Glenmary Challenge Winter 2017 by Glenmary Communications

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Winter 2017

Christmas Memories Missioners share unique moments of experiencing Christ's love

Mission Inspires Involvement

Experience at Holy Family leads man to prison ministry and more

Glenmary Family Works Together Sister Darlene and Glenmary's men in formation do joint ministry

Glenmary Home Missioners Founded by Father William Howard Bishop in 1939, this Catholic society of priests and brothers, along with numerous coworkers, establishes the Catholic Church in smalltown and rural America. Glenmary is the only religious community devoted exclusively to serving the spiritually and materially poor in the rural U.S. Today, supported through freewill offerings, it staffs missions and ministries throughout Appalachia and the South. Glenmary serves in areas where frequently less than one percent of the population is Catholic, a significant percentage have no church affiliation and poverty rates are high. Father William Glenmary is known for respecting the many cultures encoun- Howard Bishop tered in the home missions. Its Glenmary Founder missionary activity includes building Catholic communities, fostering ecumenical cooperation, evangelizing the unchurched, social outreach and working for justice.

Glenmary Challenge This 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 donors, U.S. diocesan clergy and anyone who requests it. Publisher: Father Chet Artysiewicz Editor: John Stegeman. Assistant Editor: Molly Williamson. Staff Writer: Father John S. Rausch. Special Thanks: Tricia Sarvak, Matthew Solarz. Planning-Review Board: Brother David Henley, Frank Lesko, Father Neil Pezzulo, Father John S. Rausch, Susan Lambert, Father Don Tranel, Father Dave Glockner, Brother Craig Digmann, Lucy Putnam. Donor Advisory Board: Theodore A. Capossela, Jill Collet, Joseph F. DeAngelo, Deacon Richard P. Delio, Ivan D. Doseff, William G. Goslee, Terry Schneeman, Albert A. Vondra. Glenmary Home Missioners P.O. Box 465618 • Cincinnati, OH 45246-5618 513-874-8900 • 800-935-0975 www.glenmary.org • info@glenmary.org © 2017, Glenmary Home Missioners. Reprint permission granted upon request.

about the cover: A group of girls identified as volunteers from a Glenmary mountain mission bring gifts and sing Christmas carols to Ova and Viola Gilkison at their Appalachian home. Photo by Father Pat O'Donnell.

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What if you hated Christmas? FROM THE EDITOR / John Stegeman

an you imagine hating Christmas? Maybe the more cynical among us can for reasons of commercialism, stress, etc. But what if you hated it for another reason? What if Christmas meant hearing your classmates discuss piles of gifts, while you received little? What if it meant hearing others speak of fun family meals, while you ate Christmas dinner a couple days earlier in the basement of the Methodist church with strangers? What if it meant hearing Frank Sinatra sing on a loop about winter wonderlands while hoping the propane heater in your trailer doesn't fail? How might that affect your perception of Christ? If the day most people celebrate Jesus' birth is a constant reminder of your poverty, I suspect you wouldn't look so fondly on the baby in all the Nativity scenes. Thank God for Glenmary! Our priests will celebrate Mass this Christmas, but throughout the year, our priests, brothers and coworkers are there bringing spiritual as well as material relief to people in need. Glenmarians see Christ in the people they serve. Through your support of Glenmary, a child may smile a little John Stegeman more, a family may feel people jstegeman@glenmary.org care a little more and lots of folks will feel they are not alone, but wrapped in the warmth of God’s love. When those we help on Christmas look back on this special day, perhaps they will not remember the struggle, as much as the respite brought by Glenmary. I hope they will see the face of Christ in these missioners, and then, they too will come to know the love of that little baby in a manger, who came to save us all. To you all, have a fruitful Advent, and a blessed and merry Christmas!

egarding the cover and corresponding Christmas memories feature (p. 5); memories take place in the past, but Glenmary's ministry is thriving now! Looking at all Glenmary has done in its first nearly 80 years of serving the Home Missions, I'm excited for 2018 and beyond!  w w w. g l e n m a r y. o r g

T H E M A G A Z I N E O F C AT H O L I C M I S S I O N E R S T O R U R A L A M E R I C A

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Cover Story

Christmas Memories

Glenmary missioners share stories of Christmas in Mission Land, USA.

Lead Story

Cast a Wide Net

North Carolina parish ministry reaches crab workers hundreds of miles from home and in need of spiritual and material aid.

Feature Stories

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Glenmary Family Works Together

Sister Darlene Presley of the Glenmary Sisters works with Home Missioners' men in formation.

Mission inspires involvement

Experience at Holy Family leads man to prison ministry and more.

Departments & columns

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From the President / Father Chet Artysiewicz

Looking forward and looking back, two facets to life experienced during the Christmas season and beyond.

Glenmary News & Notes

Youth group helps with hurricane relief, Country Raffle winners, special trees planted at HQ, Glenmary on air in Tennessee, President's Friends thanked and more!

Glenmary.org

Keep up with what's new at Glenmary.org, official website of the Home Missioners of America.

