Glenmary Challenge Spring 2016

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

Sp r i n g 2016 www.g l e nma r y. o r g

The Journeys of Two Missions Part 2

Mission PlacementsAccoMPliShed!

Glenmary students gain valuable field experience

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Pope Francis has declared this a year of mer-cy and reconciliation for Catholics around

the world. How fitting that this Challenge issue comes out during Lent, a time of reflection when Catholics around the world repent and prepare for the Resurrection of our Lord at Easter.

Pope Francis invites us all to join in during this Year of Mercy, but what exactly does mercy in our daily life mean? It’s not just about for-giveness; it’s about giving a second chance and loving mercifully when things are difficult. In this age of instant information, we are inundat-ed with stories of events that shake the moral fiber of our communities, our nation and even our world. Frequently, we find ourselves at a loss on how to deal with them.

Mercy starts with family, friends and co-workers and extends to those living in our larger communities and beyond. Glenmarians

in the field try to live this way ev-ery day, reaching out in love and mercy to the spiritually and ma-terially poor in rural areas and small towns of our country.

I like to think that Pope Francis had our ministry here at Glen-

mary in mind when he declared this the Year of Mercy, but I know it was just a coincidence….albeit a happy one for us!

This issue’s cover story (page 9) is about Glenmary’s students in

action during their short-term mission place-ments, which help them learn the culture of Glenmary mission areas and how to minister to the people there, as they touch the lives of the county residents and prepare for their life’s work.

The feature story (page 15)—the second part of the “Journeys of Two Missions” begun in the Winter 2015 edition—profiles the Celina, Tenn., mission and the great things happening there.

Have a blessed Easter!

FROM THE EDITOR / Chris Gramke

Celebrating the Year of Mercy

Chris [email protected]

Publisher: Father Chet ArtysiewiczEditor: Chris Gramke

Assistant Editor: Dale HansonArt Director: Tricia Sarvak

Staff Writers: Margaret Gabriel, Father John S. Rausch

Planning-Review Board: Father Gus Guppenberger, Brother David Henley,

Brother Curt Kedley, Father Neil Pezzulo, Father John S. Rausch, Susan Sweet, Father Don Tranel

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 missions and ministries throughout Appalachia and the South.

Glenmary missioners serve in areas where fewer than 1 per-cent are Catholic, a significant percentage have no church affili-ation and the poverty rate is al-most twice the national average. Glenmary is known for deeply respecting the many cultures encountered in the home missions—Appalachian, Native American, African American and Latino among others. Its missionary activity includes building Catholic communi-ties, fostering ecumenical cooperation, evangelizing the unchurched, social outreach and working for justice.

GlEnmARy HomE miSSionERSP.O. Box 465618 • Cincinnati, OH 45246-5618513-874-8900 • 800-935-0975www.glenmary.org • [email protected]

© 2016, Glenmary Home Missioners. Reprint permission granted upon request.

aBOUT THE COVER: During his recent mission placement at the Maynardville, Tenn., mission, Glenmary student Charles Aketch (right)—along with pastor Father Steve Pawelk—encourages parishioner Tavish Curry as he practices on his trumpet in preparation for Christmas Mass.

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student Mission Placements accomplished! Glenmary students spend a great deal of time in the classroom, but there are no substitutes for the experience and understanding they gain by ministering in Glenmary mission areas.

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The Journeys of Two Missions (Part 2)The second part of a two-part story featuring Tennessee missions, this article profiles the Celina parish—a small congregation of Catholics who live out their faith.

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Find more stories and connect with Glenmary’s home mission ministry via the Web site today!

Final Words / from our readersReaders praise Glenmary’s statement on racism and share stories of favorite Glenmarians.

Partner in MissionTwo generations of this family have supported Glen-mary; mission trips have reinforced their commitment.

Workshops Help Prepare for Death, DyingA lay coworker’s “Five Wishes” workshops help people talk about death and write down their personal wishes.

Glenmary news & notesVolunteer alumni mission week; Easter cards; racetrack ministry; mission and missioner news.

From the President / Father Chet ArtysiewiczIn proclaiming the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis said mercy is the bridge that connects us all to God.

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Mission partners, Page 14

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

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Vo l u m e 7 9 / N u m b e r 1

COVER Story

FEaTURE Story

DEPaRTMEnTs & columNSMission story, Page 15

Volunteers, Page 5

“Five Wishes,” Page 8

pHoTo / JEANIE CURRY

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In papal ‘Year of Mercy,’ the challenge is still to forgive, show mercy to others

FROM THE PREsIDEnT / Father Chet Artysiewicz

Receiving and bestowing mercy

Father Chet Artysiewicz [email protected]

W hile the names of the individuals es-cape me, I can recall vividly the verbal exchange I read. A man had commit-

ted a significant breach of military conduct. His mother pleaded to a general, “Please have mercy on my son.” To which the officer replied, “He doesn’t deserve mercy.” The mother re-sponded: “Of course he doesn’t; if he deserved it, it wouldn’t be mercy.”

I suppose we could debate the depth of a per-son’s contrition related to “degrees of deserv-ingness.” But the mother provided a great in-sight: mercy is not something that is earned or bartered for something in exchange. If you will, it is a “lopsided deal”—at least on the surface. (There IS the Sermon on the Mount passage that says those who show mercy will receive mercy.)

We are in the midst of the period Pope Fran-cis has designated as the “Year of Mercy.” In his proclamation of the year, he described mercy as “the bridge that connects God and us.” He has also reminded us that there are two aspects to mercy: receiving it and bestowing it. What wonderful news the former represents; what a challenge the latter poses.

The first example of mercy that came to mind was the one so basic as to almost be overlooked in the conversation: the sacrament of Reconcil-iation. As priests, we have the privilege of being proclaimers of God’s mercy as we minister to people through this sacrament. Interestingly, although I am currently serving in Glenmary’s administration, I probably hear more confes-sions now than when I was assigned to mission parishes, because I assist at many penance ser-vices in our area.

