A symbol of community Grainger County’s new Youngchurchpeople lend their time sharing loaves and fishes the mission cross A forHomeEveryone
ers raising a very large cross onto the side of a newly constructed church. The church is the former Glen mary mission Holy Trinity in Scioto County, Ohio. It’s a serious labor with ropes and pulleys and while I’m not sure you can see anyone smiling, you can still sense the joy of the moment.
That moment when something hard-worked-for becomes a reality is beautiful. Even if the work isn’t over and sweat equity is still owed, reaching a key milestone makes us smile. That’s the case for St. John Paul II Catholic Mission in Rutledge, Tenn., too.
The people have been worshiping in their new church since Ash Wednesday but the dedication by Bishop of Knoxville Richard Stika took place on May 29. For Glenmary, and for the community there, this is a huge moment in the life of the parish. It isn’t the end, though. Glenmary won’t be leaving Grainger County anytime in the immediate future. The parish still needs to grow. The roots have taken hold, but they still must be watered and tended. But the construction of a new church is a sign of faith to theSignscommunity.offaith are everywhere in Glenmary. Also in this issue you’ll read about a new Glenmary cross that acts as a habit of sorts, a testament of gratitude to five Glenmarians who have given their life to the cause, and a story about young men and women making a difference at Glenmary’s group volunteer program. These signs of faith are everywhere.
We are a Catholic society of priests and brothers who, along with numerous coworkers, establish the Catho lic 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 minis tries throughout Appalachia and the South.
I can’t wait to see what’s next.
© OH
Growing Church
Glenmary missioners serve in areas where frequent ly 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 ac tivity includes building Catholic communities, fostering ecumenical cooperation, evangelizing the unchurched, social outreach and working for justice.
2022, Glenmary Home Missioners. Reprint permission granted upon request. GLENMARY HOME MISSIONERS P.O. Box 465618 · Cincinnati,
45246-5618 513-874-8900 · 800-935-0975 · challenge@glenmary.org
Glenmary Father Neil Pezzulo spreads the fragrance of incense along the walls of the new St. John Paul II church, Rutledge, Tenn., during the rites of dedication for Church and altar. Photo by Ashley Hensley
There’s a poster on the wall in the Glenmary offices that I can’t help but look at each time I walk by. It’s a black-and-white photo from days gone by with Glenmary priests and broth
GLENMARY CHALLENGE
Glenmary Challenge is sent to all donors, to U.S. diocesan clergy and to anyone who requests it. (To be gin receiving issues, use the contact information below.)
Our quarterly magazine has three goals: to educate Catholics about the U.S. home missions, to motivate young men to consider Glenmary priesthood or broth erhood, and to invite all Catholics to respond to their baptismal call to be missionary by partnering with Glen mary as financial contributors, prayer partners, profes sional coworkers and/or volunteers.
FROM THE EDITOR / John Stegeman
081016
impact of a lifetime
By Omar Cabrera
These Glenmarians are remembering decades of mission service and lives well lived. Join us in celebrating their legacy.
They come from multiple schools and states but they share one purpose: to serve the poor in the spirit of Christ.
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Publisher: Father Dan Dorsey
By John Stegeman
Bishop, priests, parishioners and friends all come together joyfully for the dedication of a new church in Grainger County, Tennessee. Home for Everyone john stegeman
take up your cross and follow me
page 13 ∙ by
sharing loaves and fishes
Editor: John Stegeman
Glenmarians have adopted the cross as their identifying symbol. They have powerful reasons for doing so.
Art Director: Cassie Magnotta
Asst. Editors: Omar Cabrera, John Feister
Planning-Review Board: Lindsay Braud, Br. Craig Digmann, Br. David Henley, Chris Phelps, Lucy Putnam, Fr. Kenn Wandera, Fr. Aaron Wessman
By John Feister
Every mission area is unique with its own challenges and opportunities. There is, in Glenmary, a general blueprint our missioners follow.
Our vision is founded and constructed on five pil lars: Catholic Nurture; Ecumenism; Evangelization; Peace and Justice and the Care of Creation; and the Universal Nature of the Catholic Church.
As missioners, Matthew 25 challenges us to open our eyes and ears. When did I see Jesus in the sick, or in the imprisoned, or in the hungry? As people of faith we often find Jesus in the most vulnerable people we meet. But we do not stop there. As missioners, we must also ask why are people poor? Why are they addicted? Why are people denied access to housing assistance and public services which would help them out of poverty?