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from the president / Father Chet Artysiewicz

Windshields and rearview mirrors Life made of moments looking ahead and looking at where we have been

love a good “turn of phrase” — pearls of wisdom conveyed through words. Even way back in my Little League days, I remember our coach using the phrase, “A person never stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child.” Now a “Senior Leaguer,” I still consider that a good motto for living. Over the years, when trying to help people through the rough spots in their lives, I have used the expression, “Let’s look through the windshield instead of the rearview mirror.” I did not originate the thought, but whatever its source, it possesses a depth of wisdom. After all, in discussing their problems, people usually have a pretty good idea of where they went wrong. It seems pointless to belabor the Father Chet path poorly chosen. People are Artysiewicz more in need of hope and the cartysiewicz@glenmary.org assurance of God’s love despite their failures. Looking back can provide us the wisdom of experience but then our eyes should be on the future. Having learned from the past, one must ask, where do I go from here? This “looking back/looking ahead” theme of my column might seem out of place for the Christmas season, but then again, perhaps it’s very appropriate. We turn our attention to an event of long ago in an obscure village involving seemingly nondescript people. God entered our world, sneaking under the radar as it were. But savor that thought for a moment. GOD. Entered. Our. World. Had anything more momentous ever taken place up to that point? No, it had not —but that was just the Lord Jesus’ first act. History does not recognize an individual’s birth unless the ensuing life is one that is extraordinary. Certainly, Jesus’ teachings and miracles would be enough to merit recognition but the final chapter, the Death and 4

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Resurrection, renders Him truly unique — absolutely, one of a kind. And for that reason, the world continues to remember what we commemorate on December 25: Emmanuel, God with us.

ecognizing that rearview mirror event sets the course for us. The world would never be the same. “A light has shone in the darkness.” Every act of kindness, every expression of human love and caring could be seen as a reflection or response to the message of this light. God the Father’s gift to the world can inspire us to gift one another in countless ways. While we love the reminiscences of Christmases past, this Emmanuel is very important for the “windshield” experience. For you see, Jesus’ coming is very much about our future. Clearly, following Christ guides our present lives, but that leads us to the ultimate goal of life eternal with the Lord. On the journey, there will no doubt be many joys and sorrows. The wood of the manger will be replaced by the wood of the Cross leading to the promise of eternal life for those who believe. Again, the Birth was merely a prelude to the Resurrection — the hope of us all. Our lives are comprised of rearview mirror AND windshield moments. As we commemorate again the birth of the Christ child, let us remember the hope and promise He brings. I have a little Christmas fantasy. I approach the manger scene and look down on the baby lying there. It’s just me and Him. Suddenly, he looks up at me, winks and says, “You haven’t seen anything yet!” Indeed! On behalf of all Glenmarians and coworkers at our headquarters and in the mission field, thank you for your generous support that enables us to share this good news: Christ the Savior is born! Let us rejoice! May God bless you and yours during this sacred  Nativity Season. w w w. g l e n m a r y. o r g

Cover story

Christmas Memories Missioners share favorite moments of the season

lenmary Home Missioners have unique experiences when it comes to the Advent season, Christmas and beyond. Being away from their biological families at Christmas is just one of the challenges missioners face. They organize food distributions and try to make sure parishioners have adequate heat at home. They try to offer financial assistance when someone's pipes burst from the cold on Christmas Eve, and they work to make sure that children have a chance at a happy Christmas morning. What follows are special Christmas memories from Glenmary missioners and coworkers.

Father Aaron Wessman

Pastor, Holy Spirit Mission Bertie & Washington Counties, N.C.

"It was Christmas, and I, as a Glenmary novice, was in eastern Kentucky. We had a regular ministry in the local prison. Before Mass, we began singing Christmas carols with the inmates. The group started hesitantly, but soon gained momentum. When the words 'till He appeared, and the soul felt its worth' of 'O Holy Night' were sung, there was not a dry eye among us. I will never forget this memory of Christmas in the missions.”

Richard Toboso

Glenmary Student Saint Meinrad Seminary

"In Caruthersville, Mo., one Christmas, I was impressed with the sense of serving the poor. We worked tirelessly to pack gifts for about 47 families. It was truly a moment of sacrifice. It was memorable when we went to visit a needy family and delivered a few gifts that were remaining. They showed a sense of gratitude." 

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Father Chet Artysiewicz

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Glenmary President Cincinnati, Ohio

"One Christmas night, I saw a couple hitchhiking. I picked them up, but their route would take them three states away to Virginia. I brought them with me to the student center at Morehead, Ky., to spend the night. They appreciatively devoured the remains of our festive dinner, and on the morning of Dec. 26, I returned them to the road to continue their trek. Christmas night, a young couple depending on the hospitality of a stranger — it reminded me of the Nativity story, especially when they shared with me that the woman was with child!"

Joe Grosek Glenmary Volunteer Director Joppa Mountain, Tenn.

"In my first year as a volunteer at The Glenmary Farm in Vanceburg, Ky., the night before we handed out toys for Project Merry Christmas, we stayed in a building without heat, electric or water to make sure no one stole the toys. It was 10 degrees when I snuggled in my sleeping bag. I was awakened about 4 a.m. We didn't open until 9 a.m. but clients had lined up in the cold to be first to get their kids' toys. I was shocked.

Brother Jason Muhlenkamp

Missionary Brother Early County, Ga.

"My first Christmas in Blakely, I answered the door to find a woman who needed help with an overdue light bill. She had three children and their father was in jail. She was overwhelmed, lamenting the fact that it would be a bleak Christmas for her children. I invited her to sit with me on a bench near the parish nativity scene. We prayed together, went back to the parish office, and I was able to give her a check for her light bill as well as a few Christmas gifts for the kids."

