Glenmary Challenge Autumn 2021

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

G L E N M A R Y. O R G AUTUMN 2021

The Moment I’ve Been Waiting For letter from a country priest

Father Don: Establishing a New Mission mission growth amidst the pandemic

A Thriving Mission in Erwin, Tenn.

Big Commitment FROM THE EDITOR / John Stegeman We are a Catholic society of priests and brothers who, along with numerous coworkers, establish the Catholic Church in small-town and rural America. Founded in 1939 by Father William Howard Bishop, Glenmary is the only religious community devoted exclusively to serving the spiritually and materially poor in the rural U.S. home missions. Today, supported entirely through freewill offerings, we staff missions and ministries throughout Appalachia and the South.

Glenmary missioners serve in areas where frequently less than one percent of the population is Catholic, a significant percentage have no church affiliation, and the poverty rate is often twice the national average.

Glenmary is known for respecting the many cultures encountered in the home missions. Our missionary activity includes building Catholic communities, fostering ecumenical cooperation, evangelizing the unchurched, social outreach and working for justice.

GLENMARY CHALLENGE Our quarterly magazine has three goals: to educate Catholics about the U.S. home missions, to motivate young men to consider Glenmary priesthood or brotherhood, and to invite all Catholics to respond to their baptismal call to be missionary by partnering with Glenmary as financial contributors, prayer partners, professional coworkers and/or volunteers.

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

What would you do for God? We all know the correct answer.

We’re supposed to say, we’d do anything. But we’re human and we’re sometimes weak. Sometimes things God asks of us

seem too big.

A man you’ll read about in this issue was asked to do something big, too. Brother Josiah Kimani felt the call to minister in the mission areas of the United States with Glenmary. The only problem? Glenmary was 8,000 miles away from his native Kenya. But Brother Josiah persevered and recently professed his Final Oath, joining Glenmary for life.

When I witness a Final Oath, I am sometimes reminded of my wedding. Holy matrimony and the sacred profession of religious vows are not the same thing, but those of us who haven’t been called to religious life can learn from the similarities.

In both situations, a covenant is made. A husband and wife promise to love and honor each other all the days of their life. A Glenmarian, for example, promises his whole life to the missionary apostolate in the rural areas and small towns of the United States, and to the Glenmary way of life. Both commitments are made before God and witnesses, and, if you think about it, both are incredible.

Making an oath for life is no small thing. To live out such a vow will not be easy. For a couple, they will need to lean on each other. For a religious, they must turn to their brothers in the society. Both will need to make sacrifices and rely on the grace of God. Our worldly culture doesn’t seem to put a lot of value on fidelity to our promises, but in this way the Church stands out. Whatever our vocation, let us remember the value of commitment.

GLENMARY HOME MISSIONERS P.O. Box 465618 · Cincinnati, OH 45246-5618 513-874-8900 · 800-935-0975 · challenge@glenmary.org © 2021, Glenmary Home Missioners.

Reprint permission granted upon request.

ON THE COVER: Brother Josiah Kimani is the newest fully professed Glenmarian. His journey has taken him around the world to serve the home missions. Photo by Cassie Magnotta.

VOLUME 84

NUMBER 3

The Moment I’ve Been Waiting For

Brother Josiah professed his Final Oath this summer, marking a key step in his journey as a missioner. page 12

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by john stegeman

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smith county journal

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erwin growth amidst the pandemic

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wise missioner

Father Don Tranel shares the remarkable origin story of the yet-unnamed newest Glenmary mission, in Tennessee.

While the COVID-19 pandemic put a damper on some missionary efforts, St. Michael the Archangel mission has managed to grow.

Father Wil Steinbacher has been a missioner for more than 60 years. He shares his wisdom on how to recognize a calling from God.

Publisher: Father Dan Dorsey Editor: John Stegeman Asst. Editors: Omar Cabrera, John Feister Art Director: Cassie Magnotta

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

Photo by John Feister

Brother Tom Sheehy (right) lives the mystery of faith by caring for hikers on the Appalachian Trail.

The Mystery of Faith FROM THE PRESIDENT / Father Dan Dorsey I recently read Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander.

Doctor Alexander is a neurosurgeon who suddenly fell into a coma. As one reviewer pointed out, “Anyone who claims he died and went to heaven, met God and then came back to tell the tale is apt to encounter some skepticism.”

In our postmodern world, skepticism and faith seem to go hand in hand.

Skepticism aside the book was a source of reflection for me. One day when I was celebrating Mass I was moved by the words recited just after the consecration: “The mystery of faith.”

When we hear the word mystery used at Mass or in a religious setting, what does it conjure up? An Agatha Christie novel? Or perhaps a scientific anomaly? Or maybe the board game Clue!

