we all need to ask, ‘What does the Church teach?’”

Duncan Collum said the book study may be implemented at other Glenmary missions in the future.

“Like many, I have formulated my perspective on the many aspects of Catholic social teaching; supporting some aspects and struggling with other aspects,” Sweitzer said. “Since I retired, I find myself more curious about the ‘whys’ behind the way our social systems work and my perspective has shifted in ways that have led to conversion of my heart.”

Duncan Collum invites readers to join a Lent 2023 Zoom study of Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future, by Pope Francis. For more information on this six-week study, contact Duncan Collum at pduncancollum@glenmary.org.

ABOVE: Glenmary’s Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation department is always looking for new ways to help missioners and parishioners deepen their connection to Catholic Social Teaching. You're also invited to join our Lenten Zoom study!

• The Bertie County Spectacular, a 5k race and 1 mile walk/run fundraiser for the Good Shepherd Food pantry, took place Oct. 29 in Windsor, N.C. Glenmary has long been involved in operations for the food pantry. Glenmary Father Richard Toboso, pastor of Glenmary’s Holy Spirit mission, competed in the race, finishing sixth overall. The popular event is the food pantry’s only annual fundraiser.

• St. Teresa of Kolkata Catholic Church in Union County, Tenn., and its associated Fresh Wagon food pantry are working with the Family Resource Center in Maynardville, Tenn., to alleviate food insecurity this Christmas. Father Neil Pezzulo said the pantry plans to distribute more than 200 hams.

• Glenmary First Vice President Father Aaron Wessman was the homilist for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s (Ohio) World Mission Sunday Mass Oct. 23. Taken annually on the second to last Sunday in October, the World Mission Sunday collection helps support the Pontifical Mission Societies.

• The Glenmary Executive Council has ordered the creation of a task force on evangelization to explore how the society can best share its charism with others. The task force hopes to create a Department of Evangelization within Glenmary and to hire a Director of Evangelization, who will work with lay evangelizers in the missions. “From the beginning of Glenmary’s history, and flowing from our founder, Father William Howard Bishop, Glenmary has been interested in, and taken the lead on, creative modes of evangelization,” said Father Aaron Wessman, Glenmary first vice president.

Photo by Alexis Brown, Courtesy Unsplash

Photo by Johcel Hughes

around the missions

Seeing Hope in Southwest Georgia

BY OMAR CABRERA

AyoungAfrican American man peels potatoes in the kitchen of a tiny house on a Friday afternoon. He is helping to prepare food that will be sold the next day at a barbecue to raise funds for people in need. His work is a contribution to C-Hope Ministries, a program that is helping him to overcome one of the lowest points in his life. “Truly and honestly, I was pretty bad on meth,” says Dave.

The tiny house where Dave temporarily lives sits close to another trailer home that also shelters homeless people, like himself. Both houses are surrounded by a grassy lot that connects to a dirt road on the outskirts of the small town of Blakely, in southwest Georgia.

Dave, whose name has been changed for privacy, is one of 11 people currently living in three transitional houses provided by C-Hope. “They found themselves in a homeless

ABOVE: Brother Jason Muhlenkamp is often at the center of C-Hope Ministries efforts to help those in need. LEFT: Dave, a young man who has experienced homelessness, peels potatoes to help with a fundraiser.

Whether it’s finding a place to sleep, or a place to work, clothes on the back, or even a child’s gift to put under the Christmas tree, Brother Jason is there to help.

Photos by John Feister

LEFT: This tiny house and mobile home serve as transitional housing for people in Blakely, Ga., experiencing homelessness. Residents may stay from 3 to 6 months. The program also puts residents to work in various capacities.

state, a lot from addiction,” said Glenmary Brother Jason Muhlenkamp.

Now, Dave says, “I’m renewing my thinking. I’m getting sober and I’m learning new skills.”

C-Hope (“see hope”) is a faith-based organization that provides transitional housing, case management, prayer, a food pantry, as well as basic job opportunities to people in need. Brother Jason and Baptist pastor Darrell Alexander head the ministry with financial support from Glenmary and other donors.

Help for rehabilitation

The houses give shelter for about three months, and in some cases, up to six. Those who live there are required to follow certain rules, like avoiding alcohol and drugs, and contributing 10 work hours a week, Brother Jason explained.

