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

Au t umn 2011 www.g l e nma r y. o r g

Dining in the Kingdom

Dedicated Missioners take Oath to serve the home missions

Program helps overcome barriers to mission unity

2 G l e n m a r y C h a l l e n g e A u t u m n 2 0 1 1

FROM THE EDITOR / Jean Bach

Oath milestones; inbox delivery

Jean Bachjbach@glenmary.org

Publisher: Father Chet ArtysiewiczEditor: Jean Bach

Assistant Editor: Dale HansonArt Director: Tricia Sarvak

Staff Writers: Margaret Gabriel, Father John S. Rausch

Planning-Review Board: Father Dominic Duggins, Father Gus Guppenberger,

Brother Curt Kedley, Patrick McEntee, Kathy O’Brien, Father John S. Rausch, Father Vic Subb

GlEnMaRy HOME MIssIOnERs

GlEnMaRy CHallEnGEThis quarterly magazine has three goals: to educate

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

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

Father William Howard Bishop Glenmary Founder

Founded by Father William Howard Bishop in 1939, this Catholic society of priests and brothers, along with numerous coworkers, establishes the Catholic Church in small-town and rural America. Glenmary is the

only religious community devoted exclusively to serving the spiritually and materially poor in the rural U.S. home missions. Today, supported en-tirely through freewill offerings, it staffs over 40 missions and ministries in Appalachia, the South and the Southwest.

Glenmary missioners serve in areas where less than three per-cent of the population is Catho-lic, a significant percentage have no church affiliation and the poverty rate is almost twice the national average. Glenmary is known for deeply respecting the many cultures encountered in the home missions—Ap-palachian, Native American, African American and Latino among others. Its missionary activity includes building Catholic communities, fostering ecumenical cooperation, evangelizing the unchurched, social outreach and work-ing for justice.

GlEnmARy HomE miSSionERSP.O. Box 465618 • Cincinnati, OH 45246-5618513-874-8900 • 800-935-0975www.glenmary.org • info@glenmary.org

years70

© 2011, Glenmary Home Missioners. Reprint permission granted upon request.

O f my own free choice, I (name), a member (candidate) of the Glenmary Home Mis-

sioners, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, do solemnly promise and swear before God to dedicate myself for my whole life ( for one year)to the missionary apostolate in the rural areas and small towns of the United States and to the Glenmary way of life according to the Glenmary Constitution and Directory.

I am aware that the Glenmary way of life commits me to a special practice of poverty, chastity, obedience, and prayer. Thus bound in a covenant with the other members in the Glen-mary community, I ask for their support and loyalty and pledge to them my own.

Five men recited these words of the Glen-mary Oath during three Masses in May. Not

since 1986 have Final Oath, First Oath and Oath renewal been celebrated in the same year. The cover story (page 9) features all five men and photos from the Masses. You can view more pho-tos and stories by visiting our Web site, www.glenmary.org.

as printing and distribution costs continue to rise, we are

always searching for cost-effective ways to convey the latest Glen-mary news. One such way is by

sending electronic publications directly to e-mail inboxes instead of traditional mailboxes.

Beginning with the Winter issue, you may choose how you receive and read Glenmary Chal-lenge. If you would prefer to receive only electronic issues, please e-mail your request, including your name, address and the delivery e-mail address. Each quarter you’ll receive an e-mail containing a link to the newest issue, which can be read online or downloaded.

This doesn’t mean we are discontinuing mail-ing printed copies! Electronic distribution is just one way we are trying to be good stewards of our resources —both financial and environmental.

abOuT THE COvER: Father Dan Dorsey with Crispine Adongo, Brother Craig Digmann and Aaron Wessman at their Final Oath Mass.

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Dedicated to serving the Home Missions Three men reflect on their formation journeys leading to Final Oath; another man celebrates his First Oath; yet another cel-ebrates his Oath renewal.

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Dining in the KingdomMembers of St. Jude mission in Waldron, Ark., are breaking down language and cultural barriers by gath-ering around the dinner table.

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141718 Final Words / from our readers

Recent mission trip, last Mass in Okolona and M.B. Mayfield’s art spark letters to the editor.

Partner in MissionSister Jan Barthel is out to change the world, begin-ning in the mountains of Appalachia.

JubilariansBrother Tom Sheehy and Brother Mike Springer cel-ebrate jubilees of First Oath this year.

Then & nowGlenmary’s outreach efforts in Lewis County, Ky., have had lasting effects over the past 40 years.

Glenmary news & notesLeadership elected; Christmas cards available; new chapel in St. Meinrad; students begin classes.

From the President / Father Chet ArtysiewiczGlenmary’s newly elected president reflects on his new responsibilities and his call to serve the missions.

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Vo l u m e 7 4 / N u m b e r 3

COvER Story

FEaTuRE Story

DEPaRTMEnTs & columNSDining, Page 15

all souls Mass, Page 5

Outreach efforts, Page 12

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Whether as a pastor or as Glenmary’s president, the core ministry remains the same

FROM THE PREsIDEnT / Father Chet Artysiewicz

Furthering the mission of Christ

as I compose this, the first of my presi-dent’s columns for Glenmary Challenge, I am surrounded by boxes and the things

of my life that are awaiting transport from North Carolina to Cincinnati.

Since my election in June, I have been trying to fulfill my new presidential responsibilities via telephone and cybercommunication while pre-paring the parishes in North Carolina (the Cath-olic Community of Bertie County and St. Joan of Arc, Washington County) for a smooth transition to new leadership.

Working in Glenmary’s administration cer-tainly poses a challenge for me. My work will remain fundamentally the same: furthering the mission of Christ by helping establish the Catho-lic Church in those regions of the United States where it has not taken root. The difference is that now I will minister in more of a support role rath-er than as a mission pastor.