I dare say every priest will tell you that some of the most moving experiences of his priesthood have come as he announced

the gift of God’s mercy to a penitent. It is truly humbling and enriching to be part of lifting a burden off someone’s heart and witnessing the joy in the person’s voice and eyes as he or she hears, “Go in peace. Your sins are forgiven.” God uses human instruments to preach, baptize, marry, bury, and also proclaim his mercy.

But let’s not forget the other side of the coin:

if we have received mercy (and we have!), should we not in turn extend that gift to oth-ers? Jesus’ parable about the servant who was forgiven a huge amount, then throttled a fel-low servant who owed him a pittance, reveals God’s attitude toward those who want to be only on the receiving end. Who in your life is that person who needs your mercy? A family member? A co-worker? “They were absolutely wrong! They’re not worthy* of my mercy.” (*See above.)

The pope has stated that our traditional “Corporal Works of Mercy” constitute an excellent practice of mercy. And let’s not forget, the lack of forgiveness we bear takes a toll on us, doesn’t it? From an emotional standpoint, extending mercy removes that burden; it’s freeing for us.

as I put the finishing touch-es on this column, images of several funerals I have recently attend-

ed are fresh in my mind. As a concelebrant, I was afforded vantage points from which I could scan the congregations. The expressions from face to face communicated palpable pain. And yet, as the funeral liturgies proclaimed re-peatedly, there is hope for God’s people; there is Easter joy, the profound joy by which “every tear will be wiped away.”

I believe that is an expression of God’s mer-cy—the concern of a compassionate God who is well acquainted with tears in a time of loss. Jesus must have cared deeply for his friend Lazarus. For a merciful God, the Resurrection is the ultimate gift of mercy; the promise of life overcomes the sorrow of death.

To be sure, mercy is something that can be applied by businesses, corporations and even nations—not just individuals. But it is wise to start with ourselves. An epidemic of personal mercy will go a long way toward healing an ail-ing world. “Blessed are the merciful….” Have a profound celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection!

Thank you again for your prayers and other forms of support for our mission effort.

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V o l u n T e e r S

Volunteer Alumni Week at Toppa JoppaSpecial event provides opportunity to serve, brings back experiences

MIssIOn sERVICE: A Mountain manager and a vol-unteer alumnus combine efforts to repair the floor in the trailer home of a Rutledge, Tenn., resident.

[tennessee] During the week of Feb. 7, a differ-ent sort of group par-ticipated in a short-term mission immersion expe-rience at Glenmary’s new volunteer program site at Joppa Mountain in Rut-ledge, Tenn. Rather than the high school and col-lege groups who typically spend a week in service to those in need in Ap-palachia, this group con-sisted of older adults.

The invitation to this Volunteer Alumni Mis-sion Week was extended by Eddie Biehn, a Glen-mary Farm volunteer from 1982 to 1984, who became inspired to reen-gage with Glenmary after attending Father Jerry Dorn’s funeral and the closing of the Glenmary Farm site in Vanceburg, Ky., in November 2014.

Eddie traveled to Rut-ledge in December 2015 to see the new Tennessee site and came away im-pressed. He said that the current long-term Moun-tain managers—Mark, Mia and Matthew—told him the new location

Glenmary news & notes

is “not the same as the Farm, but it rhymes with the Farm,” and he agrees.

Joe Grosek, Glen-mary’s volunteer program director, said that “there is always plenty of work to be done in Grainger and Union counties,” and he is thrilled that Glen-mary Farm alumni are interested in reconnect-ing with Glenmary in this unique way.

These first Volunteer Alumni Mission Week participants served the Rutledge community by packing food commodi-ties; distributing hats, blankets and scarves (it dipped down to 18 de-grees during the week); preparing and distribut-ing 50 boxes of food for farmworkers who have

little opportunity for work during the winter; doing repair work on a trailer home with no electricity and no water; and more.

Participants were also welcomed with warm

hospitality at two of Glenmary’s area mission parishes: they attended a Mardi Gras celebration at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta mission in Maynardville, and Ash Wednesday Mass at St. John Paul II mission in Rutledge.

Enthusiasm for future volunteer alumni mission trips is evident, and the next one is already scheduled for fall of 2016. Eddie Biehn and Glenmary are happy to extend the invitation to all Glenmary Farm alumni who served in Vanceburg (Lewis County), Ky.

On behalf of Glen-mary, mission education coordinator Jodi Mott says, “Please consider joining this group. We’d love to see you again!”

Contact her at [email protected] if you wish to join in the next Vol-unteer Alumni Mission Week, scheduled to take place Oct. 27-30, 2016.

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VOlUnTEER GaTHERInG: Some of the volunteers who worked together to serve people in need in Rutledge, Tenn., the week of Feb. 7 were (from left): Dave Mott; Jodi Mott; Mountain managers Matthew Bayens, Mia Gleber, Mark Dumond; and Kirk Woita.


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glenmary news& notes c o n t i n u e d


The IRA Charitable Rollover is

PeRmAnenT!

Are you looking for an easy way to help the causes you care the most about?

Congress has made the IRA charitable rollover permanent. If you are 70 1/2 or older, you can make a gift from your IRA account to help support the work of Glenmary Home Missioners.

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 more information, contact:Susan Lambert, Planned Giving Officer 800-935-0975 • [email protected]

Gifts made from your IRA (up to $100,000) • Are not reportable as taxable income. • Qualify for your required minimum distribution (RMD) which can lower your income and taxes.

around the Missions Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry in Aberdeen, Miss., was named Mid-South Food Banks 2015 Food pantry of the Year. The food pantry was started by Glenmary Brother Terry O’Rourke in 1996 as the St. Francis Food pantry. Brother Terry, now a senior member, was in charge of this pantry until 2010.

Glenmary has added some new pages to its Web site, centering on en-vironmental issues and challenges that are topics of discussion throughout the world. The pages are entitled “Care of Creation” and can be found on the Web site under the Resources tab or by visit-ing www.glenmary.org/careofcreation.

Following a sabbatical, Brother Dennis Craig returned to the Cincin-nati residence in mid-January to begin the next phase of his life as a senior member. His most recent assignments were as director of senior members and Cincinnati-residence co-guest master.