From the perspective of our faith, what is the mystery of faith? When we use the word mystery exactly what does that mean? According to the Catechism of the 4

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Catholic Church (1997) a mystery is that which is hidden in God and can never be known unless revealed by God. It cannot be explained or apprehended by reason alone.

The catechism’s definition of mystery implies the mystical. Mystery in our faith does not point to puzzlement, but instead to awe. Mystics come in all shapes and sizes but they share a common of God’s wonder and love.

As missioners, Glenmarians must strive to be mystics. We cannot share what we ourselves do not possess.

How else can you speak of and live out the love, mercy, compassion of Jesus Christ unless you yourself have profoundly experienced this?

The founder of Glenmary, Father William Howard Bishop, recognized this when he instructed his young missioners: “If our interior life is not kept on a high plane, our work in the various fields of activity can only have an apparent success and not that for very long. The fundamental requirement for true success is that we all strive daily to be saints” (Midwinter Letter to his Missioners, 1946).

Over the years in visiting with Glenmary brothers

and priests I have often been in admiration of these ordinary men as they have shared with me their extraordinary prayer life. Many times I thought at the end of a visitation that we in Glenmary have mystics in our midst!

From 2011-19 I was the co-director of our novitiate along with Fr. Tom Kirkendoll. At the beginning of each year I would tell the men, “You have an opportunity that few will ever have in their life. You have been given a gift—12 months—to pull back and to build on and/or construct a solid prayer foundation with Jesus Christ. Use this time wisely. Ask for the Holy Spirit and it will be given to you. Imitate the Apostle Thomas after the resurrection. Probe the nail marks of Jesus’ hands and side. In his wounds you will find rest, love, compassion and forgiveness. As a missioner then someday you will share this with others.”

What motivates you to go to a prison and spend an entire weekend listening to men's life stories and see Christ in them? Or to greet total strangers and offer them a sandwich and a listening ear as they hike the Appalachian Trail?

Or to go out to a camp of migrant/ seasonal workers and offer Mass?

Or to go to a county in the midst of a pandemic and bring a loving Catholic presence to a place that has never had a Mass celebrated within its boundaries? Or to visit every Christian church (86 of them!) in your county?

And yet this is what Glenmary missioners do!

It then occurred to me in my meditation—in a real and tangible sense the missioners’ presence is in itself proof of heaven!

That’s a kind of mystical insight, don’t you think?

we asked, you answered!

In the Spring edition, Father Dan Dorsey asked if readers had a G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) plant in their garden.

Below are several responses edited for length and clarity.

Dear Father Dan, The zinnia was also my favorite G.O.A.T. flower and my father’s as well. I admit that I am not an avid gardener but have had flowers around our home, zinnias among them.

Most interesting was the behavior of our poodle. She never ate grass, as many dogs do, but always singled out the zinnia plants and ate their leaves. I did some research and found the plant was named after J.G. Zinn, a German professor of medicine and botanist who discovered medicinal properties in the plant.

—Robert Gardella Dear Father Dan, You inspired me to ponder the beauty of violas. Looking closely at them I can see how each one is similar yet completely unique from their neighbor. Even though we all are not the same size or color we can live in the same “pot“ giving glory to our God. —Sue Malpocker Dear Father Dan, My wife’s G.O.A.T. is lupine flowers, tall flowery stocks. We have fields of lupines in Maine that come in purple, pink, and white colors. My garden G.O.A.T. is sold locally as Sweet 100s, smaller than cherry tomatoes, but so sweet that the grandkids pick them from their vines and pop them into their mouths like candy. Our G.O.A.T. Catholic periodical is…wait for it…. Glenmary Challenge!

—Ray and Diane

Dear Father Dan, My favorite is lantana. This is an annual flower which comes in several colors. The yellow/orange color especially attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

—Ronnie Malone Dear Father Dan, After several years of a barren garden I have been blessed with an abundance of roses and hosta plants. My hostas are very precious to me, as they were in the garden my mother planted at the home where I grew up.

My mother’s hostas thrived, but in the area where I now live, they present a delicious feast to the deer roaming through my yard. Also, little did I know, if desperately hungry, deer would devour roses as well. So, the first few years after planting I spent battling the deer with various defense methods: building a wall of netting, stinky “deer away” sprays, strategically placed tin plates on poles, garlic– pepper–cinnamon mixture sprinkled around each bush, etc.…the list is exhausting to think about.

Late last year I experimented with shavings of Irish Spring soap. Yes, I sit in my kitchen and manually shave these potent bars of soap with a cheese grater. The chemical scent is so offensive and slightly oily, that I have to wear rubber gloves when handling them. The shavings are then distributed at the base of each rose bush. Voila! Success! It has been 1-and-a-half years and my garden is thriving. Next year I hope to expand the garden area to include wildflowers and herbs.