Glenmarians and our coworkers represent a wide range of personalities and approach-es to proclaiming the Good News. But a

unifying thread is our concern for the individual. That personal contact is priceless. In instance af-ter instance, people have thanked us for taking the time to care.

Driving back to North Carolina after our Chapter, I noticed an elderly gentleman during a lunch stop. There was nothing extraordinary about him—except that he was alone. He was in his late 70s and had a pleasant demeanor. I won-dered: Is he a widower? Is that why he is alone? It led me to think of the many Glenmarians and coworkers who are rays of sunshine for those who are most alone in this world.

The stories from the missions that we put on paper represent real life, real flesh-and-blood people. We walk with them in their joys and sorrows. We may celebrate the sacraments with them in the morning and wait with them at the hospital that evening, hoping the emergency room doctor brings good news.

Typically when a Glenmarian changes assign-ments, he receives a wonderful send-off from the people he has served. On my final day in North Carolina that was certainly true. I visited with ev-eryone, posed for pictures, enjoyed the food. One

of the last families I saw had recently lost their eight-year-old daughter in a car accident. They hugged me and thanked me for my help. But what had I done? I prayed with them, mourned with them. They knew how badly I felt for their tragedy. I could not bring back their precious child, but some-how my being with them brought a measure of comfort and strength at a very difficult time. I dare say everyone in Glenmary ministry could share similar stories.

Your support enables us be pres-ent to all those living in our mis-sion areas. It is truly a wonderful ministry, a wonderful calling. Our recent Chapter helped us set direc-tion for the next four years. As you prayed with us in preparation, please join us now in giving thanks for the graces of the Chapter.

Prayer of ThanksgivingLoving Father, you are the source of life and good-

ness. We rejoice in the gift of your son Jesus, who dwells constantly in our midst and reveals to us the splendor of your love.

Thank you for showering your grace upon Glen-mary during their 15th General Chapter.

Blessed by your love and wisdom, Glenmary mis-sioners have grown in love and have discerned how best they can serve the mission regions of the United States in the coming years.

Lord Jesus Christ, Master of the Harvest, you are the true light come into the world. Thank you for the graces bestowed on Glenmary during their Chapter.

As a community of missioners, they once again dedicate their missionary efforts to ensuring that your Gospel may shine through them to the most forgotten and neglected areas of our country.

Holy Spirit, you have opened the hearts and minds of Glenmary missioners to the Divine call. May all who labor in the home mission fields live that call zealously, generously and courageously, seeking always the Father’s will.

Amen.

Father Chet Artysiewicz cartysiewicz@glenmary.org

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e x e C u t i v e C O u n C i l

Leadership elected at General Chapter Delaware, New York and Kentucky natives begin four-year terms

nEWly ElECTED: Father Neil Pezzulo, Father Chet Artysiewicz and Brother Jack Henn, from left, fol-lowing the Executive Council’s installation cel-ebrated during the vigil Mass for Pentecost.

[west virginia] The Glenmary membership elected three of their fel-low Glenmarians to Ex-ecutive Council during the society’s 15th General Chapter, June 6-17, 2011. The Chapter was held at the Blessed John XXIII Center in Charleston, W.Va.

Elected as Glenmary’s 10th president was Father Chet Artysiewicz. Father Neil Pezzulo was elected first vice president and Brother Jack Henn sec-ond vice president.

Father Chet, a native of Delaware, has served as pastor of the Catho-lic Community of Bertie County in North Carolina for the past year, where he also worked with Brother Jack. A native of Ken-tucky, Brother Jack has served in Bertie County as an outreach minister since 2008.

Father Neil, a native of New York, has served as pastor of Glenmary’s missions in Waldron and Danville, Ark., for the past eight years.

The three will lead

A l l s O u l s D A y

Special Mass to be celebratedHave loved ones remembered at Nov. 2 liturgy[ohio] A special Mass will be celebrated at Glen-mary Home Missioners’ Our Lady of the Fields Chapel on the Feast of All

Souls. The Mass will be offered for the de-ceased fam-ily members and friends

Glenmary news & notes

of Glenmary donors.Father Dominic Dug-

gins, director of Glen-mary’s development office, will preside at the Nov. 2 Mass in Cincinnati.

FOR MORE InFORMaTIOn: Contact Donor services at 800.935.0975 or donorservices@glen-mary.org.

Glenmary’s mission and ministry efforts over the next four years. One of the specific tasks with which they are charged is to fur-ther the society’s five-year mission plan adopted in 2009. The plan calls for returning some missions and for entry into new mission territories.

Three new mission counties have been identi-fied in East Tennessee and will be staffed by mid-Sep-tember. (See the Summer 2011 Glenmary Challenge or visit www.glenmary.org/newmissions for more on the new missions.)

Each member of coun-cil was installed in office

during a Pentecost vigil liturgy celebrated by Fa-ther Chet on June 11.

During his homily, Fa-ther Chet, who was elected the night before, acknowl-edged it had been “quite a week” and that his life had taken a detour he wasn’t really counting on.

But he said it was the Spirit who was guid-ing their deliberations throughout. So, he said, it was fitting they were cel-ebrating the work of the Holy Spirit during the in-stallation Mass.

“The Spirit is called the ‘spirit of unity,’” he said. “I’d like to think the Spirit is acting as a unifying force among us, bringing us to-gether in a spirit of unity, acceptance and brother-hood.”

Although he said he stood before them with a bit of apprehension, he told his fellow members that over the next four years, “I promise to do the best I can…. Let us go forth as brothers.”

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Calculations are not meant to give legal or accounting advice. A donor should seek the guidance of an estate and/or tax professional to understand the consequences of a gift. All information is strictly confidential. Glenmary gift annuities are not issued in Hawaii or Alabama.