Lorraine Vancamp, director of the department of pastoral Ministers and pastoral Services, reports that catechist training and Scripture study classes are going well at the missions in Lafayette, Maynardville and Rutledge, Tenn., as well as Blakely, Ga. A small part of each Scripture class is used to explore a brief section of pope Francis’ letter concerning the Year of Mercy.

After 41 years of service to Glen-mary Home Missioners, Sandy Wis-sel has retired as treasurer/director of finance. A luncheon was held in her honor in early January at Cincinnati Headquarters. Before her departure, Sandy helped her successor, Michael Schneider, make the transition into his new position. Michael assumed the role of treasurer/director of finance dec. 14, 2015. prior to his arrival at Glenmary, he gained extensive related experience in the field, including service as a fi-nance director and a chief financial of-ficer for nonprofit organizations.

D o n o r S e r V i C e S

Order your Easter cards today!Send greetings to family, friends using one-of-a-kind cards

[ohio] As the Easter season approaches, Glenmary is once again making available one

of its most r e q u e s t -e d E a s -ter greet-ing cards, which fea-tures an o r i g i n a l work by California

artist Jennifer Smith Greene.Those who receive the cards

will be remembered in Glen-mary’s annual Easter novena.

Cards, in packs of five, are

free upon request, although a donation of $5 will help cover printing and mailing costs.

“We’re happy to make these beautiful cards available to all those who want to share with their families and friends the joy and blessings of new life at Easter,” said Father Don Tra-nel, Glenmary’s development director.

FOR MORE InFORMaTIOn:Contact Glenmary’s Donor Services depart-ment at 800-935-0975 or [email protected].


urgies because he’s drawn to the community’s spirit.Besides celebrating Sunday Masses at Turfway

and Belterra, Father Niehaus and Backstretch Works of Mercy also helped meet workers’ mate-rial needs, giving them clothing and food.

And today’s Backstretch group—managed by Steve and made up of longtime participants as well as new people he has recruited—continues these efforts. Another highlight has been the an-nual Christmas party for hot-walkers, exercise riders and stall workers—up to 200 individuals who toil long hours for low wages.

“The spirit at the racetracks can be traced largely to Father Nie-haus’ work,” Steve said.

While some work-ers live there, the faith communities also in-clude horse owners, trainers, public-address announcers, ushers, ticket-takers, veterinar-ians, and others who knew Father Niehaus.

Because of their work, it would be dif-ficult if not impossible for many of them to at-tend weekend liturgies

and receive sacraments—if not for Father Chet and Father Don’s efforts.

Glenmary senior member Father Bob Hare and other area priests have also been valuable contributors as substitutes when needed.

Father Don said those who attend see their ac-cess to Mass and the sacraments as a privilege. “They have a real sense of family. I like being able to keep a foot in pastoral ministry, so I’m very glad to be part of it.” They often share coffee and doughnuts afterwards, too, which contributes to the sense of belonging.

Steve recalled that Father Niehaus “did what Jesus asked all of us to do.” And he’s grateful to Father Chet and Father Don—as well as Father Bob and the other area priests—for helping that ministry continue.

“God sent them when we needed them,” said Steve.

o u T r e A C h M i n i S T r y

Glenmarians meet mission needs at local racetracksMissioners at Cincinnati Headquarters feel called to reach out to larger community

[ohio/kentucky] Mission can be defined in dif-ferent ways. For instance, Glenmary Fathers Chet Artysiewicz and Don Tranel gladly minister in two places that aren’t far from Glenmary Headquarters in Cincinnati, but in other ways are in a different world. They are horse-racing tracks—Belterra Park in Cincinnati and Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

“The tracks have a real feel of mission,” said Father Chet. Father Don added, “I really look for-ward to being with the people who work there.”

The priests see the importance of bringing the Church to any place where there’s a need. They are currently serving full-time as Glenmary’s president and develop-ment director. But they still feel called to reach out to others in spiri-tual or material need.

The racetrack op-portunity began with a question from Bishop Joseph Binzer, auxilia-ry bishop of the Arch-diocese of Cincinnati.

He told them that Father Frank Niehaus, a deceased archdioc-esan priest, had been a great lover of horse rac-ing and people connected with that sport. And he had launched a ministry to area racetracks after retiring—a ministry that flourished from the late 1990s until his death in 2013.

When the bishop asked if they could help con-tinue this ministry by celebrating Mass at the tracks, the two Glenmarians said they would do as much as their schedules allowed.

Cincinnati native Steve Hater, Jerry “The Rus-sian” Antoniuk and others worked with Father Niehaus in his ministry, which the priest called “Backstretch Works of Mercy.” When Steve was a child, he was a member of Father Niehaus’ par-ish. He said his family became friends with their pastor because of his dynamic outreach to others.

So when the priest decided to reach out to race-track people, Steve was happy to help. He’s also a former racehorse owner who attends weekend lit-

RaCETRaCk lITURGy: Father Don Tranel cel-ebrates Mass at Belterra Park in Cincinnati.

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‘Five Wishes’ workshops help people talk about death, write down personal wishes

gious sisters in the United States and Mexico. Seeing how they cared about the comfort and human dignity of the dying, he saw the impor-tance of people’s planning for serious illness and death. He designed Five Wishes as a tool to use for a dignified approach to life’s end.

A hospice chaplain once commented that people need to say five things before they die: (1) “Please forgive me”; (2) “I forgive you”; (3) “Thank you”; (4) “I love you”; (5) “Good-bye.” Five Wishes offers a way to accomplish this goal.

W hen using Five Wishes, the individual indicates: (1) the person I want to make medical care decisions for me when I

can’t, (2) the kind of medical treatment I want or don’t want, (3) how comfortable I want to be, (4) how I want people to treat me, and (5) what I want my loved ones to know.

In leading Five Wishes mission workshops, I go through each wish and talk about the vari-ous preferences. And participants can share their experiences and explain their choices.

Another topic that always comes up is their desire to plan their own wake and funeral ser-vices. Such thoughtful planning helps individu-als to apply their own beliefs and values and to experience death as an event of faith lived till the end with dignity and grace.