Jesus commands us to go to the “highways and hedges” (Lk 14:23) to proclaim the good news. We come to these beautiful rural areas and we sometimes find people who have no faith at all. St. Francis of Assisi is attributed as saying, “Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words.” Most of the time we evangelize with simple actions: visiting with those we meet while shopping at Wal-Mart, joining the local Lions’ Club, volunteering at the senior center or delivering Meals on Wheels.
Justice and Peace and the Care of Creation
Have you ever wondered how a Glenmary priest, brother or lay co-worker goes into a county that has never had an official Catholic presence and begins to build/gather a community from scratch?
GLENMARY CHALLENGE glenmary.org4
Glenmary has a big job when it enters a mission county. Fortunately, there are five guideposts, called pillars, that lead the way.
Evangelization
The question the missioner must ask is how can I/we partner with other Christians in the community in stead of being in competition with them?
FROM THE PRESIDENT / Father Dan Dorsey
Pillars of Plenty
A great example of ecumenism in action is Brother Craig Digmann, who over the last seven years has been to more than 250 Protestant churches in the two mission areas he has served. In his words, “All I do is show up and stay out of the way of the Holy Spirit.” He always answers questions about Catholicism along the way.
Ecumenism
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Catholic Nurture
glenmary news & notes
We gather a community. The Eu charist is celebrated and the small group of Catholics in the area are nourished and are instructed to be evangelizers of the good news!
Glenmary Challenge honored
Glenmary Challenge, the flagship publication of Glenmary Home Mis sioners, earned seven awards at the 2022 Catholic Media Association Conference in Portland, Oregon, July 7. The publication was honored with a second place award for Mission Magazine of the Year.
It is essential to get behind the systemic reasons. Jenna Spurlock, a former volunteer manager, puts it best: “When people are seen and heard, they are empowered, they come into themselves. They reach out to other people and want to make change.”
The missioner in his outreach also finds Catholics in the local nurs ing home and in the remote rural areas of the county. He/she visits the homebound. There are baptisms and quinceañeras. The young are edu cated, and receive the sacraments. An RCIA class is formed and each Easter new members are welcomed. There are potlucks, yard sales and picnics, all with an eye to deepening the Catholic faith community.
“A Day in the Life of a Country Priest,” by Father Don Tranel, won first place for Best Essay, while “Going the Extra Mile,” a collaboration about Glenmary’s ministry to crab workers in North Carolina by John Feister, Omar Cabrera and Cassie Magnotta, won first place for Best Feature Article and Best Story and Photo Package. Glenmary Challenge is edited by John Stegeman with Father Dan Dorsey as publisher.
As Catholics, we are part of a much larger Church, that spans the globe. In every corner of the earth the Church is present. In our small, iso lated missions, it is important that people are aware of this. We are a universal Catholic Church. Each time the Eucharist is celebrated, even if for just a handful of people, it unites us with our sisters and broth ers throughout the world!
I believe Glenmary’s mission and experience is a blessing to the wider Church, especially here in the Unit ed States. Glenmary’s grassroots ex perience just might help to animate the Church in our time!
The Catholic Media Association is an organization of American and Canadian newspaper, magazine and media institutions. Each year the association bestows awards on its member publications.
Other awards included a third place for Best Sacramental Photo, second for Best Story and Photo Package by an Individual and honor able mention for Best Personality Profile—Religious Leader.
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5Autumn 2022 GLENMARY CHALLENGE
The Universal Catholic Church
awareness / Publication wins 7 Catholic Media Association awards
ABOVE: Glenmary’s communication and marketing team brings you the news and stories from the home missions. From left, Cassie Magnotta, John Stegeman, Omar Cabrera and John Feister.
First Mass at new mission
What’s for supper?
community / Parish gathers
growth / Library serves as church in Overton County, Tenn.
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Lorenzo, with the sacramental support of Father Samuel, started the new Catholic mission last April. He and his wife moved to Livingston from Houston, Mississippi, where Lorenzo worked for more than 15 years in a parish that Glenmary founded.
Lay Missionary Pastoral Minister Lorenzo Aju, who leads the mis sion, said it was exciting to see the response of the people. One of the worshipers donated flowers to place in front of the humble table that served as an altar. At the end of Mass, parishioners shared snacks.