Find more Christmas memories by Glenmary Home Missioners at the Home Mission Stories Blog,

www.glenmarystories.wordpress.com

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glenmary

news & notes

Glenmary Helps

Glenmary Mission Youth called to help At students' request, they joined hurricane relief [Florida] Glenmary's St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Mission in Unicoi County, Tenn., has an active and engaged youth group. Twelve members of the youth group and three chaperones made the trip to Naples, Fla., to do recovery work in the wake of Hurricane Irma. On the first day, either a sign from God or magnificent happenstance confirmed that they were right where they needed to be. As the group started cleaning up the expansive

photos / St. Michael the Archangel Youth Group

Water break: St. Michael the Archangel youth group member Andrea Lopez

stands atop a hurricane-damaged portion of a parking lot in Naples, Fla. She and 14 members of the parish made the trip to aid in recovery from recent storms.

grounds of St. Peter the Apostle parish in Naples, a volunteer found a piece of insulation shaped like the state of Tennessee. Moved by the sign, the youth group brought it back with them to Erwin. They spent five hours picking up bags of foam roofing insulation that

lined the perimeter of the property. The hurricane had blown the insulation from a trailer camp, which had been greatly damaged. Later in the day, the group saw the trailer camp from which the insulation came. Day Two took the youth group to Immo-

No place like home: Moments after arriving on a cleanup mission to a Na-

ples, Fla. church, youth group member Fernanda Murillo found a piece of Styrofoam roofing insulation in the shape of the group's home state of Tennessee.

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kalee, an area bordering the Everglades with a poverty level of nearly 45 percent. The teens worked at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church putting together bags of groceries under guidance from local volunteers. They then went out into the community to deliver the groceries to the elderly and spent time getting to know the people they were helping. The youth group members who made the trip were Elena Orozco, Chris Andrade, Zayra Andrade, Tanya and Samantha Chavez, Andrea Lopez, Aaron Manzanares, Daniel Meza, Fernanda Murillo, Luz Perez, Bernice Luquin, Fernanda Ruiz. Overseeing the group and working with them on relief efforts were Youth Director Kathy O’Brien, parishioner Steve Miles and St. Michael the Archangel Pastor Father Tom Charters.

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Fund raising

Country Raffle winners announced Proceeds help support Glenmary’s missionary outreach [ohio] The winners of the 2017 Country Raffle were drawn on Sept. 1 in Cincinnati. The first-place winners of $5,000 were James and Lorraine Maetzold from Spotsylvania, Va. The winners of the $3,000 and $1,500 prizes declined to be identified. They were from Iowa and New York, respectively. An additional 11 raffle winners received $100 prizes. There was also one win-

A Gift for You and

Glenmary Rates for One Life CGA Age Rate 65 4.7% 70 5.1% 75 5.8% 80 6.8% 85 7.8% 90 9.0%

ner of a box of assorted food items from the Glenmary mission regions located across the country. The proceeds from this annual fund raiser are used to help support Glenmary’s mission and ministry. For more information: Contact Glenmary’s Donor Services department at 800-935-0975 or donorservices@glenmary.org

f you are looking for a way to help secure your future, a charitable gift annuity may be the answer. Not only will your gift support the Home Missions, but you will receive the security of fixed lifetime payments backed by our promise to pay. To learn more about Glenmary and charitable gift annuities, please contact: Susan Lambert Planned Giving Officer 800.935.0975 slambert@glenmary.org

Glenmary minimum $5,000. All information is strictly confidential. This information is not legal advice. A future donor should seek the guidance of a qualified estate and/or tax professional to understand the consequences of a gift. Glenmary gift annuities are not issued in Alabama or Hawaii.

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Around the Missions  Happy Birthday to Glenmary Father Frank Schenk. Already the longestlived Glenmarian, Father Frank turned 102-years-old on Nov. 8.  Several Glenmarians, including Brother Jason Muhlenkamp and Brother Levis Kuwa joined the youth group from Early County, Ga. in attending the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis Nov. 16-19.  Glenmary Father Aaron Wessman will be published in an upcoming book, Narrating Secularisms: Being between Identities in a Secularized World. The book is edited by philosopher William Desmond. Father Aaron's essay analyzes his missionary experience across three different contexts: his life in the seminary, his first assignment in Glenmary's missions in East Tennessee, and his ministry in Leuven, Belgium. His essay is entitled "Between Homelessness and Community in a Secular Age."  A former Glenmary mission, St. Michael's Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant, Texas, celebrated its 100th anniversary Nov. 18.  Tune in to the SonRise Morning Show, where Glenmary has begun advertising. The SonRise Morning show is broadcast nationally on EWTN Radio from 6-7 a.m. (EST) every weekday.  The Glenmary Volunteer Program in Grainger County, Tenn., is seeking longterm volunteers to serve as Mountain Managers. The position receives a monthly stipend, housing and health insurance. For more information, visit Glenmary.org/long-term-volunteers.  At Glenmary Headquarters, Cassie Magnotta has been hired as Graphic Designer and Art Director of Glenmary Challenge magazine, replacing Tricia Sarvak, who is pursuing a new opportunity to share her talents within the church. Glenmary welcomes Cassie and thanks Tricia for 13 years of service.