We promote Five Wishes in mission work-shops as a way to support people during serious illness. There is even a Five Wishes document for seriously ill children.

W hen health care wishes are clearly stated in writing, there is no second-guessing. Guilt feelings and family dis-

agreements can be avoided. Five Wishes is a GIFT to spouses, families, friends and doctors.

Five Wishes meets legal requirements in 42 states. It’s used in the other eight states by at-taching the completed Five Wishes document to state forms.

The most typical comment from our partic-ipants is, “This was wonderful! Although we don’t want to talk about death and dying, Five Wishes surely makes it easier to start.”

FOR aDDITIOnal InFORMaTIOn: Visit the Web site www.agingwithdignity.org.

Helping prepare for death, dyingPasTORal MInIsTRy / by Liz Dudas

(Editor’s Note: Liz Dudas is the consultant for ministry development in Glenmary’s De-partment of Pastoral Ministers and Pastoral Services.)

I have found that older people want and need to talk about death. So for the last two years, I’ve been offering “Five Wishes” workshops—

for Glenmary mission members and other mis-sion-county residents—as a way to begin this conversation with their families and friends.

Five Wishes is a document written in every-day language that completes and complements state-approved advance health care directives. It helps people express their wishes regarding areas that matter most—the personal and spiri-tual—in addition to the medical and legal.

Our local Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) station has produced a documentary series en-titled Aging Matters that includes Five Wishes as a topic. The series was designed to open a community-based conversation about what older citizens need to do to optimize their qual-ity of life, and what the community needs to do to prepare for the rapidly increasing number of older citizens and the care they will require.

Five Wishes was created by Dr. Tom Neal, who volunteered with Mother (now Blessed) Teresa of Calcutta and her reli-

“FIVE WIsHEs” PROGRaMs: Glenmary lay co-worker Liz Dudas has been offering these work-shops for two years in Glenmary mission areas.

Mission PlaceMentsaccoMPlished!


COVER Story

Glenmary students in formation gain valuable ministry experience and afffiirm their vocations, while serving others in home mission areas

by Chris Gramke

Mission PlaceMentsaccoMPlished!

sTUDEnTs In aCTIOn: During a mission placement at the Lafayette, Tenn., mission, Glen-mary student Richard Toboso (left) works with the parish’s young adults and youth group members to pack boxes of food for distribution to county residents in need at Christmastime.

Glenmary students travel many roads on their jour-neys to becoming fully professed missioners. These students attend

classes, complete their academic work, and meet regularly with mentors and directors along the way to becoming Glenmary priests and brothers.

But perhaps the greatest les-sons they learn—and the great-est incentives they have to con-tinue their efforts—come not from knowledge obtained in the classroom, but from their

actual experiences in the field, when they spend time at vari-ous Glenmary missions in Ap-palachia and the South.

These experiences are called mission placements, according to Glenmary formation director Father Dan Dorsey, and there are no substitutes for what the students learn during the tem-porary assignments.

“The more mission experi-ence students can get, the bet-ter,” said Father Dan. “It gives them the real flavor of what is yet to come.”

Missioner: Working With Vet-eran Glenmarians ‘Priceless’

Brother Jason Muhlenkamp can attest to Father Dan’s statement. He professed his Final Oath in 2015 and is serving in his first full-time assignment in two Georgia mission counties. When Brother Jason was a student in formation, he found the mission placements an invaluable learn-ing opportunity on his path to becoming a missioner. Accord-ing to him, the chance to work alongside veteran priests,

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WITnEssInG TO VOCaTIOn: Avelardo Mercado Chavez—an-other Glenmary student on a Lafayette, Tenn., mission place-ment—traveled to Alabama to speak to a six-parish retreat group about responding to his own religious vocation call.

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VIsITInG THE sICk In nURsInG HOMEs: Still another student in Lafayette, Tenn., for a mission place-ment, Jose Carlos Miguel Lopez (rear) visits with a parishioner during his stay at a local nursing care/rehabilita-tion facility.

‘Being in the mission field gives students a chance to put into practice what they have been studying....’

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brothers and coworkers in the missions was “priceless.”

He said “I found the mission placements energized me to complete my school studies and helped instill in me a missionary zeal. They amplified the impor-tance of ministry, presence and relationships. They let me put my hands in the dirt literally and figuratively. People in the coun-ties became an integral part of my formation and affirmed and kin-dled my call to serve in the home missions.” (See page-12 sidebar.)

Students in these placements participate in a variety of minis-tries—for example, working with and teaching mission youth; vis-iting and administering Com-munion to homebound people in their residences and those in nursing homes and hospitals; ministering to inmates in prisons; doing repair and maintenance work at the missions or around the counties; and spreading the Good News to all they encounter.

These and other hands-on experiences reaffirm their com-

mitment to the goal of becoming Glenmary missioners.

Vocation Director: Placements Likely the Key Part of Formation

A critical aspect of Brother David Henley’s job as Glenmary voca-tion director is to recruit men who have been called to a reli-gious vocation and are consider-ing joining Glenmary as priests and brothers.

Right now, Glenmary has 12 men at various stages of forma-tion, with more to come. He feels that their mission experiences are probably the most important part of the formation process. “Being in the mission field gives all our stu-dents a chance to put into practice what they have been studying in school,” said Brother David.

“They are not only learning but are helping serve the people of God. They learn from the priests and brothers and get to experi-ence these men’s simple living and dedicated service to people in mission areas.”

Student: Experiences ‘Fuel Us in Our Formation’

Jose Carlos Miguel Lopez reen-tered the Glenmary formation program in 2014. He is studying to become a priest, and he has already been on several mission placements.

His most recent was dur-ing the 2015 Christmas season, when he spent time working at Holy Family mission in La-fayette, Tenn. It resulted in his most touching experience to date as a student.

“One of my best experiences there happened when I worked with the mission youth group,” Jose Carlos explained.