Earlier that Friday, Brother Jason led a devotional based on the Gospel according to John: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” He goes on to explain that Jesus is the good shepherd and we are his flock. Listening to him were a handful of the C-Hope beneficiaries who live in the transitional houses, former residents, staff and friends.

The daily devotional takes place in the C-Hope office at a strip mall in Blakely. Right next door, the program runs a thrift store. Almost all the other shops at the mall are permanently closed, a typical image in this economically depressed town mostly surrounded by cotton and peanut fields. According to the U.S. Census, 24 percent of the people in Early County live in poverty.

The thrift store offers one or two job opportunities, pays for the rent of the two shops—including the office—and sells clothes, furniture and other small items at very low prices. “We get so much clothes (donated), that we give a bag for $5,” Brother Jason says. “It gives an opportunity for people that can’t afford to buy these items new.”

ABOVE: Brother Jason shares a kind word with a C-Hope participant after a devotional. BELOW: A thrift store helps fund C-Hope efforts.

The store is one of the three elements of what CHope calls its economic development program. The other two are lawn care and cleaning services, run by beneficiaries of the program and regular staff.

Beneficiaries who work past 10 hours a week either at the thrift store, lawn mowing or cleaning services get paid. “We don’t want them sitting at the house doing nothing,” Brother Jason says. “The lawn care crew, those four people work probably 35 to 40 hours a week.”

In addition to the economic program, C-Hope also provides spiritual support and directs people to services they need. For instance, “A lot of them come in needing medical attention. They may have not seen a doctor for a little while, so we get them to the doctor,” the Glenmary brother says. Others get directed to Aspire, a local agency that provides mental health services.

During Christmastime, C-Hope gives toys, shoes, clothes and other gifts to kids and adults.

Returning to the barbecue, for which Dave was peeling potatoes, all the plates were sold during the weekend. The money will allow C-Hope to pay for several program participants to attend a two-day spiritual retreat at a Catholic center in a nearby community.

“We want to reach the lost, we want to reach people at the level that they’re at,” Pastor Darrell adds. “But, I think, more importantly than anything, we’ve got to reach our youth, our young folks.”

Now, C-Hope has plans to grow. The program already acquired, for a nominal amount, a gymnasium that a local school stopped using. Pastor Darrell says that the goal is remodeling the facilities next year to begin using them in 2024 to offer afterschool classes, sports and other resources to help the youth stay healthy and away from addictions.

Both Brother Jason and Pastor Darrell celebrate C-Hope as a collaborative effort inspired by God that unites people from different Christian denominations to help disadvantaged sisters and brothers. And God’s work keeps bearing fruits.

RIGHT: Blakely, Ga., is a poor community, with up to 24 percent of the population living in poverty. The C-Hope thrift store makes home goods available at affordable prices.

LEFT: Food, fellowship and fundraising. C-Hope hosted a BBQ near its office and thrift store to raise money for the program.

Photo by John Feister

Photo courtesy of C-Hope Facebook

Photo by John Feister

Photo by John Feister

Music and Mission with a Spanish Flavor

Glenmary’s newest lay missioner shares much in common with his Latino parishioners.

BY OMAR CABRERA

AMexican immigrant who plays music, has been a catechist since he was a teenager and has worked for years as a Catholic speaker is Glenmary’s newest reinforcement for its mission in Erwin, Tennessee.

Miguel Pérez has been working since August 2022 as head of the Hispanic, Youth and Music ministries at St. Michael the Archangel mission, which serves Unicoi County, in the northeast of the state.

“We are very happy to be here,” said Miguel. The Hispanics have lots of ideas for the parish and say: “Oh, how good that you came!” An early request was music in Spanish.

Latinos account for 84 percent of parishioners at St. Michael the Archangel. There are sizable Hispanic populations at many Glenmary missions.

Miguel, recalling his first links with the Church. Both of his parents were practicing Catholics. “All of that gave me the basis to awake that interest in the youth group when I was 14 years old and from there it was a never-ending story, thank God,” he added.

Glenmary First Vice President, Father Aaron Wessman, stressed that Miguel’s hiring is part of an effort to reflect the diversity of the populations in the mission areas and serve them as best as possible.

“We are happy to be here. The Hispanics tell us: ‘Oh, how good that you came!’’’