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photo / Molly Williamson

Welcome Back: Father John S. Rausch leads a prayer service at Glenmary's headquarters in Ohio to bless

three new American Chestnut trees donated to Glenmary. Once near extinct, the trees are being reintroduced to the region's landscape. T e n d i n g G od ' s G a r d e n

American Chestnut trees planted at Glenmary HQ Glenmary part of effort to reintroduce trees that once blanketed Appalachia, South [Ohio] Soon, Glenmary could have chestnuts roasting on an open fire. In October, Glenmary Home Missioners headquarters received three new American chestnut trees from Father John Rausch, who has helped to replant similar saplings in various locations. The trees can grow up to 100 feet tall and 12 feet in diameter. They could begin producing nuts in about two years. “These trees will help us remember our roots in rural ministry,” Father John said at the blessing ceremony. “They are here, because there is a spark of God in these trees.” To celebrate the trees’ addition to Glenmary’s campus, Father John led a prayer service with Glenmarians and staff present. Formerly one of the most abundant and important trees in Appalachia, where Glenmary serves, the American chestnut was devastated in the early 1900s by a blight. A fungus that grew on the bark of Japanese and Chinese chestnut trees began attacking the American chestnut and nearly erased the species. For many years, the American Chestnut Foundation has worked to create a blight-resistant chestnut tree, splicing together 15/16ths of American chestnut tree DNA with 1/16th of Chinese chestnut DNA to create a stronger American chestnut to repopulate w w w. g l e n m a r y. o r g

the Appalachian hillside. The American Chestnut Foundation has partnered with Green Forests Work, an organization that reforests surface mining sites like those in Father John’s mission areas. Currently, the coal companies refill the surface mine areas with grassland, which contributes to erosion and does not provide much food for wildlife, said Kylie Schmidt of Green Forests Work. The chestnut trees provide nutrients and stability for the loose, strip-mined soil and food for people and wildlife. By planting pockets of chestnut trees on ridges and mine sites, Green Forests Work hopes to spread the seed throughout the 13-state Appalachian region and reforest the area. Last year, in connection with the University of Kentucky, Father John led a replanting effort. His group helped plant chestnut trees on an old surface mining site, and Father John spoke about the importance of caring for all of God’s creation and the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Reintroducing the American chestnut to Appalachia is an expensive endeavor. Due to the laborintensive genetic restructuring of the new American chestnut, each seedling costs $250 and trees are only available to members of the American Chestnut Foundation. Wi n t e r 2 0 1 7

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G l e n m a r y o n th e a i r

Let your voice be heard: Glenmary Father Vic Subb, pastor of Holy

Family in Lafayette, Tenn., and novice Matt Solarz, pictured above, have begun a unique radio ministry.

Nov. 1 with Father Vic as the host. The show is paid programing, and each episode is based on the Gospel reading from the upcoming weekly Mass. “It's been a long time since I've worked in the news,” said Matthew, who worked as a newspaper reporter in the early 1990s. “It's exciting to return to the media, and even more exciting to be promoting the Catholic faith. photo/ Tricia Sarvak

[Tennessee] Glenmary hit the airwaves in Macon County, Tenn. with a new Catholic radio program that began Nov. 1. Father Vic Subb, pastor of Glenmary's Holy Family Catholic Church in Lafayette, Tenn., and Glenmary novice Matthew Solarz have prepared a weekly 10-minute radio show that promotes the Catholic Church in rural Tennessee. The show airs at 4 p.m. (CST) on Fridays, after the news. “As missioners, we need to find ways to share our faith,” Father Vic said. “The radio show is one way. I had a program in Arkansas and many listened. I am looking forward to this new adventure in Lafayette.” The 10-minute episodes air following the 4 p.m. announcements of obituaries, items for sale and local news on Lafayette's WLCT 102.1 FM and WEEN 1460 AM. Father Vic and Matthew alternate as the presenter each week, and more members of the parish will be featured as the program grows. The first show was broadcast

photo/ Lindsey Lawrence

Glenmary now on the air in Macon County, Tenn.

Presidential Event: Brother Jason

Muhlenkamp, center, speaks with a donor at the Oct. 6 President's Gathering.

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This is one of many blessings I have received as a novice in our missions, and it's a lot of fun.” Holy Family is Glenmary's largest mission parish and is situated in a county where almost 80 percent of families have no church affiliation. Among local churchgoers, most are Baptist or non-denominational. Of Macon County's 22,200 or so residents, only about 400 are Catholic.

Partners in Mission

President's Friends thanked at gathering [Ohio] Brother Jason Muhlenkamp was the keynote speaker at the Oct. 6 President's Gathering. Nearly 40 President's Friends, a category of Glenmary supporters, attended the event which also included Mass and luncheon at the Glenmary residence. Glenmary's donors, large and small, play a critical role in carrying out the work in the missions. Without financial support, Glenmary would not be able to staff missions, provide food and support to the needy and continue to seek out vocation prospects.

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Lead story

photos / Molly Williamson

Spiritual and Material food: (Left) Julian Crespo Moncado, pastoral coordinator for St. Joan of Arc mission, gives Communion to Luis Frias, a Mattamuskeet Seafood crab worker, during a Liturgy of the Word and Communion service. (Right) Crab workers quickly and carefully separate lump and backfin crab meat into different 16-ounce containers. They process about 3 pounds an hour.