“I accompanied them to a local nursing home to sing Christmas carols to the elderly residents. Afterwards, we stayed and visited with the people and


VIsITInG THE sICk anD HOMEBOUnD: Glenmary students Jose Carlos and Avelardo (kneeling—far left and right), Father Vic Subb (standing, second from right), and young Lafayette mis-sion members visit with a fellow parishioner (in wheelchair, with mother behind) who had been seriously injured in a car accident.

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then gave them hugs as we left. One of the residents told me that the last time he received a hug from anyone was 20 years ago. That is something I will never forget.”

Jose Carlos’ experiences in the missions have helped rein-force his choice to continue his formation and become a Glen-mary priest.

“One thing that makes me want to be a missioner is seeing those people in small towns who would be neglected if it weren’t for Glenmary,” he remarked. “Being at the missions fuels us in our formation, because we forget about school for a while and get to spend time with and have an impact on the mission-area residents. That gives me the

courage to continue my studies so I can help them.”

Student: ‘I Know Now I Can Help’

Daniel Ochoa, who is also pur-suing priesthood, agreed with Jose Carlos’ opinion that first-hand mission experiences help confirm the desire to become a Glenmary missioner.

“An experience that stood out for me was taking Communion to an elderly lady who lived a few miles away from the Blakely, Ga., mission,” said Daniel, who has been in formation since 2014. “I also visited tracheostomy-ward patients in the hospital. I did not take Communion to them because most of them could not

swallow. However, I talked and prayed with them.

“I especially remember a pa-tient I’ll call Anna. She could not talk and was very weak. She was always glad to see me. I would read the Gospel of the day to her and say a prayer. Her family lived far away, so she had very few visits. I know my visits brought joy to her on those days.

“These experiences of visiting the sick and elderly were very humbling. They made me real-ize how much need there is for missioners, especially Catholic ones. People in many U.S. ru-ral areas are lacking the pres-ence of priests and brothers because there are not enough of us. That’s what keeps me going, knowing that I can help these communities.”

Mission Member: Students Have ‘Profound Impact’

Maria Taylor, a parishioner at St. John Paul II mission in Rutledge, Tenn., points out the profound impact Glenmary students can have on mission members. Pa-rishioners get attached to these students and also recognize the immediate benefit to their faith communities.

Maria has seen several stu-dents come and go during her six years in the parish. She is glad when they are present to help the pastor, Father Steve Pawelk. The names may change, but one thing remains the same in her eyes: their enthusiasm and ea-gerness to serve.

“That is the best thing about having them as part of our mis-sion,” Maria said. “They are so eager to get involved and be-come part of the community. They share their love for what they do with us, along with shar-ing their cultures.

“The exchange of cultures between the mission members and students is a great educa-tional experience, especially for our children.” Maria and her


family got to know student Charles Aketch so well dur-ing his time in Rutledge that her mother, Marina, refers to Charles as her “13th child.”

Maria remarked that “my family really took to Charles. He has such passion for what he does. He showed us so much love, and you could see that he just loves people. He is very good about staying in touch with us, whether through cards or phone calls. He has that special gift of opening his heart to everyone.”

Formation Director: Students Learn Each Place Is Unique

According to Father Dan, all the students attest to the fact that there are many benefits to work-ing in the missions. In addition to learning the need to become “self-starters” while in the field, he said that all the students eventually figure out that each place they work is different and unique—and that what works in one mission area may not neces-sarily be applicable to another.

In order to help the students realize this fact, Father Dan

I learned many lessons as a student in the missions. I learned from many things I witnessed and from my conversations with Brothers Curt

Kedley, Jack Henn and Virgil Siefker. My time in Windsor, N.C., taught me the impor-tance of ministry of presence. Enjoying sunshine therapy with a nursing home resident, tossing a football with a child after a tornado, playing cards at the adult day care, praying and sharing with residents of the Bertie Correctional Institute, and visiting people in their homes—these are some of my memories of mission experiences as a student.

The importance of being with people was really ingrained in me, but there was also plenty of doing. I remember packing many food boxes, cleaning up after a flood and a tornado, helping people move, delivering meals, and more. I wanted to be efficient at these tasks, but I also kept in the back of my mind the words of Glenmary’s own Father Jerry Dorn: “We need to waste more time with people.” Ministry of presence brought me great joy and peace, affirming my vocation as a Glenmary brother.

It is a privilege to walk with people through their struggles and joys, especially those who are often marginalized.

FEEDInG THE HUnGRy: At Christmastime, Glenmary students Jose Carlos and Richard (rear) go with Lafayette-mission youth group mem-bers to deliver boxes of food to—and visit with—grateful local residents.

Reflections on My Mission Experiences as a studentby Brother Jason Muhlenkamp

Brother Jason Muhlenkamp

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gives every student an extra “as-signment” to complete for each mission placement. It’s called “10 Questions With 10 People.” The student’s job is to meet and talk with 10 mission-area resi-dents from different segments of society—over a six-month pe-riod—about the mission county

where they work and live.The 10 residents include peo-

ple such as a law-enforcement professional, a funeral director, a real-estate agent, possibly a pastor from another denomi-nation, and others. Only one person on each list is Catholic; the point of the exercise is for


HElPInG PROVIDE sHElTER: While on a mission placement, Glenmary student Jose Carlos prepares to help install insulation in the cold home of two La-fayette mission members who needed assistance.

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county in which he’s working.“I’ve always found that funeral

directors and real-estate brokers know the most about the area,” said Father Dan. “They know the people because they interact with them; they know about the com-munity’s problems and relation-ships. They see it all and are valu-able resources for the student.”

Student: ‘I Learn People’s Cultures, How to Evangelize’

Glenmary student Richard To-boso, who began Glenmary for-mation in 2013, echoed these sentiments. He finds that talk-ing with county residents is the best way to learn about a mis-sion county and to get to know firsthand the various cultures you have to understand—and the people with whom you have to communicate—in that area.

“Mission placements help us learn the people’s cultures, especially for those of us who grew up in a very different cul-ture,” Richard said. “My mission placements give me a chance to socialize with various people in the missions and counties.