Miguel’s arrival has begun to help strengthen the community. “We have started a new prayer group here on Mondays,” he explained, “and I asked Father [Tom Charters] for permission to start a new choir at Mass on Saturdays.”

Miguel moved to Tennessee from California, along with his wife Gladys, their five children and his in-laws. He is originally from Hermosillo, capital of the Mexican state of Sonora.

“I was a catechist’s assistant from the age of 11, 12,” said

The congregation has decided to bring in staff “who have a similar background to the people we are serving, because obviously they will come with the experience, the expertise, and the knowledge that will help them serve those populations perhaps better than we were able to do in the past.”

Miguel shares a primary language and to some degree, culture, with the Hispanic parishioners. It is hoped that he will be able to connect with the Unicoi County parishioners and complement the work that the pastor, Father Tom, Father Kenneth Wandera, Pastoral Associate Kathy O’Brien and Brother Tom Sheehy have been doing for years.

Miguel Pérez, left, and his family. Pérez will lead Hispanic, youth and music ministry in Erwin, Tenn.

Photos courtesy of Miguel Pérez

Mission Empowered by the Holy Spirit

BY FATHER MIKE KERIN

What is Glenmary’s missionary spirituality?” This question is vital to understanding what Glenmary is all about. Two visitors to my Southwest Georgia mission asked me the question some weeks back, and caused me to ponder.

I make this simple attempt to lift up a few aspects of a missionary spirituality from the perspective of only one Glenmarian. There’s nothing official here; this is my approach. And, though Glenmary is often known for its works, I start from the inside: What drives Glenmary missioners to be missioners?

One simple way to phrase it is that the Glenmary missioner is

empowered by the spirit of mission (the Holy Spirit) to transform himself into Jesus the Missionary in all that he does. There are three aspects that I would like to lift up. First, it is God’s mission (Missio Dei) into which we are all called. Second, responding to this mission requires docility, that is, being led by the Holy Spirit. Third, as we live out this mission we are to become more and more like Jesus the Missionary. The mission itself transforms us.

In reality, this is the call of all Christians. The Church’s teachings are clear that this is God’s mission: that every Christian is to continue

Jesus’ mission on earth, under the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. My hope is that the readers of Glenmary Challenge would recognize the same spirituality flowing from their baptism.

Once again, I’m not trying to be complete or comprehensive in this short space. I am going to rely heavily on three Church teachings. Along the way, I will point them out. They’re easily found at the Vatican website, for you to explore further. These can be a great source of prayer and reflection.

God’s Mission (Missio Dei)

Although Glenmary Missioners al-

What drives Glenmary missioners to be missionary? This Glenmary priest and spirituality expert offers some ideas.

After Sunday Mass, Holy Family parishioners join Father Mike Kerin, in vestments at left, and Deacon Scott Watford under a carport for a quick photo. Young and old, of all backgrounds, they are the Church.

Photo by John Feister

ways work under the direction and the authority of both the Glenmary Council and the local bishop, what we are doing is ultimately God’s mission, never our mission alone. This requires the missioner (and every Christian) to be rooted in the Bible and to take on Jesus’ vision of the Kingdom of God.

The mission of Christians begins with Jesus, it exploded at Pentecost, and will go on until the end of time. All the baptized are called into this, God’s mission. And it’s not a mission limited to a few. Our Glenmary founder Father William Howard Bishop reminded us that everyone in the counties that we serve is part of our missionary effort. For us here in Southwest Georgia, that is six counties and over 35,000 people!

Docility to the Spirit

All of this requires a continual attentiveness to the promptings and the movements of the Holy Spirit—both inside the missioner and in the external activities of daily life. It requires keeping the longrange perspective and plan of God, and at the same time being sensitive to the subtle promptings of the Holy Spirit of Mission.

A MISSION PRAYER

Loving

Please fill us with your Spirit and transform us into Jesus the Missioner.

Please help us to live out that mission where we are and in our daily activities. Amen.

The missioner (and every Christian) needs to be deeply rooted in prayer. In addition to praying for those we are serving and for our missionary efforts, we need to have a spirit of discernment.