For a no-obligation, sample calculation contact:

Susan Lambert Planned Giving Officer

800.935.0975 slambert@glenmary.org

Payments deferred at least one yearRates higher than immediate payment annuitiesTax-favored income

What Direction are You heaDeD?Follow your financial compass to a Glenmary Deferred Gift Annuity

A Glenmary Deferred Gift Annuity offers payments at a later specified time with a minimum one-year

deferral period. Benefits include:

Glenmary Deferred Gift Annuity

[ohio] Glenmary donors can send Christmas greetings to more friends and family this

year using the 2011 Glenmary Christ-mas card.

Although three cards are included in a Christmas appeal mailing to active donors, addition-al cards are being made available this Christmas season.

The card features a wa-tercolor of the Magi created

D O n O r s e r v i C e s

Christmas cards available Donors may order additional cards this year

around the Missions Glenmary’s West Virginia missions—St. Francis of Assisi in Logan, St. Bar-bara in Chapmanville and St. edmund in Man—were returned to the pasto-ral care of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in June 2011.

The following are the new mission assignments made by Glenmary’s ex-ecutive Council:

•Father Tom Charters, effective Sept. 1, as pastor of the new mission area in Unicoi County, Tenn., living in erwin.

•Brother Craig Digmann, effective Aug. 12, as outreach minister in new mission areas in Union and Grainger counties in Tennessee, living in May-nardville.

• Father Dan Dorsey, effective June 16, as director of formation, living n Cincinnati.

•Father Mike Kerin, effective July 22, as pastor of the Catholic Community of Bertie County in North Carolina and sacramental minister for St. Joan of Arc mission in Washington County.

•Father Steve Pawelk, effective Aug. 12, as pastor of new mission areas in Union and Grainger counties in Ten-nessee, living in Maynardville.

• Father Francois Pellissier, effective July 22, as sacramental minister in Waldron and Danville, Ark. He will also serve as temporary administra-tor in Danville.

•Brother Tom Sheehy, effective the summer of 2011, as outreach minis-ter in the new mission area of Unicoi County in Tenn.

•Brother Virgil Siefker, effective Sept. 1, as outreach minister in Bertie County, N.C.

•Brother Joe Steen, effective Sept. 7, as outreach minister in the new mission areas of Union and Grainger counties in Tennessee, living in Maynardville.

by California artist Jennifer Smith Greene.

Those who receive the cards will be remembered during Glenmary’s Christmas novena.

Cards in packs of five are free upon request, although a $5 donation per pack will help cover production and mailing costs.

TO ORDER: Contact Jennifer snedigar, annual giving coor-dinator, at jsnedigar@glenmary.org

FOLD LINE

When they saw

Star

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with great

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F O r M A t i O n

Chapel adds dedicated prayer space to house of studiesThanks to Brother Joe Steen and mission artisans, new chapel has a ‘real Glenmary feel’

[indiana] For most of Brother Joe Steen’s ministry, he’s been a carpenter and builder. Prior to becoming co-director of Glen-mary’s candidacy and post-no-vitiate programs in St. Mein-rad, Ind., in 2008, Brother Joe headed a Habitat for Humanity chapter in Pontotoc, Miss.

In September, he will em-bark on a new assignment (see Around the Missions, page 6). But he has left his mark on his former residence, the house of studies in St. Meinrad, with the new chapel he built in a garage space.

The house, which he shared with Father Vic Subb, is also home to some of Glenmary’s students and a gathering place for students attending the near-by St. Meinrad Seminary.

nEW CHaPEl: Artisans helped create the reflective environment in the new chapel at Glen-mary’s house of studies in St. Meinrad, Ind. Brother Joe Steen took on the construction proj-ect while serving as co-director of Glenmary’s candidacy and post-novitiate programs.

The design of the Our Lady of the Fields Chapel came from ideas Brother Joe gathered from other Glenmary missions. Brother Joe handled the sawing, plastering and painting while artisans helped create the envi-ronment.

Charley and Carol Campbell, artists who live in Vanceburg, Ky., and are members of the Glenmary mission there, de-signed the stained-glass window behind the chapel’s tabernacle.

Glenmary Father George Mathis created the other stained-glass windows (which were once used in the chapel at Glenmary’s Nashville office) and etched the image of Our Lady of the Fields in the glass entry door. He also stenciled images of the evange-lists on one of the chapel walls.

The altar, a finished slice of a tree trunk, was fashioned from a downed tree found on the prop-erty of the Glenmary House of Studies in Dayton, Ohio, in the 1970s.

And Brother Joe created the chapel’s crucifix from spare wood and a corpus from another crucifix.

“The chapel has a real Glen-mary feel that is accomplished through the art and the furnish-ings,” says Father Vic.

Brother Joe says the chapel is “just the right size prayer space” for daily Mass and the weekly gathering of Glenmary students and their directors.

“We’re looking forward to having a full chapel when the students return to school,” Fa-ther Vic says.

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v O C A t i O n s

Number of men in formation continues upward trendGlenmary has 14 men in various stages of missionary formation, including four new students

[ohio] Four men have been ac-cepted into the Glenmary can-didacy program, bringing the total number of men in forma-tion for missionary priesthood and brotherhood this academic year to 14.

Three of the four candi-dates—Jose Carlos Miguel-Lo-pez, Godfrey Musabe and Am-brose Mbire Wanyonyi—have been connected to Glenmary as aspirants studying in their na-tive countries.