—Susan

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Tomato festival

glenmary news & notes

outreach / Cook With Catholics St. John Paul II Catholic Mission in Rutledge, Tenn., hosted a booth called Cooking With Catholics at the

Grainger County Tomato Festival in July.

The mission was one of roughly

Photo courtesy of Brother Levis Kuwa

100 vendors at the event, which has

Glenmary gathers for assembly

been known to draw in excess of 20,000 people to the rural county.

At Cooking With Catholics, vol-

unteers taught classes on how to

prepare tamales, tortillas, tacos and beefsteak.

“Participating in the tomato festi-

val is our way to show we’re part of

the community and to build relation-

ships,” said Pastor Father Neil Pezzulo.

community / Gathering of missioners grows community bonds

“Our goal was to make friends and

Glenmary gathered for its annual assembly June 7-11 in Charleston, W.Va.

have already been asked to return

The meeting was the first time in two years the community was able to gather in person, as the pandemic forced last year’s event online.

“The week was a moment for us to reconnect, share pandemic stories,

recall what has been lost, but also rejoice in God's continual mercy and love,” said Father Aaron Wessman, Glenmary’s first-vice-president.

Glenmary’s governance is primarily done at a quadrennial meeting

called the General Chapter. The assembly allows Glenmarians to strengthen community bonds and update each other on society affairs.

build bridges and I think we did. We next year which is a good sign that we are welcome.”

Before St. John Paul II was found-

ed in 2011, Grainger County had no

formal Catholic presence. Now, a new church is under construction to accommodate the mission’s growth.

One topic discussed this year was the culture of Glenmary, as members

seek to live fully what is asked of them by God and the community’s Constitution and Directory.

Glenmarians heard from Brother John Mark Falkenhain, author of How

We Love: A Formation for the Celibate Life, along with presentations from the Executive Council.

ic-delayed oath anniversaries for Fathers Dennis Holly (61 years), Vic Subb (41 years) and Fid Levri (41 years), as well as Brother Levis Kuwa (11 years).

ABOVE: Brother Levis Kuwa, left, and Fathers Vic Subb, Dennis Holly and Fid Levri celebrate their jubilees. RIGHT: Volunteers staff the “Cooking With Catholics” booth at Grainger County’s tomato festival.

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Photo by Father Neil Pezzulo

Celebrations included the First Oaths for five students and the pandem-

around the missions

Photo by Philip Cohen

• On July 14, Brother Jason Muhlenkamp (below) joined Christians of various denominations for a Bible reading on the steps of the Early County Courthouse in Blakely, Ga. The effort was part of the State Bible Reading Marathon that sought to read the entire Bible on the steps of Georgia courthouses in one day.

Challenge wins 6 awards

awareness / Second place for mission magazine of the year Glenmary Challenge was honored with six Catholic Press Awards at the 2021 Catholic Media Conference on June 10.

In the category of Magazine of the Year-Mission Magazines, Glenmary

Challenge was awarded second place. It was the magazine’s highest finish in that category since 2012.

Other awards included: first place for Best Essay, by Father Dan Dorsey;

honorable mention for Best Essay, by Father Bob Dalton; second place in

Best Coverage of Interfaith/Ecumenical Issues; third place for Best Report-

• In March, Glenmary installed a large array of solar panels at its Cincinnati, Ohio, headquarters, resulting in the removal of 25 trees. To reduce the carbon footprint and shield a neighboring community from the reflection of the panels, Glenmary planted 150 coniferous evergreen trees that grow to a height of 12-15 feet.

• Glenmary will soon welcome Father “Sleeva” Vijaya Babu Katta and Father “Christu” Raju Kama of the Diocese of Vijayawada in India to assist in the missions. The pair will be assigned to Holy Trinity mission in Martin County, N.C. for a period of transition and training.

• St. Michael the Archangel Mission in Unicoi County, Tenn., hosted a walk-in vaccine clinic in September. The mobile vaccine clinic will return in October to offer the second dose.

ing of Celebration of a Sacrament, by John Feister; and honorable mention “Being honored by peers is always great,” said Glenmary Challenge Edi-

tor John Stegeman. “But the best part about these awards is they showcase the relevance of Glenmary’s ministry. Our missioners do extraordinary work in service to the Church and we’re always eager to share their stories.”

The Catholic Media Association, formerly known as the Catholic Press

Association, consists of more than 200 publications from across the United States, Canada and Ireland.

See the full list with links to winning stories at Glenmary.org/cma-2021.