Thanks to St. Ignatius of Loyola, there is a rich theology of discernment. It is in prayer that we can be attentive to the promptings of the spirit of mission. Sometimes we are led to act; sometimes it is to wait. Sometimes we are led to do something ourselves; at other times to find others who will collaborate with us. There are numerous forms and styles of prayer. Underneath all of them is the missioner’s desire to do what God wants. Isn’t that the call of all Christians?

Becoming Like Jesus the Missionary

Jesus calls us from many different backgrounds, cultures, and nations. That includes us Glenmarians: No two of us are the same—and thank God for that. But each of us is called to let Jesus continually transform us.

It can be a slow, almost invisible process. And at other times it can be a more sudden moment of growth or insight. The daily struggles and the joys of life are tools of this transformation.

In addition to the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), the Church’s teachings call Glenmarians and all Christians to use the various spiritual gifts that we have received (charisms). A deep unconditional love (agape), apostolic zeal, and joy are frequently mentioned in the Church’s documents. Being courageous witnesses and embracing the cross are essential, as are fortitude

The spirituality of mission includes doing the work of God from a place of prayer and wholeness.

Photo by John Feister

God, help us to see your mission.

the Meantime, I’ll Keep Living

BY JOHN FEISTER

Sometopics are easier to consider than others.

When Glenmary Father John Brown was first diagnosed with cancer five years ago, he devoted himself to fighting it. He was repeatedly successful, but his physical opponent may soon win this battle. That’s what the doctor says. Father John is now living at the Glenmary residence in Cincinnati, in this case what might gladly be called the motherhouse. He undergoes tests, comes to daily Mass, hopes for the best, but has grown in his acceptance of what St. Francis of Assisi called, “Sister Death.”

There are readers who might not rather talk about such grave things—you might stop reading now, then, while you’re ahead! But Father John takes the opportunity of his eventual passing as a moment to reflect on life itself. We spent some time with him near the end of his last assignment, at the mission in Martin County, North Carolina, talking about life. After a good Mexican dinner out, we returned to his makeshift office-for-the-day, a table set up between the front pews and the altar. “The air-conditioning is on out here,” he

says with a smile. Then he starts to talk.

“Five years ago, I was given a 50-50 chance of living one year, and I said ‘Wow!’ I certainly had been aware that we’re passing through this world when I went to Gettysburg, or to Mount Vernon, or Rome—there are a lot of people who were there and aren’t here right now! I’m part of that, part of God’s work in passing through.”

But his was not a naive detachment. He admits he is afraid of pain, and some of his medical procedures have been painful. Not surprising, he’s had sadness, too. “I had some frustration when it came back, and I think it’s sometimes tied in with anger.”

He tried bargaining with God: “God, there’s so much to do in this mission, and we’re making plans together toward growing and expanding this church. So why do you want to take me now? I’d even think, ‘I’m

Most recently, Father John served at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Martin County, N.C. In 2018, he became the first full-time pastor the parish had ever had.

A Glenmarian surviving cancer is confidently learning about his faith.

‘In

’

Father John Brown has been serving as a Glenmary missionary priest for more than 40 years.

Photo by Cassie Magnotta

Photo by John Feister

too good to be sick or I’m too important.’” It helped him to talk about this with a nurse-parishioner.

“I didn’t want to talk about it much, locally, in my parish.” But he did talk with another wise parishioner who said, “I’ve been around a long time, and I’ve seen a bunch of very good people who came and left, and the parish survived.” Father John admits, “That’s good to hear from somebody else. The parish will survive.”

‘God is laughing’

Slowly, as did biblical Job, as does every person, eventually, Father John is learning to accept that God does what God does, whether we like it or not. “One of the changes in me in the last few months is my ability to say, ‘Your will be done. God, you’re in the present, you’re in the past, you’re in the future. You already know the time, and it’s just a question of when you’re gonna let me know. In the meantime, I’ll keep living.” He would resonate with Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, who, stricken with cancer, would say, “Let me live, until I die!”

“You need to put your will into trying to survive,” he says. “And I figure that God takes that into account in everything we pray and what we do.”

At age 68, he feels as if he’s a young man. “I’d always figure I’d go to about 84, then run outta’ gas, and then hopefully be doing something like some of my heroes, Glenmary Fathers Bill Smith and Joe Dean: still hang around to help celebrate Masses.” But he knows that old age is no given. “One of my patron saints is St. Martin of Tours, who went through all kinds of experiences, in and out of the military, and wondered if he was worthy to be a priest. I think he died in his 40s.”