William Obiero was accepted as a candidate following a Feb-

lEGaCy sOCIETy: Members of the Father Bishop Legacy Society gathered at Glenmary Headquarters in Cincinnati on June 3 for Mass and lunch. The annual gathering honors those who have made planned gifts to support Glenmary’s home mission ministry. Above, planned giving officer Susan Lambert makes a point during a con-versation with Harold Eberenz. All the donors in attendance also received copies of The Baby Who Crawled Backwards, the autobiogra-phy of Mississippi folk artist M.B. Mayfield, who lived and worked in a Glenmary mission area.

ruary 2011 discernment retreat in Kenya led by Brother David Henley, Glenmary’s vocation di-rector.

“We have a diverse group of men in formation this year,” says Brother David. “I’m just as excited as they are and share in their enthusiasm as they start the new year. Each brings spe-cial gifts to share with the peo-ple living in the missions.”

Jose Carlos, 24, is from Chi-apas, Mexico. He completed his philosophy degree while living in Mexico.

Godfrey, 25, is from Uganda and was accepted as an aspirant in 2009. He has completed his first year of theology at Tangaza College in Kenya.

William, 34, from Kenya, has been involved with small Chris-tian communities as well as youth ministry.

Ambrose, 28, from Kenya, was accepted into the Glenmary aspirancy program in 2010 and has been studying at Tangaza College for the past year.

All four men are pursuing missionary priesthood. God-frey, William and Ambrose will join Glenmary students Cris Adongo, John Guice, Clive Oti-eno and Aaron Wessman at St. Meinrad Seminary this fall.

Jose Carlos will attend Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa, with Glenmary’s aspirants Paul Cottingham, Juan Pablo Santo-Rodriguez and Jerry Wilkerson.

Carlos Rubio will continue philosophy studies in Mexico at St. Juan de los Lagos Seminary.

Brother Levis Kuwa will live in Cincinnati at Glenmary Headquarters while he attends nursing school.

Brotherhood candidate Jason Muhlenkamp began his novitiate on July 1. He will spend the next year in periods of intensive prayer and study and will also spend a period of time in Bertie County, N.C., in a mission placement.

“We are extremely thankful for the men who have said ‘yes’ to their calls,” Brother David says. “We believe that the Spirit will continue to inspire more men to respond to the call to serve the home missions and the people of God.”

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home missionsDedicated to Serving the

THREE Days OF CElEbRaTIOn: Following the Final Oath Mass, the five men who professed Oath (front row from left)—Brother Levis Kuwa, Brother Craig Digmann, Crispine Adongo, Aaron Wessman and Clive Otieno—join (back row from left) Father Dominic Duggins (then-first vice president), Father Vic Subb (formation director), Father Mike Kerin (then-second vice president) and Father Dan Dorsey (then-president).

The journey that Crispine Adongo, Craig Dig-mann and Aaron Wessman began together in 2005 at Glenmary’s House of Formation in

Hartford, Ky., culminated on May 28, 2011, when each professed his Final Oath as a Glenmary mis-sioner.

The Final Oath Mass was also the climax of three days of celebration, as Brother Levis Kuwa renewed his Oath on May 26 and Clive Otieno pro-fessed his First Oath the following day (see page 11).

Not since 1986 has Glenmary celebrated a re-newal, First Oath and Final Oath in the same year.

The three men who took Final Oath have entered new stages in their home mission ministry—Crisp-ine and Aaron as transitional deacons preparing for ordination to the priesthood next year and Brother Craig in his new assignment in East Tennessee.

They have become, in Father Bishop’s words, “true ambassadors of Jesus Christ, true messengers and servants of God among God’s people.”

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10 G l e n m a r y C h a l l e n g e A u t u m n 2 0 1 1

Deacon Aaron WessmanFinal oath

Deacon Crispine AdongoFinal oath

Just months before I joined Glen-mary, there I was, prostrate on the

ground, begging God to clearly show me the direction to take. I was so scared to step into the initial stages of formation. I felt God was whispering qui-etly for me to move forward, but my best intentions were stifled with fear. yet, some-how, within a few months, I entered the Glenmary forma-tion program in Hartford, ky.

I can still smell the cedar walls of the chapel in Hartford. It was within these walls where I said good-bye to my mother and aunt as they dropped me off to begin the program. It was also within these walls where I learned

On Aug. 31, 2005, I landed in the United States after a 20-hour

plane ride from my home in kenya to my new home with Glen-mary.

I learned about Glenmary from another student and later from Glenmary Father Steve pawelk. Glenmary ap-pealed to me as a missionary group in another country that serves in rural areas.

once I reached the United States, I headed to Glenmary’s pre-novice house in Hartford, ky. Thank God for the warm welcome the di-rectors and students gave me. The students were from diverse cultures, but we liked each other and learned, prayed and had fun together. We worked in outreach ministries and

took some college classes. I got to know many people in my new home.

The first novitiate year was won-derful. We lived on the Ursuline sis-ters’ campus in Maple Mount, ky. our program directors’ classes were a blessing in my spiritual journey. So were the friendship and encouraging ministry stories of the retired sisters.

I spent my second novitiate year at the Idabel, okla., mission, testing the waters. It was a challenge being in this small town and being the only black mission member. My mentor, Father Chet Artysiewicz, did a good job helping me learn how to be a fu-ture mission pastor.

The next year, 2009, I began my theology studies at St. Meinrad Semi-nary in Indiana. It has been a great experience. Getting to know diocesan

seminarians has been challenging and enriching. I’m also the prefect for 44 international students from 15 countries; we’ve learned a great deal from each other.

In the summer of 2010, I complet-ed my Clinical pastoral education at a Waco, Texas, hospital. It changed my view of life. It was challenging visiting cancer patients and families, being at deathbeds, and working in the emer-gency room. But my hope was always rekindled on the maternity floor: I loved seeing the newborn babies.

My diaconate ordination was a great moment for me. My family and friends could not hide their joy. I look forward to my priestly ordination, and above all, to serving in the home mis-sions. I don’t know what my future holds, but I know God holds it.

about community, where I began to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, where I wrestled with the meaning of a call, and where the support of friends and formation directors helped me move forward to the next level—novitiate.