“For example, my placement at Lafayette and Celina, Tenn., gave me the opportunity to learn how to evangelize to both Cath-olics and non-Catholics by being present at various activities held at the missions and throughout the counties. That was a great learning experience for me as a student missioner.”

Missioner: ‘I Learned Impor-tance of Being Versus Doing’

Brother Craig Digmann—who professed his Final Oath in 2011 and has been serving in his first mission assignment in Maynard-ville and Rutledge, Tenn., since then—went on three mission placements as a student dur-ing his formation years. He said the placements were “crucial” in helping him become the mission-

er that he is today. “One of the

greatest things I learned from my mission place-ments is the im-portance of ‘being’ versus ‘doing’ in our mission work,” he explained.

“When I first entered forma-tion, I was all about what I could ‘do’ to help the poor, what I could ‘do’ to help bring about God’s king-dom, what I could ‘do’ for God. I gradually learned through reflection and prayer that it was not I who was ‘doing,’ but it was God! I was simply God’s instrument that God was us-ing to build the kingdom here on earth.”

Missioner: ‘I Learned to Await Surprising Pres-ence of Grace’

Father Aaron Wessman—who professed his Final Oath in 2011 and was ordained in 2012—re-called from his student days that one of his first mission-place-ment experiences was minister-ing to prisoners in a local jail.

At first he found the experi-ence intimidating and a little frightening. “It’s a place society wants to avoid,” he said. But as in many missionary encounters, he remembered that grace is of-ten waiting in the most unex-pected places.

“I found in the prisoners faith that inspired me, hope that chal-lenged me, and trust that invited me to question my disposition toward life and others. In short, I learned to always await the sur-

prising presence of grace, and to never presume that God is not al-ready working in places that mis-sioners will only later encounter.”

Vocation Director: ‘Special-ized Training’ Is Still Needed

According to Brother David Henley: “Father Bishop, our founder, insisted that our stu-dents needed to have ‘specialized training’ to be missioners in Mis-sion Land, USA, and I think the bulk of that training comes from shadowing our missioners in the field while we are students.

“It’s there that students can see and learn how missioners use their gifts in their ministry and how the students can do the same.”


Family’s support of Glenmary has spanned generations; mission trips reinforced belief

From legacy to major commitmentPaRTnER In MIssIOn / by Dale Hanson

Over the years, Carolyn and George Mc-Mahon’s support of Glenmary has been both a family legacy and a personal com-

mitment. As far back as Carolyn’s 1950s college days, she remembers her mother’s work with the Glenmary Guild, a group of women who supported Glenmary’s mission and ministry.

While in college, Carolyn herself helped Glenmary, too. And after retirement, she joined her mother in the Guild, while Carolyn and her husband George—now 79 and 81—became dedicated Glenmary donors as well as planned givers through their will.

“Mother and other Guild members used to make quilts and also sew and mend a lot of items,” said Carolyn. Those items included vestments, altar cloths, layette sets for infants, and more.

“My mother was especially talented at quilting, and those quilts were raffled off to raise money. She had this gift and wanted to give back to God. And she helped with many other fundraising activities. She thought Glenmary was a very good cause because the missioners serve people in need in U.S. mission areas.”

As a University of Cincinnati student, Carolyn joined the Theta Phi Alpha sorority only to find out that the national group’s chief philanthropic cause was Glenmary! She wholeheartedly participated in local-chapter support efforts.

a fter Carolyn graduated, she married George, began raising their two children in their native Cincinnati, and

later pursued her teaching career. And George worked as an accountant and business manager.

“When I retired from teaching in 1996, I talked to my mother and decided volunteering with the Guild was a good way to go.” What’s more, Carolyn and George began making regular donations. And after about two years, Carolyn became the Guild’s corresponding secretary and got even more involved in fundraising projects.

Through the years, she went on several mission trips that strengthened her belief in the importance of Glenmary’s work. “I think every donor or prospective donor would benefit from going on one or more of these trips. They were real eye-openers. The dedication of the priests, brothers and coworkers was obvious. And the

mission members were wonderful people. We also saw the poverty in these areas.”

She went on most trips with fellow members of the Guild, which finally dissolved in 2003—just three years before her mother’s death.

The 2007 group trip Carolyn and George took to the Vanceburg, Ky., mission made a strong impression on them. “We worked as volunteers for an ecumenical effort called Project Merry Christmas, where people in need could choose donated, age-appropriate gifts for children and adults,” she said. “It gave us another close-up look at some of Glenmary’s work.” The couple also hope to go on a mission trip in 2016.

she said they support Glenmary financially and prayerfully as major donors, because they believe in the society’s mission and

because “it’s what we can do. We don’t have the calling to be missionaries ourselves, but we can help make sure Glenmary’s important work continues.” And in 2011, when the McMahons were revising their will, “We never thought of not including Glenmary.”

In retirement, Carolyn and George—now grandparents of three and great-grandparents of two—are both very active community volunteers. They also keep up with Glenmary ministries by reading the group’s publications.

“We’re very glad we can carry on our family’s support of Glenmary,” added Carolyn.

George and Carolyn McMahon

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FaITH COMMUnITy: Pastor Father Vic Subb gathers with some mission members outside the Divine Savior church in Celina, Tenn., following Saturday-evening Mass, one of their two weekly liturgies. He also ministers to and works alongside his outreach-minded parishioners and the county’s residents in many other ways.

FEaTURE Story

tor again after several years away from this role. “Getting to know the people in the mission ar-eas has been a real joy, “ he said. And the parish-ioners readily express their regard for Father Vic as well as other missioners and Glenmary students who have served them.

“There’s great mission need in both Macon and Clay counties,” he said. This issue’s story focuses on Clay County.

Fewer than 1 percent of Clay County resi-dents are Catholic, and the Celina mission also draws members from two other counties that have no Catholic church. In addition, more than 18 percent of Clay County residents

small mission, big hearts. In talking to pastor Father Vic Subb and his parish-ioners, that phrase seems to capture two key traits of Glenmary’s Divine Savior mis-

sion in Celina, Tenn. Those who read the first installment of this

story know that, on Sept. 1, 2012, Father Vic and Brother Larry Johnson became members of the new Glenmary team serving in Lafayette, Tenn. (Macon County); Celina, Tenn. (Clay County); and Scottsville, Ky. (Allen County). The Scotts-ville mission has since been returned to the pas-toral care of the Diocese of Owensboro.