Cast a wide net North Carolina mission ministry connects crab workers, hundreds of miles from home, to their faith By Molly Williamson

or a group of seafood workers, Christmas came early this year. Natives of Mexico, they were selected to work in coastal North Carolina shelling crabs and oysters, earning a daily wage based on how much seafood they processed. It is a gift that comes with strings attached. They leave their families behind for months at a time, live and work alongside the same people and find independent work during their slow periods. As Catholics, they also face the daunting task of keeping the faith in an area where few share their beliefs. “It has been a little difficult, because the learning curve is so big,” said Luis Frias, a first-time crabber, shortly after he arrived in August. “This is the hardest thing I have ever done. It is a very fast job, and it is hard to get the rhythm. Right w w w. g l e n m a r y. o r g

now, I am only observing how others do the job.” But, Luis realizes what a financial windfall the job is for his family. Many people in his community long to find a job, but cannot. When they get one, it does not pay much money. Crab processing at Mattamuskeet Seafood, a processing plant about an hour away from Glenmary’s St. Joan of Arc mission in Washington County, N.C., can help feed a family like Luis’ for a year. Luis’ wife worked for eight years at the plant, but now the couple has five children, and his wife is staying home. The family needs the crab income, so Luis headed north. The work is not easy, and training is difficult to find. Crabbers stand for eight hours a day, often hunched over the table for their work. Luis had to learn on the job how to pick through  Wi n t e r 2 0 1 7

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find usable meat. An added difficulty is the clash of cultures. The workers hale from Tabasco and Senado, Mexico, and sometimes their different traditions, cultures and ways of thinking and acting make it hard to coexist. “We are all Mexicans, but sometimes the differences among us make it difficult,” Luis said. “I wouldn’t enjoy living here. There is no family, no social life. I didn’t want to come, but I did because of the need to feed my family.”

Special Visitor

During his first week in August, Luis was counting the days until he could leave in December, but a visit from Julian Crespo, pastoral coordinator at St. Joan of Arc, gave Luis hope. Every year, Julian visits the crabbers within their first week of arrival. He offers them a Liturgy of the Word and Communion service to welcome them to North Carolina. The majority of the workers are Catholic, and the church service provides them a sense of peace and community, as well as a connection to their faith while they are so far away from home. Glenmary started ministering to the crabbers about three years ago. Julian heard about the workers from his friend, Father Paul W. Brant, a Jesuit priest in the Diocese of Raleigh who met some of the crabbers in Tabasco and told him about their trek north. Ruben Campos, a parishioner at St. Joan of Arc, is a native of Tabasco and knows some of the crabbers. He accompanies Julian many weeks to the crabber camp to help with the Communion service. The processing plant is far from any Catholic church in the 12

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photo / Molly williamson

 the crabs and crab legs to

weighing their options: The facility's temporary employees travel thousands of miles from Mexico to pick and package crab. The income helps feeds their families, but the workers suffer isolation, work long hours and miss key family events.

area, so the St. Joan of Arc mission adopted the crabbers. “That is what I love about Glenmary,” Julian said. “It is a religious organization committed to the most vulnerable people. They really walk the walk.” Julian offers a service once a week in a picnic area between the trailers where the crabbers live for four to six months each year. Father Mike Kerin, former pastor of the Bertie County, N.C., mission, visited and offered Mass for several years, and Father Aaron Wessman, Washington County's current pastor, has begun saying Mass at the camp.

Familiar Journey

The latest additions to Julian’s flock, the crabbers are by no means the farthest from his church. Julian is often on the road visiting people and providing outreach in his mission. His parishioners come from the six surrounding counties and can travel up to an hour for Mass. But Julian is never lonely on his commute. On his hour-long trip to Mattamuskeet Seafood,

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Julian has many visitors. Frogs of all sizes jump in front of his car. Rain or shine, the frogs dive-bomb his car along the remote, two-lane road. On his first visit of the season, the culverts alongside the roads were nearly full of water, threatening to flood the streets. “There are also bears and wolves out here,” Julian said. Bears frequent the abundant cornfields and forest lining his drive, and the wolves creep into people's backyards nightly. It was possibly the worst place to be stuck in a flood, but he was on a mission. For Julian, the first service of the year is a bit of a reunion. The regular crabbers remember Julian. They look forward to his coming and enjoy having a church service. As visitors on a work visa, they do not have the time or transportation to regularly attend Mass in Plymouth. Others are brand new and, like Luis, often a little unsettled in rural North Carolina. The service gives them a sense of familiarity. Also, Julian comes w w w. g l e n m a r y. o r g

coastal North Carolina for days. A group of 10 gathered around 6 p.m., huddled together in the dark, damp picnic shelter waiting for Communion. They Staying Busy read by the light of a cell phone Julian's visit is a welcome discreen, but they were unfazed by version. Throughout the day, the the weather. They needed Christ Mattamuskeet processing plant that day. is a frenzy of activity. As ladies After Julian gave a reflection pick through crabs, separating on the readings, the group the meat from the shell, began to share what the men dump another buckreadings meant to them. etful of crabs onto the Crying, one lady said she sterile, steel tables. They was missing her daughter’s hose off the floors, pourquinceañera — a cominging bleach and water on of-age celebration for the ground to sanitize the young Hispanic women on area and to sweep away their 15th birthday. It is a the seafood debris. major event for the family. Women quickly remove Another woman shared the crabs’ legs and detach that while she was in the crustaceans’ main outNorth Carolina, two of her er shell. They dig out the relatives were killed back lump crab meat and pack home. It had been a rough it in containers separate day for both of them, but from the smaller, looser SEE THE LIGHT: Julian Crespo, left, offers they say their sacrifice is back fin meat. The legs are Communion service in a picnic shelter with taken to a different room no electricity. Here, Julian uses his cell phone worth it. They are providwhere men and women as a light so Ruben Campos, a St. Joan of Arc ing a better life for their crack the legs and remove member and friend of the crabbers, can read. families back home. was down. When it is busy and crabs are abundant, the crabbers can work seven days a week. When it is slow, they work three days per week, sometimes four if there are oysters to process. Many local residents work in logging, agriculture or on an egg farm. Ruben Campos, a St. Joan of Arc parishioner and Tabasco,

photo / Molly williamson

bearing gifts. Usually, he brings clothing or nonperishable foods donated by his parishioners.