Novitiate was a process of letting go…of everything. I entered novitiate invigorated to pray and spend time with God. yet as I progressed through the year, I could hardly force myself to open the breviary.

I remember the fountain in the cha-pel where I tried to pray many nights during that year. The water trickled over the side, washing clean anything in its path. I believe God’s grace worked on me like that cleansing water worked on the fountain. That grace prepared me

for my studies at St. Meinrad.My years at St. Meinrad have

brought about a maturity in my dis-cernment. I encountered the blessings and challenges of balancing formation. I realized how much God will bless someone who says yes to his call. But I also learned more realistically what he asks in return.

It is only because of those who have journeyed with me that I have experienced the blessings of making Final oath and being ordained to the diaconate.

Now that I am a member of Glen-mary and a deacon in the Church, I be-gin another journey. I can hardly believe from where I have come. I can hardly imagine where I will be going.

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Clive became a pro-fessed member of

Glenmary Home Mis-sioners as he took his First Oath on Friday, May 27, 2011.

A native of Nairo-bi, Kenya, Clive says throughout his forma-tion, he has learned more and more about himself and how his gifts can fit into Glen-mary’s home mission ministry.

“As I’ve identified with Glenmary and learned more about it, my future has become clearer,” he says.

His First Oath Mass was celebrated outdoors by Glenmary’s then-president, Father Dan Dorsey, at the society’s Cincinnati Headquarters.

This fall, Clive will begin theology studies at St. Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad, Ind.

Brother Levis Kuwaoath renewal

Brother Levis Kuwa renewed his Glen-

mary Oath for the first time during a Mass in Our Lady of the Fields Chapel in Cincinnati on May 26, 2011. He can renew his Oath up to three times before making his Final Oath.

Brother Levis is cur-rently attending nurs-ing school while living at the Glenmary Head-quarters in Cincinnati.

Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep often comes to Brother Levis’ mind when he thinks about his future.

“It always encourag-es me to seek to touch a heart, heal a soul or body, or bring a person to God,” which is what he believes Glenmary’s work is all about.

Clive OtienoFirst oathBrother Craig Digmann

Final oath

Father Dan Dorsey wit-nesses Clive’s First Oath. By making his First Oath, Clive became a member of Glenmary Home Mission-ers.

Brother Levis displays his signed Glenmary Oath following the liturgy that celebrated his Oath re-newal.

My journey to religious life began in 2000 when my par-ish priest in Iowa asked me if I had ever considered

becoming a priest. That question led me to discernment, but ultimately I did not feel called to the priest-hood.

Then a vocation director for the Archdio-cese of Dubuque told me about Glenmary and the work of religious brothers. With my rural and carpentry background in Iowa, I was very drawn to Glenmary’s charism of going into counties to establish new Catholic faith communities. So at age 47, the father of two grown sons, I entered formation to

become a Glenmary brother.My first year in formation as a candidate was very exciting

for me. I lived with classmates from kenya, Nigeria, Mexico and the United States, and learned so much about different cultures. I also entered college for the first time, wondering how I would adapt to college life. I soon discovered that I adapted well. I received good grades and hit it off well with the students, faculty and staff.

My first year of novitiate was a quiet year. I had the op-portunity to grow spiritually, to discern my call, to learn more about myself and the Glenmary way of life.

I spent my second year of novitiate in a mission place-ment. It was an opportunity to test myself and see if I could truly become a Glenmary missioner. At the beginning of that year I was a bit intimidated by the extraordinary work my fellow missioners were doing. I began to question my own abilities.

But I was able to work through this doubt when I finally realized that I simply needed to just be myself. Nothing more, nothing less. As this began to happen, my ministry work blossomed too, helping me to be confident in my deci-sion to take my First oath to Glenmary a few months later.

Before making my Final oath, I returned to school for two years to complete my post-novitiate studies and wrapped up my training with another year in a mission setting.

These years of formation were an adventurous and excit-ing time in my life. I have learned that a Glenmarian’s life is very much about “connections” with people. one relation-ship leads to another, and often good fruit comes from these encounters. My hope and prayer is that God will continue to use me as an instrument to do his will!

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Catholic presence has had impact on Eastern Kentucky county

THEn & NoW

Outreach in Vanceburg, Ky.

1972: Appalachian Industries was established by Father Pat to bring employment to the county by training local people in the production of handcrafted goods made of wood, pottery and fac-eted glass. The crafts were sold locally and eventually, nationally. Appalachian Studios was formed later to handcraft and sell litur-gical furnishings (above) to Catholic churches.

a group of Glenmary missioners came to Vanceburg, Ky., in 1962 on a tent-preaching mission. They

located a few Catholics in Lewis County who didn’t have access to the Church,

and tried to dispel myths about the Church for the non-Catholics living in the isolated county.

Three years later, an A-frame church, designed by Father Pat O’Donnell, the mission’s pastor, was dedicated as Holy Redeemer Chapel.

But Father Pat didn’t just focus on the needs of his congregation. His work was also about finding ways to address the social issues in the county, especially the poverty caused by a 30 percent unemployment rate.

His attack was twofold: address immediate needs through emergency

relief of money, food, clothes and food donated by members of the mission and develop long-term solutions.

In the decades since, the outreach ef-forts of the small mission community and the organizations founded by Glenmary missioners in the county have had an overwhelming impact on residents—an impact that continues today.

Father Pat O’Donnell

1969: Members of Glenmary’s mis-sion in Vanceburg distributed food to families who lived in such remote areas that they could only be reached on foot.