Another of his favorites, St. Camillus de Lellis, was initially rejected for religious life because he had an ongoing medical condition from a battlefield wound. His history of gambling couldn’t have helped! Eventually he devoted his life to care of the sick, and is now patron of hospitals, nurses and the sick. His festering wound

From running a mission to navigating the way cancer changes a life, Father John is learning to accept challenges. God says, “I want everything you have, not just what you want to give me.”

eventually took him, but he served to the end, even leaving his hospital bed to care for the sick. You can see why Father John loves that story.

Father John, former biology student, marvels at the body God has given him. In spite of his cancer, though, he doesn’t feel cheated. “There are so many thousands of things going on every minute in the body. What’s the surprise if some of them go wrong? Better to say, ‘God, look at this wonderful life you gave me.’ Our sight, our vision, our memory, our ability to love people, our ability to pray. Those are all gifts of God.”

It’s not just that Jesus promises heaven, he says. Jesus promises companionship along the way. And Jesus, of course, knows suffering. Father John knows suffering, now, too, and tries to offer that for others.” The first time I read Colossians 1:24, ‘In my sufferings for you, I make up what’s lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of his body, the Church,’ I thought, What’s lacking in the suffering of Christ? Well nothing, except apparently our brain understanding it!

“Suffering’s certainly not my favorite thing to do,”

“...Put your will into trying to survive...I figure that God takes that into account in everything we pray and what we do."

Photo by John Feister

Stitched with Love

BY JOHN FEISTER

Life is filled with callings, if only we will listen! Denise Collado’s callings included motherhood and her 44-year profession teaching French and Spanish to high schoolers, to new English speakers, and to adults with developmental disability. And if you love languages—she speaks seven!—listening just might come naturally.

Born in New York, life called

her to Fairfax, then Charlottesville, Virginia, then to Sarasota, Florida. Along the way, she raised a family, became a widow, then, after 10 years, in 2014, found love again.

“Toby was the executive director of the American Watch Association,” she says of her husband today. His first wife had died the year before she met him. “They had spent most of the day together for

Denise Collado knows it’s the words of love that speak the loudest. She also knows how to make quilts!

Father Chet Artysiewicz shows the winning raffle ticket in front of one of Denise’s donated handmade quilts. The annual raffle is a major fundraiser for the home missions, and great entertainment for all involved.

Language teacher Denise Collado’s “new calling” was to support the home missions. She’s supported missioners in all sorts of ways.

Photo by John Feister

Photo by John Feister

over 35 years. He was definitely lost without her.”

A common friend introduced Toby and Denise to each other. “He was not expecting the short chubby lady who greeted him in front of the restaurant! But by the end of the evening, he was intrigued that someone really understood where he was in the depth of his loss. We married only six months later.”

Toby does not share Denise’s Catholicism, but “he respects my desire to practice my faith,” she says. “He’s even grown to appreciate some of the priests whom I considered friends.” One of those was Father Dennis McAuliffe, whom they visited a few years back while in New York. Father Dennis was dying of cancer. “It was good to see him again, noticing his appetite for good Italian food and wine had not diminished!” They saw in Father Dennis a man at peace with what the future held for him. He passed away not long afterwards.

“When we learned that Father Dennis had passed away, we both wanted to do something to honor this man’s life of service,” she says.

“Toby insisted on a Catholic charity that worked right here in the United States.” Then she remembered that Father Dennis had initially been ordained a Glenmary priest. Her contribution that followed was the first moment of a new calling in her life, to support the home missions.

During these past eight years she became an occasional Glenmary donor, then became active supporting the annual Country Raffle fundraiser. “I began making the raffle quilts and worked promoting the fundraiser among my friends and contacts.”

She organized for her choir to donate vestments to Father Steve Pawelk’s Tennessee ministry after reading about him in the Glenmary Challenge. She supported Father Don Tranel’s new mission, too, providing “must-have” items for setting up a new house.

“I was doing more, but still felt it was not enough,” she says. “I learned that I could make a bigger impact if I donated directly from the required minimum distribution I had to take from my investments

each year. I could continue to send little amounts along the way, but now I could support one missioner a little better. I made a covenant of support with Brother Jason Muhlenkamp in Blakely, Georgia, and renewed it this year.”