the claw meat. Each crab container weighs about 1 pound. It takes about an hour and 200 crabs to fill four 1-pound containers. The workers can process between 30 and 40 pounds in an 8-hour shift. The workers have a long trip to the United States. On a predetermined route, they take a bus from Tabasco to Monterey, Mexico, followed by a three-day layover in Monterey and another two to three days traveling to North Carolina. After that, they spring into action, working nonstop depending on the volume of seafood. While the people cleaning are paid by the hour, the “pickers” are paid by the pound, which can be an overwhelming task for newbies like Luis. This year, the volume of crabs w w w. g l e n m a r y. o r g

Mexico, native, works in a cotton mill, picking through the fibers to separate the trash from the usable cotton. When the crabbers cannot work at Mattamuskeet, they help in the fields, on farms or doing any other job to stockpile their savings.

Quiet Moments

At night, the camp is quiet. The crabbers hole up in their trailers, cooking and resting for another hectic day. The church service breaks the monotony. Typically, Julian commands a crowd of 25 crabbers, most of whom have cooked a feast for after the service. But on Julian’s first visit in 2017, the group was feeling effects from Hurricane Harvey, which ravished Texas. The storm dumped rain on

Fresh Perspective

For Luis, the Communion service was a chance to connect with Ruben and Julian and an opportunity to get away. The processing plant announced that the crabbers would be off the next day, so Ruben invited Luis to join him at the cotton plant. He jumped at the opportunity and noticeably perked up on his ride to Ruben’s, talking about his children and swapping stories about hometown festivals and how his native dishes differed from Ruben’s and Julian’s. The service helped him realize the blessing of being able to work to provide for his family. “It is a great opportunity for me and my family,” Luis said. “I  will be back next year.”

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Glenmary Challenge

missioner in action / by Molly Williamson

Glenmary family works together Sister Darlene Presley works with Glenmary Home Missioners' men in formation The Glenmary Sisters is distinct community from the Glenmary Home Missioners. The two societies share a common founder, mission and history, but each has its own leadership and constitution.

lenmary Sister Darlene Presley is having a great year. She recently visited the Holy Land, she was elected to lead the Glenmary Sisters and her work in Caruthersville, Mo., continued to enrich her community. For 12 years, Sister Darlene served the needs of residents in Pemiscot County, a typical Glenmary area with a high level of material and spiritual poverty. She worked in Sacred Heart Church in Caruthersville, which has about 100 families registered in the parish, but only 60 percent of the families attend Mass Like Glenmary brothers and priests, Sister Darlene began assessing the needs of her community when she started at the mission in 2005. First, she started a GED tutoring program and built it until she could turn it over to the local school district. She worked with local food pantries and ministerial alliances and volunteers with after-school programs and

photo s/ Glenmary sisters

Special Delivery: Sister Darlene Presley and Glenmary seminarian Richard Toboso load a car with Christmas presents for the needy.

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children’s programs. She also ran a Vacation Bible School and helped with RCIA classes. “We are helping people where they are,” Sister Darlene said. “The Sisters have a motherly approach. It is a different way of seeing and doing things.” About two years ago, she approached Glenmary leadership at one of the regular Glenmary Home Missioners and Glenmary Sisters joint council meetings. She offered to host students each year to give them a glimpse into the work of the Glenmary Sisters. She felt it would give the students a broader view of mission work and a better understanding of how to work with religious sisters within their missions. “It is a wonderful opportunity to do joint ministry,” Sister Darlene said. “It is good for the parish and good for the students. It gives them a chance to work with the sisters and see a different aspect of ministry. The priests are in charge of the missions, but we are just guests. The students see what it is like to come into a church as guests and find places where they can help.” The program enriches students’ formation, because formation depends on diversity, said Father Bruce Brylinski, Glenmary’s director of pre-novitiate and post-novitiate. In the process, students discover personal gifts and skills they can bring to a mission to better serve their communities. They also learn how to use their gifts to grow spiritually and morally. Working with Sister Darlene furthers that discovery, because it exposes students to new people and experiences. In their mission assignments, students meet different types of people, and they need to know how to relate and respond to all facets of the community as well as work with other ministers in the area, including religious sisters. “It is important to have a hands-on experience to get to know the people and how they live and pray,” Father Bruce said. “Women are an important part of ministry in the Church. Meeting Glenmary Sisters provides students with the understanding that Glenmary Sisters are as much a part of the mission experience as Glenmary men.” The students always helped Sister Darlene w w w. g l e n m a r y. o r g