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“I expected to have about 10 people. I was amazed that half an hour before Mass there were already 30,” said Father Samuel, the commu nity’s sacramental minister who lives in nearby Macon County. “They settled in silence, making the library room a true space for prayer, a church.”Thismission in Overton County is the latest that Glenmary has started, at a time when many parishes are closing in different parts of the United States.
“After Mass they come to my house and we’ll eat and talk and get to know each other more,” he said. “The parish is growing and new people come and you don’t have much time with people. So we sit and talk. I ask them what are their challenges, what are the opportuni ties we have? We talk about how they can help with the various min istries in the parish.”
Father Charles said the dinners have led to various families becom ing friends as well, strengthening the parish bond.
Food and fellowship have always gone together. At Holy Family Catholic Church in Macon Coun ty, Tenn., Pastor Father Charles Aketch is using this concept to buildFathercommunity.Charles realized relation ship building with parishioners could only go so far within parish walls. Beginning this spring, he began inviting families to his home for dinner. They gather in his large yard, five to 10 families at a time.
GLENMARY CHALLENGE glenmary.org6
ABOVE: Glenmary's newest mission celebrates its first Mass at the Overton County public library in Livingston, Tennessee. RIGHT: Father Charles Aketch is always looking for ways to strengthen his mission community.
The newest of Glenmary missions (Overton County, Tennessee) cel ebrated its first Mass on Friday, June 17, in the town of Livingston.
Father Samuel Mungai led the Eucharist, which was celebrated in a hall of the town’s public library. Livingston is located about an hourand-a half northeast of Nashville.
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• C-Hope ministries, an ecumenical collaborative in Early County, Georgia, participated in a local Back-to-School event in July, providing backpacks and school supplies to students in need. Glenmary Brother Jason Muhlenkamp and representatives of several churches in the area participated.
around the missions
On August 29 the Glenmary community in Cincinnati, Ohio gathered around the mission bell to bless and pray for Jude Smith and Ferdinand Aliet as they were sent off to the mission-field placement portion of their novice year.
Both novices are preparing for missionary priesthood and hope to make their First Oaths with Glenmary next summer. They are part of a group of 16 men currently in formation for Glenmary.
Novices sent off to missions
There is a long-standing tradition at Glenmary headquarters that when a missioner leaves for a new assignment, the mission bell is rung. The novice send-off marks the first time the bell is rung for these men in formation. Glenmary President Father Dan Dorsey led a prayer ser vice to bless the men and proceeded to bless their vehicles as they drove away to applause.
formation / Ferdinand, Jude hope to make First Oaths next year
• Two priests from southeast India have joined in the Glenmary mission effort. Fathers “Sleeva” Vijaya Babu Katta and “Christu” Raju Kama arrived in Glenmary’s Martin and Bertie County, North Carolina, missions on July 18. The priests have received a Glenmary orien tation and will assist at Holy Trinity and Holy Spirit missions.
• Construction is underway on a new religious education building on the campus of Glenmary’s St. Michael the Archangel mission in Erwin, Ten nessee. The new building will house two classrooms and an office. The construction will allow the mission to expand its weekly youth religious education classes and frees up room to expand adult catechesis.
The novices have been studying at the Glenmary novitiate house in Cincinnati since July. The second phase of the novitiate year, which runs through January, helps the students prepare for their career as missioners.Judeisassigned to Glenmary’s Holy Family mission in Blakely, Ga., under the supervision of Brother Jason Muhlenkamp. Ferdinand is as signed to Glenmary’s St. Joan of Arc mission in Plymouth, N.C., under Father José Carlos Miguel López.
7Autumn 2022 GLENMARY CHALLENGE
ABOVE: Father Dan blesses novices Ferdinand Aliet (left) and Jude Smith as members of the Glenmary family join in prayer. The annual send-off initiates a time for novices to experience the missions and further discern their vocation.
‘Take up Your Cross and Follow Me’
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A group of Glenmarians talk about the elements of the Glenmary Mission Cross. The cross might open a door to start conversations with people in the missions about the reason for Glenmary's ministry.
At the 2022 general assembly of the congregation, the executive council held a special ceremony to individually hand to each member a mission cross designed by Brother Joe, and a statement of purpose.
BY OMAR CABRERA
Glenmarians have adopted the cross as their identifying symbol. They have powerful reasons for doing so.