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2006: Ecumenical cooperation is key to many of the countywide programs that help meet the needs of residents, especially Project Merry Christmas. The annual event provides gift options and holiday food distribution for low-income individuals. Since Holy Redeemer’s founding, parishioners and Glenmary mission-ers and coworkers have been involved in city and county organizations, both to help those in need and to further educate people about Catholicism.

1982: Brother Bob Hoffman started People’s Self-Help Housing to make affordable, quality housing available for low-income people and to provide jobs in the county. The organization has partnered with volunteers from the nearby Glenmary Farm to build hundreds of homes over the years. This agency and the Christian Community Center were started by Glenmary missioners and have been successfully turned over to Lewis County residents to continue.

2011: Some of the ministries Glenmary helped start in Lewis County, like Appalachian Industries, are no longer in existence. But the Holy Redeemer community, currently led by pastoral coordinator Michele Bertot, continues to build on the foundation of service, evange-lization and outreach laid by Father Pat and all the missioners who followed him.

14 G l e n m a r y C h a l l e n g e A u t u m n 2 0 1 1

For more than half of Brother Tom Sheehy’s 25 years as a Glenmary Home Missioner, he helped build homes and build up people’s lives as the executive director of the Habitat for Humanity

chapter in Dodge County, Ga. But he’s quick to say that he didn’t found the chapter. “God did that through me and the many, many

community people who helped,” he says. Eventually, the homebuilding program grew into a Glenmary service opportunity for high school and college students.

This ministry allowed the missioner from Reedsville, Wis., to use both his carpentry skills and his training as a social worker. “Habitat is about trying to build people up and helping them get the resources they need,” he says.

He saw firsthand how home ownership can change people’s lives. The resident of the first house finished by the Eastman, Ga., chapter obtained a better job and began work towards a college degree. In the 13 years Brother Tom ministered in Eastman, 15 houses were built.

“My work in Eastman was extremely fulfilling,” he says, adding that it was also very hard work. “I didn’t have a staff…it was just me. So I was doing business on my cell phone while working on a roof!”

Prior to moving to Eastman, he served as the youth minister at Glenmary’s mission in Morehead, Ky., and as a social worker at the local Christian Social Service Center.

He has also served as director of the pre-novitiate program when it was based in Hartford, Ky., and as a parish brother at the former mission in Man, W.Va. This summer, he will begin a new assignment as an outreach minister in Unicoi County, Tenn.

Brother Tom Sheehy, Brother Mike Springer mark anniversaries of First Oath

Dedicated to serving God’s people2011 JubIlaRIans / by Jean Bach

To say that Brother Mike Springer’s home mission ministry focus has changed since taking First Oath would be an understatement. His first two assignments after his First Oath 50 years ago were

maintenance-related. After completing a two-year degree at Ohio Mechanics Institute, he became the maintenance supervisor/boiler operator at Glenmary Headquarters.

But from 1970 on, his outreach efforts became focused on people rather than machines. He served in a variety of roles in Glenmary missions in Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Georgia.

And the thread that tied all those assignments together was the connection he made with the people living in the mission areas he served, most especially the young and the old.

He became well-known in each of these assignments both for his work at the missions and for his outreach ministries that included visiting nursing homes; promoting literacy by teach-ing people to read; and coaching youth in baseball, basketball and football.

He eventually gave up coaching when “it was taking longer for me to get up off the field than it did to show a team how to roll out of the way of a block.”

But it wasn’t until the early 1980s that his attention began to focus more on the needs of the elderly. He ob-tained a degree in gerontology and became certified in

activity therapy so he could better minister to this often-forgot-ten segment of society.

Brother Mike received senior member status in 2008. He most recently ministered in Chapmanville, W.Va., a former Glenmary mission, before moving to Glenmary Headquarters in Cincinnati this year.

of Ministry25 Years

of Ministry50 Years

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In 2010, when members of Glenmary’s Wal-dron, Ark., mission were looking for some way to bring their culturally diverse community to-gether, they decided on a method that Jesus used often: sharing meals and conversation. Kathy O’Brien, the mission’s administrator,

says St. Jude mission was facing an ongoing challenge familiar to missions with English- and Spanish-speaking members who attend separate Masses—overcoming the barriers of language and culture.

Looking back on their bilingual meal experi-ences since then, Kathy says, she’s “so happy our ‘Dining in the Kingdom’ dinners worked as well

dInIng In the kIngdomMembers of a culturally diverse Arkansas mission community

follow Jesus’ example, breaking bread together to break down barriers

COMMunITy outreAch

OnE In GOD’s KInGDOM: About 140 parishioners at St. Jude mission in Waldron, Ark., attended at least one of 20 dinners designed to bring together the English- and Spanish-speaking members of the community. “We brought people of different cultures together and formed the Body of Christ at those meals,” says organizer Kathy O’Brien.

By Dale Hansonas they did. They were a joyful experience. They reminded us that in God’s kingdom, everyone eats at the same table.”

Glenmary Father Neil Pezzulo arrived to pas-tor the Waldron and Danville missions in 2003, with Kathy joining him in 2004 as a pastoral as-sociate in Waldron. When Father Neil first ar-rived, Spanish-speaking Catholics in the area didn’t feel welcome at the mission. Seven years later, Kathy says everyone felt welcome, but lan-guage and culture divisions remained.

So when a 2010 diocesan parish survey again brought this issue to light, the Waldron parish council discussed possible solutions. “Why

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‘Imitating Jesus’ example of table ministry has been a really good idea that we want to keep going.’

don’t we have dinners togeth-er?” said parishioner Bridget Duffield, who emigrated from England years ago and empa-thizes with recent immigrants in the mission.

When Kathy heard this sug-gestion, “I re-alized it was a great idea, and I told Fa-ther Neil and the council I’d work to help make sure it happened.”