at Christmas when she had a number of proj- Night” in Spanish for Christmas services. ects, including distributing Christmas pres“It was a special treat for the parish,” Sister ents to children. The massive undertaking Darlene said. “The parish has really embraced requires the students to match the donated the Glenmary students.” presents with children on Sister Darlene's list The diversity of mission work is what drew and then deliver the presents. Sister Darlene to Glenmary. The students also help within the parish, “I love the idea that God calls you and sends decorating for Christmas and talking to youth you to an area,” Sister Darlene said. Unlike some about their call to a vocation. orders, the Glenmary Sisters do not have a set “The students from abroad talk about grow- ministry. They are not trained to be nurses, ing up in a different country, what their life teachers or social workers. “We come into an was like and what their church was like,” Sister area and start identifying needs. We open ourDarlene said. “The kids really enjoy hearing selves up to God, who brings gifts that you nevabout that." er even knew you had to meet the needs of the Last year, brother candidate Antonio Mar- community.” chi from San Luis, Argentina, and seminarFor example, in the first six months Sister ian Richard Toboso from Kakamega, Kenya, Darlene was in Caruthersville, the town was visited Sister Darlene. It badly damaged by a torwas a relaxing experience nado. After volunteering at for Antonio, who enjoyed the relief shelter the night reading Sister Darlene’s before, she got a call asking books, praying the rosary her to set up a distribution with church members, center at the church. playing Bible trivia with “God gives you the gifts Sister Mary Ellen Barrette you need to begin organizand working on puzzles. ing donations, to talk to peoAntonio and Richard ple from around the country also helped sort Christmas and to speak to emergency presents. Antonio was surmanagement officials,” Sisprised at the wide range of ter Darlene said. “I never sizes for infant clothes and thought I would be (setting how detailed the process of up a distribution center) in sorting the Christmas presmy life, but we try to be an ent could be. open book, a blank page for Reflection of Christ: Sister However, he recognized Darlene Presley's reflection, left, God to write on." the similarity between Sis- is seen as she talks with GlenSister Darlene is used to ter Darlene’s service and mary student Antonio Marchi. She a fast-paced environment. work he had done in the often works with Glenmary stuPreviously an oncology missions, including help- dents to give them a glimpse into nurse, she said many of the ing with Mass, working on the life of the Glenmary Sisters. skills she learned as a nurse construction projects and have strengthened her mintranslating documents to istry. Spanish. “As an oncology nurse, He saw how Sister Darlene’s work was im- you are meeting people at their most vulnerpacting the Caruthersville community and able, at the scariest moment of their lives,” how the residents embraced and accepted her. Sister Darlene said. “You have to find a way “It was great to be in Caruthersville,” An- to gently enter into their lives and build trust, tonio said. “It was peaceful, and everybody I which is what we do as Glenmary Sisters. You was around was nice. I walked everywhere I learn how to assess people and see what they wanted to go: the church, the library and the are really trying to say. You learn how to get to stores, and it was a great place to run. There the core of the problem so that you can help is a 400-meter meter track close to the house them. where I ran and did speed work.” “You also learn how to walk with people Antonio is an accomplished long-disance from the beginning of their struggles and runner who has competed in many races and throughout their struggles,” Sister Darlene runs 7 to 10 miles a day. said. “And you learn how to seek help – get While in Caruthersville, Richard and Anto- answers to their questions and where to look nio sang in the choir, and Antonio sang “Silent for help. It’s a total joy, just a total joy!”  w w w. g l e n m a r y. o r g

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Glenmary Challenge

Gift Givers: Genaro Juarez (above, second from left), seminarian Daniel Ochoa (dressed as

photo / Holy Family Mission

Santa) and brother candidate Josiah Kimani (right) delivered Christmas presents and food to Holy Family parishioners and Macon County families at Christmas. Genaro is active in ministries like these, and prison work, based out of Glenmary's Holy Family Mission.

Mission inspires involvement

Experience at Holy Family leads man to prison ministry and more By Molly Williamson

t is easy for Genaro Juarez to identify with the Christmas story. Before he discovered Glenmary’s Holy Family mission, he had no spiritual home. Now, he has experienced a rebirth of his faith and wants to proclaim the Good News wherever he goes. Genaro was not content to be a passive Catholic. Once he was baptized and confirmed by Father Vic Subb in the Macon County, Tenn., mission, Genaro began pursuing outreach opportunities. He took Catechism classes and helped around the church, but he found his calling when Holy Family began a jail ministry. Every Friday, Genaro travels to the Macon County Jail with Deacon Jóse Piñeda, pastoral

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associate at Holy Family. They spend an hour with inmates discussing the readings for the coming Sunday. Genaro often prepares a talk with personal experiences to help the inmates relate God’s word to their lives. But an hour performing this corporal work of mercy is not long enough for Genaro. “I wish I had even more time with them,” Genaro said. “If we don’t take God’s word to them, who will do it?” In his discussions with inmates, Genaro asks what they need — materially and spiritually. If they request money for their commissary accounts, Genaro either contacts the inmates’ families, encouraging them to give, or he do-  w w w. g l e n m a r y. o r g

purchase toiletries or a snack. “I always say that I will go to work, and God will provide for the people who need it the most,” Genaro said. “I want to continue to offer what God has given me, which is love. As long as we are able to serve and provide, we will continue to work at the prison.” Recently, Genaro has organized holiday dinners at the jail. He started with meals on Christmas and Easter and expanded to Thanksgiving this year. It is an all-day affair beginning at 6 a.m. and ending late in the evening. Parishioners donate their labor, food and money for the dinners, keeping costs low, and Genaro holds fund raisers throughout the year to supplement the donations. “There are people who want to help, and I just need to ask,” Genaro said. Genaro’s crew cooks and serves about 220 dinners to the inmates and employees, which gives them a taste of home on the holidays. For parishioners who have family in jail, it is an opportunity to spend the day with their relatives. “Genaro has a special charisma,” Deacon Jóse said. “He is always looking for a way to help. His work helps the whole community and broadens our outreach. The ministry of the Catholic Church is very important in Macon County, especially at the jail, and Genaro’s work is helping us to show how committed we are to giving back to the community.” Genaro wants to expand the ministry even further, offering more dinners and visiting the jail more often. He knows what it is like to be lost and how joyous he felt when he reconnected w w w. g l e n m a r y. o r g

photo / Holy Family Mission

 nates money so inmates can

Feed the Hungry: Genaro (second from back left) organizes hol-

iday dinners for inmates at Macon County Jail, serving 220 people. He added a Thanksgiving meal this year.