GLENMARY CHALLENGE glenmary.org8
But why adopt a symbol in the first place? “Symbols can unite, symbols can communicate some thing important,” says Father Aaron Wessman, Glenmary’s first vice president. “Symbols remind us who we are and how we should
live. It’s why you have a crucifix in everyThechurch.”conversation about choos ing a symbol that Glenmarians could use to identify themselves began in 2019, initially as an as sessment on how the congregation presents itself out to the broader Church and more specifically to vocation prospects. Later, talks evolved into whether that symbol should and could be used in a more generalAfterway.along discernment,
When years ago, Glenmarians began discussions to adopt a symbol, some interesting options arose. One of them was a habit, like other Catholic religious wear. A second proposal was a lapel pin. And the third one was a cross.
Glenmarians ruled out the habit and lapel pin, and chose the Mis sion Cross as the symbol of the fully professed members of the congregation: priests and brothers. They also decided to ask Brother Joe Steen, a skilled woodworker, to craft a specially designed cross.
Simple: for who we are and those we indentations:Curvedserve sign of gentleness, and a loving God
Glenmary Father Steve Pawelk has worn a chest cross consistently since his early years as a priest. He says that it has helped him in many powerful ways.
THE MISSION CROSS
Christ.“Thus
a
bound in a cov enant we, perpetually professed members of the Glenmary Home Mis sioners, wear this cross as a sign of our commitment to Christ, his mission, and each other.”
“I have found it very helpful when I'm doing counseling or lis tening to people and I don’t know what to say,” Father Steve explains. “Grabbing the cross becomes a very quick prayer. I just grab the cross; In temptation, I grab the cross… Jesus, my Lord and savior! So it becomes a way to live a stronger, disciplined moral life and a way to gather the Holy Spirit.”
Brother Joe adds that the grow ing secularization that humanity is going through makes symbols like the cross lose the deep meaning that they have for Christians. He hopes that the faithful use of the cross by Glenmarians contributes to preserving those foundational values.
THE POWER OF THE CROSS
In fact, one of the
reasons why Glenmarians didn’t choose a habit as their symbol is because Catholics are a minority in the mission areas, and a habit sometimes becomes a point of con fusion or concern with non-Catho lics. The cross, on the other hand, is a symbol that unites Catholics with other Christians, not only in mis sion territory but worldwide.
Father Steve adds that many times the cross becomes a point of con versation with random people, especially in mission areas. For instance, “small children and babies love crosses,” and they reach out to touchThatthem.opens the door to start a conversation with their parents or with the kids themselves, and hopefully talk about Christ and liv ing a virtuous life.
The sheet that Glenmarians re ceive along with their cross states: “Remaining convinced of the im portance of our special service to the home missions, we are doing now and we shall do in the future what Father William Howard Bishop planned for this society–to share in the saving mission of Jesus
Brother Joe Steen, left, lifelong woodworker, church-builder and man of prayer created the Glenmary Mission Cross.
Walnut: American wood, represents where we callsImperfect:servetomind our humanity and need for redemption
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A SIGN FOR MISSION
9Autumn 2022 GLENMARY CHALLENGE
—Father”
long time. He was one of the first Glenmarians to learn Spanish to better serve his mission communities.
Gerald "Pete" Peterson
Impact of a Lifetime
PETERSON
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The Oath of prayer helps me keep in focus that my work is primarily God’s work and to remember my goal is not success, but faithfulness until called home to heaven.
Perseverance
“
70
Today, living in a retirement home near Glenmary headquarters, Father Pete continues to serve. The 93-year-old priest offers daily Mass five times a week. The work of evangelization never ends either. Father Pete said that he’d been talking to another resident about the faith, and that she’s recently asked to be bap tized. God never stops working through Glenmarians!
‘MY WORK IS GOD’S WORK.’
Father Gerald “Pete” Peterson shares a special dis tinction. He shared his novitiate with Glenmary Founder Father William Howard Bishop. In fact, Father Pete is one of just three living Glenmarians to have met Father Bishop. Father Pete professed his First Oath just a year before Father Bishop’s death in 1953. His first contact with Glenmary came via the first man to join Father Bishop’s mission, Father Raphael Sourd. Besides sharing a connection to the founder, Father Pete has led a distinguished career in ministry. A news clipping in a file folder of career highlights includes headlines like, “Peterson known for dedication to county’s poor.” Father Pete is well-known for his en vironmentalism. He collected cans for recycling for a
GLENMARY CHALLENGE glenmary.org10
became a senior member in 2001 at age 71. For many Glenmarians, this change in status isn’t akin to retirement, but is a time to carve out a new role in the society. For many years Father Pete continued to serve in Mississippi, providing Sunday Mass help to a local parish.
is a virtue. In the Letter to the Galatians, St. Paul writes, “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.” Paul notes the theme of perseverance more than once in his letters. It’s a theme that hits home to Glenmary priests and brothers as they reach milestone anniversaries.