There is a theology to this idea, she says. “Scrip-ture tells us that Jesus did a lot of ‘table ministry’ with many differ-ent people. When indi-

viduals eat together and talk, something good happens: it helps build trust and relation-ships between them.”

kathy and her organiz-ing committee—which included English- and Spanish-speaking parish-ioners—proposed that St.

Jude sponsor a series of meals called “Dining in the Kingdom.” The name was taken from Luke 14:15: “Blessed is the one who will dine in the kingdom of God.”

But before these dinners be-came a reality, she and the com-mittee had a planning meal to brainstorm ideas, create guest lists and come up with “ice-breaker” questions that would serve as conversation guides.

Kathy’s house was chosen as the site because it was con-venient, neutral territory—and because she’s trusted by all

members of the community. Kathy, who is fluent in Spanish, also served in the critical role of translator at most dinners to help break through the language barrier.

Twenty sit-down meals were held from September through December 2010 and from Feb-ruary through April 2011. The dinners were scheduled on Sunday afternoons between the English and Spanish Masses.

The number of participants ranged from five to 11—with the typical dinner group consisting of one or two English-speaking families representing differ-ent ethnic groups (e.g., Anglos, Filipinos, Native Americans, Vietnamese, first-generation English and Irish); a Spanish-speaking family (bilingual chil-dren); and sometimes one or two committee members.

each meal was simple—store-bought lasagna, garlic bread, salad and homemade cake. And participants brought a favorite food of their culture

to share with members of their dining group.

After beginning each dinner with a prayer, Kathy or other participants read Luke 14:12-15 aloud in both English and Span-ish. The verses are a prelude to the Parable of the Great Feast.

Kathy then asked the guests questions to encourage sharing. She asked about their birth-places and families; the journeys that brought them to Waldron and the mission; their Church experiences; and how they’d like the Church to help them in their lives and faith.

“The questions led to good conversations about many things,” says Kathy. “The par-ticipants told their stories and learned about each other.” The

immigrants often talked about their journeys that brought them to Waldron and the hard-ships that caused them to come to the United States.

“Some stories opened people’s eyes,” says Kathy. “The dinners led guests to look at each other as equals and as real people who were trying to make better lives for their families.”

After the dinners, a number of people expressed a desire to learn more of the other lan-guage and more about the cul-tures of the other mission mem-bers. They also said they knew these kinds of efforts could help bring the mission community together.

“I left the table some nights experiencing the joy that we will hopefully have in heaven,” says Kathy, “because all the people there were equals, sharing and laughing together. For a time, each dinner group formed a small community. And when dinner was over, people were ready to stay around longer.”

the program ended on Palm Sunday 2011. “We received positive feedback,” she says. “Many people said they learned a lot from the ex-

perience and from other mis-sion members. Also, many said they’d welcome more dinners and that parishioners have more to share with each other.” Sev-eral people even volunteered to host future dinners.

Because overcoming the bar-riers to parish unity takes an on-going effort, Kathy says, “We’re already planning to ‘dine in the kingdom’ again this fall—possi-bly in our parish hall or parish-ioners’ homes. Imitating Jesus’ example of table ministry has been a really good idea that we want to keep going.”

PaRIsH unITy: The centerpiece on the dining table remind-ed participants that they are all members of God’s family, the Body of Christ.

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She’s ‘changing the world one practical step at a time’ in Eastern Kentucky

Sister Jan BarthelPaRTnER In MIssIOn / by Margaret Gabriel

JusTICE WORKER: Sister Jan Barthel with Glen-mary Father Les Schmidt. Sister Jan describes CCA as “something I can believe in.”

Partnerships with Glenmary develop in many ways. For Benedictine Sister Jan Barthel that partnership means

combining her expertise in management and bookkeeping with a passion for the Appala-chian region.

For 12 years Sister Jan served on the board of directors of the Catholic Committee of Ap-palachia (CCA), a group established in the early 1970s with a goal of addressing issues of justice, environmentalism and labor.

Father John Rausch is one of several Glen-marians who were instrumental in establish-ing CCA. Today he serves as the director of the 400-member organization, which has mem-bers from every state in the 13-state Appala-chian region as well as members from outside the area. Although Sister Jan has resigned her seat on the board, she continues to serve CCA as its bookkeeper.

Sister Jan attended her first CCA meeting in 1995, shortly after entering the Mount Ta-bor Benedictines in Floyd County, Ky. She at-tended with other members of her community, and after that first meeting, she knew “CCA was something I could believe in.”

Sister Jan’s dedication to CCA and the jus-tice issues the group embraces has continued since she first came to Eastern Kentucky from her home in Minnesota. Her membership in CCA introduced her to Father John and other Glenmarians and launched her partnership in Glenmary’s mission.

Sister Jan has found that her family and friends in Minnesota take a keen interest in the issues promoted by CCA. For example, op-position to surface mining, specifically moun-taintop removal, is high on the list of issues addressed by CCA. Because of her involve-ment with that key issue, Sister Jan’s family has learned of the negative impact that the practice has on the environment.

Sister Jan believes that the work of CCA, spe-cifically the tours that Father John conducts in the region, brings awareness of environmental issues to the public. Just inviting people to see surface mining sites brings attention to the devastation this type of mining causes to the environment and to people’s lives.

“You see a lot more advertising and litera-ture from the coal industry than you used to,” Sister Jan says. “I saw a TV commercial recently that portrayed a single mother run-ning a cottage industry who said if she didn’t have coal-powered electricity, she would have to close her business and lay people off. I see ‘Friends of Coal’ logos in print ads and on li-cense plates. The coal industry knows we’re making a difference in the way people are thinking.”

Sister Jan was instrumental in planning and conducting “Prayer on the Mountain,” an ecumenical service held last year on a surface mining site. The service highlighted the im-portance of care of creation in Catholic social teaching.