with the church. Growing up in Mexico City, Genaro and his family were Catholic, but they were not active in the church. His faith was never a priority, but shortly after he moved to Lafayette, Tenn., Genaro had an accident while working in the sawmill. “I needed to reconnect with my faith,” Genaro said. “I realized I do not want to do this alone. I needed something more.” During his first visit to Glenmary’s Holy Family mission, he felt God’s presence. That night, the choir sang a song at Mass that filled him with such happiness, he was overcome. “I really cried,” Genaro said. “I always cry at church, but this time, I really cried. At that point, I started having the life I was meant to have.” Now, he wants to help others have the same type of spiritual awakening. After working closely with inmates, he knows many of them can reform and lead fruitful, productive lives Wi n t e r 2 0 1 7

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once they are released. But he is honest with them. It takes dedication and hard work to change. “I tell them that now is your opportunity to turn your life around,” Genaro said. “It is never too late to seek forgiveness. But after you ask for forgiveness, you cannot repeat what got you there in the first place. “There will be challenges, but when you get out of prison, you have to know how to live your life,” Genaro said. “God has his arms wide open ready to receive you.” Special Thanks to Brunie Amisano, a member of The Covenant Community of Jesus the Good Shepherd in Owings, Md., for her translating assistance. A version of this story first appeared in the November 2017 BOOST-A-MONTH CLUB newsletter. To support Glenmary and access exclusive stories each month before the general public, visit Glenmary.org/BAM. Glenmary Challenge

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final words / from our readers

Readers react to recent stories Letters to the editor always welcome House of Faith

I have just read your latest Glenmary Challenge, (Autumn 2017) and I am very happily struck at your efforts to unite all Christians in a house of faith. I pray that more Catholic priests and parishioners follow your lead. I will share your thoughts and will make more people aware of the joy of sharing Jesus' teaching with other Christians. Micheline Satkowski Lodi, N.J.

lenge — a topic dear to my heart. I was also pleased to see the work of Father Frank Ruff highlighted — a well-deserved kudos to my fellow senior member. Father Bob Dalton Houston, Miss. Editor's Note: Father Bob, a former Glenmary president, also served as a regional ecumenical worker during his more than 60 years in Glenmary. Enjoys a good story

Short and Sweet

Reading the Father Rother story (Summer 2017) in your magazine really inspired me! Richard Willing McLean, Va. Dear to my heart

Thank you for highlighting ecumenism in the Autumn Chal-

I enjoy the stories of the Home Missions, especially the article of Tennessee & the tobacco workers (Serving the Son through the Sun, Autumn 2017). Thanks. D.J. Knickrehm Maquoketa, Iowa Your name here?

A poorly guarded secret is

Come See Come & See weekends are an essential step in the discernment process. God may be calling you to follow Jesus as a Glenmary missioner, but the first step is to come and see. Visit the missions, meet the missioners and see if this is where God is calling you.

that writers and editors are often desperate for feedback. It is not ego (at least not entirely), but rather a desire to make sure our work is connecting with the audience. This is your magazine. As readers you are our parishioners, donors, missioners, friends, etc. Let us know which stories moved your heart, and which ones did not. We love publishing your supportive letters, and taking constructive criticism makes us all better at our jobs. We look forward to hearing from you. John Stegeman, editor Cincinnati, Ohio Readers’ Views welcome! Send comments to: Editor, Glenmary Challenge, P.O. Box 465618, Cincinnati, OH 45246. E-mail: 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.

2018 Dates

Age Group

Jan. 19-21 Feb. 16-18 March 23-25 April 13-15 July 6-8 July 20-22 Aug. 10-12 Sept. 28-30 Oct. 19-21 Nov. 21-25

18-45 16-19 18-45 18-45 18-45 16-19 18-45 16-19 18-45 18-45

To learn more or to register for a Come & See, contact us at vocations@glenmary.org or visit glenmary.org/vocationinfo.

wâ&#x20AC;&#x160;wâ&#x20AC;&#x160;w.glenmary.org the w e b site of C atholic missioners to rural A merica

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What's New

Adoration for Vocations

Glenmary participated in a statewide day of Adoration for Vocations at Our Lady of the Fields Chapel in Cincinnati. glenmary.org/vocationadoration-17

Departments Vocations

A vocational call begins by knowing Jesus. Brother David Henley reflects on Pope Francis' call to "dwell in Jesus" when discerning one's vocation. glenmary.org/dwell-in-jesus

Online Giving

You can give to Glenmary anytime by visiting glenmary.org and clicking the button. Your gift is tax deductible as Glenmary is qualified as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. glenmary.org

Support Glenmary While Shopping Online!

If you shop online for Christmas gifts or other items, you can support Glenmary by doing your regular shopping. Through Amazon Smile, a portion of each purchase goes to Glenmary. glenmary.org/amazon-smile