FATHERSTEGEMANGERALD
BY JOHN
His pastoral career included assignments in West Virginia, Virginia, Indiana, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama.FatherPete
This year, five Glenmarians are celebrating. Father Gerald Peterson leads the class at 70 years in Glenmary. Fathers Dave Glockner and Ed Gorny are celebrating their 60th years in 2022. Finally, Father Tom Charters and Brother Joe Steen have reached their golden jubilees of 50 years.
is a native of Detroit, Michigan. He came to Glenmary in his late 20s after spending time in college and in the navy. He’d seen a good bit of the world, and felt called to serve the mission needs in the United States. He has primarily served as a pastor/sacramental minister but also as treasurer and house director within Glenmary.
In addition to six assignments as pastor, Father Dave also directed the Glenmary novitiate from 2005 to 2010. That assignment, like every other in his career, came from Glenmary’s administration.
“Part of my contemplatingspirituality...isthevastness of God, finding God in creation. I think the spirit of God works within me and works within all of —Fatherus.”
While he isn’t getting out in the local communi ties as often as he once was, Father Ed is living his vocation.“Mypurpose in life is to spend my life in inter cessory prayer,” he said. “Particularly for anyone who is struggling spiritually or materially.”
FATHER ED GORNY
‘MY PURPOSE IS PRAYER.’ ‘GOD WORKS WITHIN ME.’
FATHER DAVE GLOCKNER
“I’m kind of the exception being able to do this,” Fa ther Dave said about returning home during his min istry. “I think my legacy is pastoral care. I always love to celebrate the Mass. I’ve always said, for a mission it’s important to love God first.”
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Almost 10 years after Father Ed Gorny, 90, took senior membership, an article about him appeared in the Southern Cross, newspaper for the Diocese of Savannah, Georgia. The headline read, “‘Retirement’ is a word Father Edward V. Gorny, GHM, doesn’t know.”
A clipping from a Spring 1978 article referred to Father Ed as a “generalist,” a nice term for a priest who does everything! His ministry took him to six states but more than 20 years of his service took place in various parts of Georgia.
Today Father Ed spends his time at the Glen mary residence in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he participates with his brother Glenmarians in daily Mass. He is often seen walking the grounds to keep in shape, sharing stories and jokes with any who stop to say hello.
Sometimes things come full circle. Father Dave Glockner was born and raised in Scioto County, Ohio—a former Glenmary mission area. In 1962 he professed his First Oath with Glenmary and over the next six decades served in seven states. Today, aged 86, he can be found back in Scioto County, where he serves as a priest in residence to the county’s four Catholic churches.
Ten more years after that, and Father Ed still feels God is using him to make a positive difference in the Fatherworld.Ed
“They were all assignments,” he said. “I was just open to whatever Glenmary wanted me to do.”
Dave Glockner
Eleven years after taking senior membership, Father Dave isn’t slowing down. He celebrates four Masses a week in his parish cluster in Portsmouth, Ohio and fills in when the pastor or associate pastor is unavailable.
Brother Joe was put to work right away on the Brothers’ Building Crew, a group of Glenmary brothers who worked on building churches and other construc tion projects. Along the way he spent some time assist ing with formation and vocations for the society, and some time as a parish brother. Mostly though, it’s been aboutBrotherbuilding.Joe, 77, is a senior member, but remains a crucial part of Glenmary’s building efforts. As recently as last year, he led the construction team on St. John Paul II mission’s new church in Rutledge, Tennessee. In fact, he’s still working on finishing touches there.
FATHER TOM CHARTERS BROTHER JOE STEEN
It always comes back to building for Brother Joe. Early in Brother Joe’s life, he wanted to be a car penter, and he spent some time apprenticing. He had decided to put his building skills to work in the Peace Corps in Malaysia. It was all set until he failed a physi cal. With his plans in disarray, he continued working. One day, for reasons he can’t explain, he decided to at tend daily Mass. “Then things started happening.”