“Most churches are involved in justice is-sues in their own ways, but Catholics seem to have taken a lead role, especially in the Bible Belt,” Sister Jan says. “For whatever reason, Catholics and justice seem to go together.”

Sister Jan lends a Midwesterner’s common sense to CCA, Father John says. “She’s not an idealist, but she knows what works with prac-tical, hands-on experience. Sister Jan is going about changing the world one practical step at a time.”

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Readers share thoughts inspired by artwork and firsthand mission experiences

Reflecting on art, last Mass, tripFInal WORDs / from our readers

REaDERs’ vIEWs WElCOME! send comments to: editor, Glenmary Challenge, P.O. Box 465618, Cin-cinnati, OH 45246. Fax: 513-874-1690 or e-mail. Please include a postal address.

THAnk you For PiCTurein the summer issue of Glen-mary Challenge magazine, I was so amazed at the beautiful picture of the swan by such an inspired artist, M.B. Mayfield. Thank you for putting that in the magazine.

Pauline MeisenhelderCincinnati, Ohio

LAST mASS in okoLonAi had the opportunity to at-tend the last Mass at St. Theresa in Okolona, Miss., on June 8 as it was officially transitioned into an oratory.

Bishop [Joseph] Latino [bishop of the Diocese of Jack-son] was the celebrant and did a fine job recognizing all who had been part of the former Glen-mary mission’s history.

One person he singled out was Ruth Agnes Crosthwait. He recalled her being in the church as a young child with her family [over 50 years ago].

Sister Nancy Dawson, now president of the Dubuque Fran-

ciscans, was a lso there . Sister Nancy spent many years of ser-vice in Okolo-na and worked diligently with S i s t e r L i z Brown to es-tablish the Ex-cel Center.

At the end of Mass, Ruth Agnes shared a few memories of her early days in Okolona before she moved to Houston, Miss.

Sister Mary Jean Morris Joliet, Ill.

OKOlOna ORaTORy: Ruth Agnes Crosthwait was one of the many who attended the last Mass at St. Theresa mission as it was transitioned into an oratory—a place of prayer. The former Glenmary mission is now in the pastoral care of the Diocese of Jackson.

‘The visits to the beautiful little churches with their incredible artwork will be remembered for a long time.’

wonderFuL exPerienCeS[the mission trip] to Kentucky was such a memorable time for me. This was my first motor coach trip and it was not only very enjoyable but will be re-membered warmly.

The visits to the beautiful lit-tle churches with their incredi-ble artwork will be remembered for a long time. To learn about the Glenmary Farm and how it works was an eye-opener as to how others live and how good help can be given.

I also attended the Final Oath Mass [in May] and what a beautiful service it was. Each talk, the music, the recitation of the Oath, all spoke a great deal to me. This was the first time I had the opportunity to attend the taking of Final Oath and I

appreciated the solemn occa-sion it was.

Patricia GagnonHamilton, Ohio

ediTor’S noTe: Ms. Gagnon was one of 26 participants on a two-day trip to Eastern Kentucky to visit Glenmary’s missions and outreach programs. Susan Lambert leads this mission trip each spring. Anyone interested in attending next year should contact Susan at 513-881-7441 or slambert@glenmary.org.

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DEPaRTMEnTs

t h e w e b s i t 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

online contents

WHaT’s nEW

Missions Response a Constant after DisastersIn the last year, Glenmary missioners and coworkers have partnered with local Catholic Charities agencies to respond to natural disasters in rural areas where economic resources are limited. search: catholic charities

adopt-a-MissionerAn Arkansas mission member says ‘I can’t go and be a mis-sioner, but this is a way I can help.’ search: adopt-a-missioner

Department of Pastoral Ministers/servicesResponding to evangelization, spiritual development and parish leadership needs. search: go-to resource

Ways to Give Become a ‘BAMer.’ Boost-a-Month Club members help keep mission doors open with monthly gifts. search: bam

Disaster response

Diaconate video

FEaTuRE sTORy

Committed donors

Go-to resource

vocationsView video and a slide show of the diaconate ordination of Cris Adongo and Aaron Wessman in Kenya. search: diaconate

w w w.glenmary.org

Father Charlie

Father Charlie Hughes on the radioFather Charlie was featured on American Catholic Radio on May 2. He talks about his past ministry and how his hearing impairment affected that ministry. search: father charlie

volunteer Experience Makes ImpactJim Kerns never forgot a summer he spent at a Glenmary mis-sion in Georgia. As a result, he and his wife eventually chose to support Glenmary as their primary charity. search: kerns

Catholic Press association honors magazine, writersCheck out the winning writings of Father John Rausch/Brother David Henley and Father George Mathis. They won awards at the annual convention of the Catholic Press Asso-ciation in June. search: catholic press

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20 G l e n m a r y C h a l l e n g e A u t u m n 2 0 1 1

Catholic M

issioners to Rural A

merica

Glenmary Home Missioners P.O. Box 465618 Cincinnati, OH 45246-5618

NoNproFIT orGANIZATIoN

U.S. postage pAID

Glenmary Home Missioners

Crispine Adongo, left, and Aaron Wessman were ordained transi-tional deacons at a liturgy celebrated in Crispine’s hometown of Ulanda, Kenya, on June 25. For the first time since Crispine began

formation with Glenmary, his family was able to attend and take part in a ceremony marking a milestone in his vocation journey. Aaron’s mother and brother traveled to Kenya for the ordination, as did Brother David Henley, Glenmary’s vocation director, and Father Vic Subb, a member of Glenmary’s formation team. Above, the men are pictured with their mothers, Roxanne Wessman, left, and Esther Ogwan’g Adongo.

GlEnMaRy GlimpSe / Newly ordained

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