Father Vic is very happy to be a mission pas-

This two-part story focuses on two Tennessee missions and the missioners serving them.

Part 1, published in the Winter 2015 issue: Holy Family in Lafayette. Part 2, this issue: Divine Savior in Celina.

Story by Dale Hanson

two Missions

THE JOURnEys OF


to homebound people and those in nursing fa-cilities and hospitals, as well as visiting other parishioners in their homes. “I also spend time those days doing other social outreach work in the larger community.”

To help parishioners keep growing in their faith and lay leadership, Father Vic has intro-duced well-received programs on Bible study, Lenten preparation, and The Joy of the Gospel as well as training sessions in eucharistic min-istry—with lector and greeter workshops and, hopefully, a Year of Mercy program coming soon. Parish council meetings are held regularly, too.

in 2014-15, the mission offered a religious edu-cation and sacramental preparation program for the children. “A Glenmary student and two parishioners helped with their instruction. It

was a really good, positive situation,” Father Vic said. “In May 2015, five children received first Communion and two of them were baptized, too.” Since then, two families with children have moved away. And because of scheduling challenges faced by the remaining two families with kids, he’s work-ing to restart the program as a home-based one.

With Father Vic’s encouragement, the parish has also continued its potluck suppers after week-end Masses to socialize and build up the faith com-munity. “For Mother’s Day, I fixed and brought a lasagna dinner, with the male parishioners bring-ing side dishes, to thank the mothers,” he said.

In the area of commu-nity outreach, the parish was doing much valuable work before Father Vic arrived—and has done even more since he came. Parish council president Richard Accurso re-marked that “the major-ity of us are older, retired and have a little more free time. We’re very caring and willing to give back. Even though we’re few in number, other churches and community members know that if they need help, they can call on us.”

Both Richard and Pat Roberts also said parish-ioners and many com-munity members love and respect Father Vic—because of his kindness, dedication and hands-on approach. And they be-lieve those feelings have

live below national pov-erty level, and over 56 percent of them have no religious affiliation.

While Holy Family in La-fayette is one of the larg-est Glenmary missions with 300 mem-bers, Divine Savior in Ce-lina is among the smallest, with about 32 parishioners.

The small Celina church was built in 1985. And the congregation was served by a succession of missionary-order priests who visited

once a week, until the Nashville-diocese bish-op invited Glenmary to assume responsibility. “Since Father Vic came, he has made a big dif-ference,” said longtime parishioner Pat Roberts.

About 25 Anglos (including many retirees) and seven Latinos now make up the congrega-tion. What Father Vic said he has found at Di-vine Savior is a loving, close-knit group who are proud of their church, care about one another as a family, and also reach out to others in need. “They’re few in number, but they are very active in doing outreach work—there’s a high rate of involvement,” he said.

But their greatest need is growth. “We need to keep inviting people to join our congregation. It helps that our members are very involved and well known in the county. They have

good reputations for helping others, and they’re great witnesses to their faith. That helps break down remaining stereotypes about Catholics, too.”

In the meantime, “One major goal has been to give our parishioners more attention and help build up the parish community,” said Fa-ther Vic. “I live in Macon County, but I visit Clay County on Saturdays and Tuesdays to celebrate Mass and minister in varied ways to our mission members.” He visits and administers sacraments

MIssIOn’s FIRsT COMMUnICanTs: Father Vic poses with five children after they received their first Communion at the Celina mission in May 2015. Two of them were baptized that same day.

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FEEDInG THE HUnGRy: The Divine Savior parishioner bagging oranges is one of ten or more mission mem-bers who volunteer regu-larly—with Father Vic and members of other local de-nominations—at the Second Harvest food distribution pro-gram in Clay County, Tenn.


further enhanced local ecumenical relation-ships, despite the lack of a ministerial associa-tion. “He’s a wonderful person,” said Richard.

And Pat added that “by his example, Father Vic has inspired mission members to be even more active and involved.”

Along with several Protestant congrega-tions, Divine Savior pa-rishioners financially support and volunteer at the Second Harvest ecumenical food distri-bution program in Clay County. The distribution occurs four or five times yearly and assists 250-300 families in need each time. Ten or more mis-sion members—about a third of the congrega-tion!—usually come to help on these days, in-cluding Father Vic.

Parishioners also support and volunteer weekly at the ecumenical

Grace Free-Meal Center, hosted each Tuesday by the local Methodist church. And Father Vic carries out his own ministry of presence, eating and talk-ing with people who need a meal and a friendly ear. “I develop relationships with people by follow-ing up with them from week to week,” he said. In addition, the mission provides financial assistance to the community’s Meals on Wheels program.

and every Thanksgiving, Divine Savior pa-rishioners work with other local denomi-nation members to cook, pack and deliver Thanksgiving dinners for people in need—

this past year, for 378 families. At Christmas, Celina mission members support

and attend an ecumenical Christmas party for lo-cal nursing-home residents that includes a free meal and gifts for everyone; have participated in an Angel Tree program by buying gifts for chil-dren in need; and this year gave a generous gift card to a local family in especially urgent need.

These are just some examples of the many ways the parishioners give back to their fellow county residents.

In addition, Divine Savior Catholics have served local civic causes in the following leader-

ship roles while earning even more respect: orga-nizer of a major community heritage event; com-missioner of the gas utility board; leaders of the local American Legion post and auxiliary; mem-ber of the organizing committee for the weekly free-meal program; and local librarian who’s a conduit for community information.

as mentioned in part 1 of this story, Brother Larry Johnson is now also Glenmary’s sec-ond vice president. He’s juggling multiple responsibilities and splitting time between

the Lafayette-Celina area and Cincinnati Head-quarters. “We try to support one another as fel-low team members,” said Father Vic.