“I’ve always tried to call the people from the pews to be more involved in the parishes and that has worked over the years,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed working with lay people and lay ministers and I’m glad to see that be coming more prevalent in our missions again. I see that as a hopeful sign for the Church.”
Father Tom Charters, 73, has the distinction of be ing the only member of this year’s jubilarians who has not yet elected to take senior membership. Father Tom is the pastor of a successful and growing mission, St. Michael the Archangel in Unicoi County, Tennes see. It is possibly his last assignment before he does take senior membership, and it’s also the longest he has served in one place—11 years.
Brother Joe became a daily Massgoer and the parish priest told him about Glenmary. He never discerned with any other community. It was the right fit.
Looking back on 50 years of ministry, Brother Joe said his legacy isn’t his, but God’s.
“I have a tool box,” he said. “I figure as long as I can lift it, I should keep working.”
For most of his time in Erwin, Father Tom was the only priest on staff. Now he serves with Glenmary Fa ther Kenn Wandera.
‘MINISTRY IS LIFE-GIVING.’ ‘THINGS STARTED HAPPENING.’
Like most long-serving Glenmarians, Father Tom has seen his share of travel around the southern United States. He’s been pastor in five states, and served a three-year term working with the Glenmary vocations department. Wherever he’s been, he’s had a unique way of looking at his role.
He says there’s more to being missionary than bring ing people to the Church—although that is essential. “But there is the joy of working with other faiths and working on social justice issues.”
Father Tom said any time parishioners had an idea for a new initiative he’d tell them yes, as long as it con formed to Church teaching. “I’d say, ‘It’s your parish, go for it. You’re the ones that will be here after I’m gone.’”
“I’m still active,” he said. “I still have a lot of energy. The ministry is life-giving to me.”
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50 50
“It’s about how generous God is,” he said. “I’ve been so blessed in a myriad of ways. I’m an example of God’s generosity and mercy and kindness. I haven’t done anything, it’s all a pure gift from God. The secret in life is finding out where God wants you to be, and being there. Then you’ll be happy.”
Bishop Stika remarked, “One of the great decisions I’ve made in my life as a bishop was to say yes to the Glen mary community when they wanted to come back to the diocese. Because of their work and their ambition and their dedication, we now have two new parishes and this mission: we have St. Michael the Archangel [in Erwin] and St. Teresa of Kolkata [in Maynardville] and now the mission of St. John Paul.”
13Autumn 2022 GLENMARY CHALLENGE
“People were happy about finally being in the new space,” he said. “We broke ground over two years ago.”
A Home Everyonefor
by john stegeman
It was a joyous occasion for the parishioners and pastor Father Neil Pezzulo.
On May 29, Bishop Richard F. Stika of Knoxville, Tennessee, formally dedicated Glenmary’s St. John Paul II mission church in Grainger County, Tennessee.
Bishop, priests, parishioners and friends all come together joyfully for the dedication of a new church in Grainger County, Tennessee.
Building a Church
It’s dedication day at St. John Paul II! Clarisa Chavarría, lay pastoral associate, and parishioner Janet Guyete are glad to see it.
“Our big plan for now,” says Father Neil, “is to decide how we now want to be Church and how to engage our sisters and brothers in Christ.”
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WELCOME HOME Gildardo Tellos (above left) and Suly Tellos welcome attend ees. Both will be altar servers today, sharing in the community’s joyful celebration. Be low left, Father Chet Artysiewicz is on-hand to assist, while right, parishioners Christina Hernandez and John Jarngin proclaim the Word of God in English and in Spanish.
Glenmary will continue its work at St. John Paul II. The future is full of promise for this parish!
MISSIONGROWING
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—St. John Paul II
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“IT IS THE SPIRIT who compels us to proclaim the great works of God.”
FULLNESS OF FAITH Bishop Stika, above left, blesses the church and its people with the waters of life. Concelebrants, above right, offer the Eucharistic prayer. Christ is present at every Mass in the people gathered, the Word proclaimed and the sacrifice of the Eucharist. Glenmary brings the fullness of the Eucharist to Mission Land, USA.
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Sharing Loaves and Fishes
Come down off of Joppa Mountain, Tennessee, where Glenmary’s volunteer program is, cut across the valley, and you’ll soon be at Hines Creek Missionary Baptist Church. On this late spring day, Nicole Powers is helping at the church’s food pantry. A college sophomore, age 20, she’s among a group of 19 Ohio University students who are spending a week
“Seeing nature around the back porch and just connecting with
Nicole Powers, left, joins Sean Eifert and Sophie Strickling in an enthusiastic "YES!" to service in the mountains at the Hines Creek Missionary Baptist Church food pantry.