Among her many languages, perhaps she knows best the language of love, in family, in her teaching and writing, and in her support of Glenmary. Starting with a small act of friendship, her loving acts grew over time. She now directly supports favorite ministries, but she also has made Glenmary a part of her planned giving.

GET INVOLVED

Join our Adopt-a Mission or Missioner Program!

• Who will you adopt?

Missioner priests, brothers, even whole missions are available for adoption.

• What is expected?

The commitment is $2,400 per year to adopt a mission, and $1,200 per year to adopt a missioner. Both parties pray for each other and develop a relationship.

For more info contact Julia at jsauter@glenmary.org

Denise’s old friend, once-Glenmary-priest Dennis McAuliffe, now deceased, inspired Denise along her faith journey, even as he faced terminal illness.

Photo Courtesy of Glenmary Archives

Photo by Y. Purugganan Carroll

GRATEFUL

I feel very grateful that there is an organization like Glenmary helping people, spreading the good news about our precious Catholic faith and reaching out to Catholics in areas where Catholics are a very small minority. I am also encouraged by the increase in those discerning a vocation with Glenmary. May God continue to bless your work.

Steve Elser • Cincinnati, OH

MARVELOUS WORK

Love your magazine. It has improved over the years. Have always loved the Glenmarys. You do such marvelous work for the Lord.

Ruth Hubbard

• Summerfield, FL

Send to: Editor, Glenmary Challenge, P.O. 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.

continued from page 13:

Mission Empowered by the Holy Spirit

and discernment.

There is a beautiful line in St. John Paul II’s “Mission of the Redeemer” that encourages concern, tenderness, compassion, openness, availability, and interest in people’s problems. All of this is because Jesus’ love for us is deep, and it should flow through the missionary.

None of us is a finished product, but we can be instruments used by God. That is missionary spirit at its best: to be an instrument of God, to be prayerinformed, Church-informed, growing, serving God’s Kingdom. It is deeply humbling.

Glenmary Father Mike Kerin is mission pastor in six counties in Southwest Georgia, with churches in Blakely and in Cuthbert.

continued from page 15: In the Meantime, I’ll Keep Living

he concedes. “For years I told God, ‘Okay God, I’ll offer up all kinds of things, difficulties, frustrations, things like that. But don’t take away my health! I don’t like to be sick.’” When he started to learn of his health problems, this prayerful man had to laugh. “It was like, ‘Okay, God, maybe you think this is funny and it kind of is!’” But then he adds a more serious note, maybe even a sacred note: “‘No,’ says God. ‘I want everything you have, not just what you want to give me.’”

When Father John first learned that his cancer had returned, not so long ago, he thought he would tough it out in North Carolina. He would get to his mission, lead Mass, then sleep in his car for a few hours—he didn’t have any extra energy. It soon became clear that he needed to come back to Glenmary and leave his busy schedule behind.

Tony Bonomini, Planned Giving Officer tbonomini@glenmary.org 513-881-7441

But he fondly looks back on his missions. He particularly remembers returning to Adams County, Ohio, for the dedication of a new church in Peebles. ” I got there, and there were all the people I knew, but also tons of people I had kind-of known. I felt like I had just been able to open up a trap door and stick my head into heaven for a while. All those people happy and proud and glad of each other and kind of putting aside the problems for a bit. I look forward to the joy of heaven.”

Mission Hero Deputy Aaron Shipley saved 100+ children last week in Macon County, TN, one of Glenmary’s mission counties. A high-speed vehicle was driving towards a crowd of students when Deputy Shipley drove his patrol car into the vehicle, stopping it before it could hit anyone. The students and school community were safe.

Glenmary Home Missioners October 10 at 3:40 PM

Glenmary celebrates its founding on the Feast of the North American Martyrs. Inspired by the Jesuits who gave their lives in service to the Gospel, Glenmarians seek to to do the same in the home missions, meeting people where they are and inviting them to experience Jesus!

Glenmary Home Missioners October 19 at 12:00 PM Ron

Glenmary Home Missioners

Dee Gournay Glenmary Home Missioners Great seeing you, Father. Blessings for

Sal Rossi