One of Brother Larry’s current roles is to dis-burse money—in Clay and Macon counties—that has been donated by an anonymous priest from another diocese who admires Glenmary. “I rely on Father Vic, as well as local agencies and oth-ers, to help identify people with pressing needs for financial help,” said Brother Larry. “For in-stance, I’m helping fund the ecumenical out-reach work of the Celina-area churches.”

Looking ahead to the Celina mission’s future, Father Vic says “we need to continue our prayers and faith formation programs, build up our parish community, do everything possible to make our mission a welcoming place, and encourage new membership. And we need to keep reaching out to the community around us as much as possible.

“It’s a great strength that our parishioners are so involved in helping other people in the coun-ty—and that they’re known as Catholics and re-spected for the way they’re living out their faith.

“We’ll just keep building on our strengths and our faith.”

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sMall MIssIOn, BIG HEaRTs: Four of the Celina- mission volunteers and Father Vic stand by the supply truck for Clay County’s Second Harvest food program.

FREE-MEal CEnTER VOlUnTEERs: The Celina mission member standing by Father Vic volunteers with fellow parishioners and other local church members at the weekly Free-Meal Center—serving lunch for those in need. Each week, Father Vic (here with visiting Glenmary student Avelardo Mercado Chavez) eats with, talks to, and nurtures relationships with his fellow visitors.

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Readers comment on Glenmary’s courage, missioners’ service and friendship

Glenmarians thanked and rememberedFInal WORDs / from our readers

‘StatEmENt oN RaciSm impRESSivE’This is just a short note to let you know how impressive your statement on racism is (“The Racial Divide,” Winter 2015).

The courage that your society is showing is truly remarkable, and I wish you continued suc-cess and growth wherever your

missionary group is involved.

As you probably realized, your state-ment on racism and other social issues may not be very popular.

But for me, your words serve as reminders to question my own thoughts and opin-ions from time to time. Glenmary

serves in parts of the country that I only hear about through the news media.

So thank you for your in-

sights, which will challenge me and help me grow. Peace.

Larry CooperMilford, Conn.

REmEmbERiNg miSSioNERS’ impactThe “Final Words” letters section of the Winter 2015 Glenmary Challenge mentioned two priests that I used to know—Father Charlie Hughes and Father Jim Ploeger. And thinking about them reminded me of a third Glenmary priest who was a mission pastor in Kentucky and Georgia.

Father Edward Haggerty, my pastor at Glenmary’s Morehead, Ky., mission, brought me into the Church through RCIA, mar-ried me and my wife, baptized two of our three children, and became a friend for life.

I met Father Ploeger during my visits to the Newman Center in Morehead. And I met Father Charlie in Claxton, Ga., while visiting Father Haggerty there.

Each of them provided me with memories that emanated from the simplicity of their ser-vice to God.

I remember Father Ploeger as a tall man who lovingly gave me a stepping stone, dug out of a path behind the parish house in Morehead. He gave it to me when he learned I really wanted it. He would smile if he knew that I have always treasured that stone and still have it today.

While visiting Father Haggerty in Claxton, Ga., we also went to see Father Charlie to fix his chick-en coop so that a fox wouldn’t eat his chickens. As payment for my work, he gave me a small dice-sized cube of wood with a dif-ferent-colored tack on each side, and he showed me a sleight-of-hand trick to do with the cube. I still have that cube and show the trick to many people.

Father Haggerty passed away several years ago, but I believe he knows that I have shared my faith with others, as he did with me through the RCIA program.

Glenmary has now returned the Morehead and Claxton mis-sions to their dioceses for con-tinuing pastoral care.

Carl Friedman Albany, N.Y.

REaDERs’ VIEWs WElCOME! Send comments to: editor, Glenmary Challenge, P.o. Box 465618, Cin-cinnati, oh 45246. Fax: 513-874-1690, e-mail: [email protected]. Please include a postal address. Com-ments are printed at the discre-tion of the editor and may be edited for clarity and space.

‘For me, your words serve as reminders to question my own thoughts and opinions from time to time.’

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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

Ways to GiveEntire parishes can become partners in Glenmary’s mission-ary efforts through tithing. glenmary.org/tithing

Resources Compare your county to those identified by Glenmary as having great mission need. glenmary.org/mission-need-maps

news and PublicationsFollow us on Facebook (Glenmary Home Missioners) and Twitter (@GlenmaryMission). glenmary.org/social-media

Bishop slattery

Mission maps

FEaTURED COlUMn

Brother David

VocationsWant monthly updates from our Vocation Office? Sign up for the vocation e-newsletter today. glenmary.org/enews

w w w.glenmary.org

Celebrate & Remember

Celebrate & Remember Family and FriendsAs Mother’s Day, graduations, weddings and other special occasions approach, use Glenmary’s all-occasion and Mass cards to mark those special days. glenmary.org/cards

social media

Identity and Mission of Religious BrothersVocation director Brother David Henley reflects on the signifi-cance—for Glenmary brothers—of the new Vatican document on religious brothers. glenmary.org/brothers

Glenmary Makes a Difference in Rural america Bishop Edward Slattery of the Diocese of Tulsa reflects on the impact of Glenmary’s presence, effectiveness and simplicity in U.S. rural areas and small towns. glenmary.org/bishop-slattery

learn about Glenmary’s FounderMeet Father William Howard Bishop and see how his dream of a home mission society came to be a reality. glenmary.org/vision-mission

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

GlEnMaRy GlimpSe / Inviting young adult Catholics

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Glenmary’s Erwin, Tenn., mission is reaching out to young adult Cath-olics to get them more involved in the parish. There was no Catholic presence in Unicoi County when they were younger. So the idea

arose recently to invite them to a special dinner at the parish house. The group above, with pastor Father Tom Charters, came and enjoyed the eve-ning. Afterwards, Father Tom and pastoral associate Kathy O’Brien asked how the parish could serve their needs. One need they raised was Confir-mation. So the parish is offering them ways to prepare for the sacrament, and several are now in that process. Some of these young adults have also offered to assist with parish youth activities as chaperones and volunteers.

Documents

Glenmary Challenge Spring 2016