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They come from colleges and high schools from multiple states and they share one purpose: to serve the poor in the spirit of Christ.
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with Glenmary in Appalachia.
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BY JOHN FEISTER
On the first Tuesday of every month, people in need come from all parts of the Grainger County to receive food assistance.
“I honestly came here just to try something new and kind of get out of my comfort zone,” Nicole says. “I came in with pretty much no idea what to expect!” What she found, she loved. “I love being around people and helping out, so it’s been really good,” she says.
Community is part of the weeklong experience. Each evening, volun teers gather at Joppa Mountain to share their experiences of the day.
• Bring a group of college or high school students.
Check out these ways you can join us for a “mountain-top” experience you won’t forget!
Some students speak Spanish, and will work among the large Spanish-speaking community here, many of whom also are in need of service. And the students will pray
GET INVOLVED!
and reflect together on that experi ence each evening.
The food pantry at Hines Creek is one way for volunteers to serve a local need. (This connection to a local food pantry resulted from Glenmary Brother Craig Dig mann’s outreach.) Donna, assistant
volunteer director, explains that the pantry operates on the first Tuesday of every month. “People from the church come the weekend before and pack these boxes with commodities, and get all the bags packed so everything is ready to get started.”Then, on distribution day, the Glenmary volunteers work along side church volunteers as people in need of food come to this country church, sometimes lining the drive way. Nicole and others from her group, under Donna’s direction, load groceries from shelf to cart, and bring them to the front for church volunteers to distribute.
It’s a few hours in a rich week for Nicole and the others. Some will help with house repairs, or building the ramps that allow peo ple who use wheelchairs to remain living in their own homes. Some will just spend time visiting with people who need company.
For more info contact Julia at jsauter@glenmary.org
God in that way—wow! His pres ence is just so evident here! It is so beautiful, it took me out of my college environment and just gave me time to recognize the beauty of that. Seeing the passion and the joy of everybody here, it just fills my heart and makes me want to do this all the time, all the time.” Clearly she is enjoying her experience.
Will the experience change the volunteers? “I think so,” says Ni cole. “I was praying with that last night. I was trying to open myself to whatever the Lord is wanting to work in my heart. We were talking a lot about how, in different Bible passages, Jesus will ask a question. We were talking about the loaves and the fishes.” Among the ques tions in that story, Jesus gives an instruction to his disciples, and re ally, to each of us: “Give them some food yourselves.” It is an invitation, even a command, to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Glenmary volunteers do just that.
• Bring a parish group You're never too old to serve! All ages and abilities welcome.
• Be a Mountain Manager , long-term volunteers who serve for 3-12 months.
Nicole and fellow students are spending the week under the watchful eye of Glenmary’s Volun teer director Joe Grosek, coworker Donna Turchi, and yearlong vol unteer Jenna Spurlock, herself tak ing a gap year to be a “mountain manager” before graduate school. Group after group come, all year, to spend a week at Joppa Mountain, in Grainger County. They come from colleges and high schools in multiple states, working and visit ing by day; sharing food, fellowship and prayer by night.
ProgramVolunteerGlenmaryofCourtesyPhoto
17Autumn 2022 GLENMARY CHALLENGE
BECAUSE THE CHURCH IS DIVERSE
we love being catholic!
There is nothing to change about the Church in my eyes. It’s perfect the way it is.
BECAUSE IT'S PERFECT
The thing I like most about being Cath olic is being Catholic! Earlier I would have answered with the Eucharist, like others. I went to Catholic University of America and we were a homogeneous group of white middle class Catholics. This was the only Church I knew until I spent some years with Glenmary!
Thank you for your sweet commen tary on “Why I love my Catholic faith.” I must confess it’s the stained glass win dows at age 2 my grandma strolled by every Sunday to St. Anthony’s in Cam den, N.J. I loved that the doors were always open. It was a haven with my friend Jesus who was there to listen to my hurts. He cared and understood, and always left me knowing how much he loved me, a sinner saved by grace.
I love everything about the Catholic Church. I love going to Mass, especial ly daily Mass. It starts my day off well. It's peaceful and calming. I love receiv ing the Eucharist. When we returned to it after several months of shut down due to COVID, I cried. I realized then how much I had missed it! I always
GLENMARY CHALLENGE glenmary.org18
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My parents planted our Catholic faith “seed” in us as infants and provided a fertile environment for its nourishment, including the family rosary after dinner, which was a ritual growing up.
The most important thing to me is the direct line to Jesus Christ. I suppose that has to be due to my love of history. Have I struggled in my faith? Yes! But I am grateful for the sacrament of rec onciliation, plus the other sacraments, especially the Holy Mass.
BECAUSE HE LOVES ME
of a log cabin. Everyone was happy to be there. Later as an adult, traveling in Europe and attending Mass being spo ken in another language didn't change that feeling of being connected to a faith community. We are so blessed!
BECAUSE OF THE MASS
BECAUSE WE ARE BLESSED
Send to: Editor, Glenmary Challenge, P.O. Box 465618, Cincinnati, OH 45246. Email: challenge@glenmary.org. Com ments are printed at the discretion of the editor and may be edited for clarity and space. Please include a postal ad dress with your letter.
I love reading what my daughter calls “churchy books.” I love Matthew Kelly, Henri Nouwen and Mother Angelica— such inspiration…I like going to recon ciliation and the peacefulness of it.
BECAUSE OF THE TRADITIONS
I became bi-cultural without knowing it. I liked saying the rosary in Spanish, kneeling on floors, Posadas with nove nas and food and fellowship to follow.
In the Summer issue of Glenmary Chal lenge, Father Dan Dorsey asked read ers what they love about being Catho lic. Below are some selected replies.
Just read your article and loved it. One of the things I love about being Catholic is that I can attend Mass any day of the week. Growing up, my mom would take us to Mass during the sum mer. At the time, I thought, “Please let me sleep!” but now I look back on it and treasure those times. I also love at tending Mother of Perpetual Help de votions, which I also did with my mom. So many traditions are embedded in my Catholic faith!
BECAUSE OF MY PARENTS
knew what it meant, but it became much deeper for me at that moment.
There are so many things to love about the Catholic faith: the sacrament of reconciliation, novenas, the rosary, first communions, even kneelers! One thing that really stands out to me is go ing to Mass in different churches and feeling so at home and connected with the other worshippers. I think about our yearly vacation to Michigan when I was a child, and attending Mass on Sundays in a church that reminded me
It was up to my siblings and I to make sure that we took care of the gift of faith and practiced and nurtured it after we became adults. We all did. I believe that our Catholic faith, ulti mately, will be our ticket home!
Change lives in the Home Missions with smart giving strategies that make a lasting impact. Tony Bonomini, Planned Giving Officer tbonomini@glenmary.org 513-881-7441 • Contribute from your IRA • Make a gift of stock or appreciated assets • Create a FREE legal will at FreeWill.com/Glenmary
boost! Shout out to all our Glenmary friends! We couldn't do mission without you. #InternationalDayofFriendship Glenmary Home Missioners July 30 at 3:40 PM Happy birthday and feliz
he's
Spanish, taking care of his chickens, tending his garden and taking time every single day to show others the kindness and joy of our Lord. We are thankful to call you our Brother!
Glenmary Home Missioners
When he's not busy serving as our
Glenmary
Christine GlenmaryFessendonHomeMissioners
Thank you so much. I pray for you all at daily Mass. Angie Desmarais Happy Birthday, Fr. Steve! I thank God for your vocation! Jesica Méndez Feliz cumpleaños padre! Dios lo bendiga Start your day with daily reflections written by the Glenmary deliveredinReflectionsfamily.areavailableEnglishorSpanishandtoyourinbox! Pointglenmary.org/signup/acellphoneortablet'scameraheretosignup!SIGN UP FOR FREE
Glenmary is social-media savvy. Stay informed and inspired. Follow us on social media! Give your mornings
Home Missioners May 21 at 3:40 PM
let’s get connected! a cumpleaños Father Steve Pawelk! Novitiate Director, celebrating AND
19Autumn 2022 GLENMARY CHALLENGE
Mass in English
May 22 at 12:00 PM Our Lady of the Fields, Queen of Heaven, Patroness of Glen mary and all of those living and working in rural areas, we honor you and love you. Please pray for us!
P.O. Box 465618 · Cincinnati, OH 45246-5618
U.S.
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“The fundamental requirement for true success is that we all strive to be saints.” W. H. Bishop, Glenmary Founder You can make a difference in rural America. Learn more at glenmary.org
america
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—Father