ABOVE: The Glenmary Challenge staff took home six Catholic Press Awards at the 2021 Catholic Media Convention. RIGHT: Brother Jason Muhlenkamp joined a dozen Christians for a public Bible reading in Blakely, Ga.

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Photo courtesy of Redemption Church of God Facebook Page

for Best Annual Report.

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A day in the life

of a country priest Illustrations by Father Patrick O'Donnell

Smith County Journal Smith County, TN

by father don tranel

In January 2021, Father Don set out to establish a Glenmary mission in Smith County, Tenn., about an hour east of Nashville. There never has been a Catholic church in the county. Here is a mid-summer note from him.

results of being a recipient of prayer. In all honesty, I have never felt so prayed for (and with) in all my life.

The early days I knew early on that Smith County was established in 1799 and I knew there was never a public Mass celebrated here in all that time. I also knew that this was not going to be an easy task. I entered Smith County in mid-January as a stranger in a strange land.

I am assigned here alone. I knew nobody and I knew nothing about my new surroundings. Where do you

Photo by John Feister

Things have gotten a little hectic during the summer months here in Smith County. I had expected a kind of long, drawn out process getting this mission off the ground, but the Holy Spirit accelerated my expectations, and the rest is history.

The surface of life is always happening, but the depth of life happens only when we remember. I think holy remembering is crucial to my spirituality. It helps me to identify the finger of God and actions of the Holy Spirit in my anything-but-routine ministry. Holy remembering validates my ministry; it allows me to discern the

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Smith County, Tennessee, is known for beautiful rolling hills. It is also an area where many struggle against poverty, and where the Catholic Church has never been established.

Father Don is there to build a permanent Catholic presence.

Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Nashville

An early mission gathering typically involves a handful of people. But at this historic gathering, Father Don was pleasantly surprised when 32 came. Here he speaks before the group, explaining possibilities and gauging interest.

begin? What do you do? How do you do it? I once the list grew, I drafted a letter introducing myself and bought a movie poster that is now framed in my new invited them to dream big dreams with me, to help us kitchen. The movie, “When in Doubt, Do Something,” discern the level of interest of starting a Catholic church is a tribute to the life and witness of Harry Chapin. This in Smith County. My letter articulated the benefits of was Harry’s mantra. Every morning over coffee I look at having a Catholic church in Smith County to serve us this poster. It is what I need to see and implement. Here now and for generations to come. in Smith County, the temptations for me to do nothing are real and powerful, especially while living alone. For The Holy Spirit the times I let temptation win the day, Lord forgive me. I rented the Smith County Chamber of Commerce I moved into my home here in Brush Creek, Tenn., for our first meeting on May 27. It was wonderful and in mid-January, during dark and depressing weather, at divine providence was apparent! Thirty-two folks para time the pandemic was awful statewide. There was not ticipated, many of whom did not know each other. Of a stick of furniture here except for a stove and refrigeracourse, I did not know them either. The evening started tor. I slept on an air mattress for the first eight nights. with what is commonly referred to now as the Smith I admit pondering to myself, What am I doing here?

County Prayer, a unique and powerful prayer we wrote I furnished my home with donations and used furfor our gatherings. niture from a thrift store. I found such great deals, and The prayer follows this article, but here are two exonce I got my treasures home I vacuumed them and cerpts that capture its spirit: “You have gathered us at sprayed them with fabric sanitizer. The only exception to this moment to be a sign of your saving love and presthis were the new beds I bought ence in Smith County;” and from Big Lots. It was such fun “Help us to embrace this new We had one woman who wept making this house my own! beginning in our journey as a Catholic community of faith.” tears of joy over the mere The plan The prayer asks for help deeppossibility of the Catholic I identified early on that, with ening a joyful Catholic faith, for the pandemic, I needed an atypihelp respecting people of other Church coming to cal approach to starting this misfaiths, and a sense of trust in sion. I did less personal visitaGod’s providence.

Smith County. tions and more public speaking.

The agenda of our meeting I started with neighboring counties that had a Catholic was to discern the level of interest (passion) for our enchurch. I spoke at churches in Lebanon, Lafayette and deavor. Those gathered spoke with conviction and arCookeville. I collected names of folks who live in Smith ticulated the gifts they would bring to the table to help County so I could share my dream to start a Catholic any mission. I will savor memories of this meeting for Church with them. years to come.

I found that through networking, folks knew other For example, we had one woman who wept tears of people who stopped going to a Catholic church bejoy over the mere possibility of the Catholic Church cause of the distance and a host of other reasons. As coming to Smith County. At one point in the agenda, Autumn 2021 GLENMARY CHALLENGE

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Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Nashville

Catholic Mass was in the gym of the Methodist church that night; regularly scheduled Mass started July 3. Father Don and parishioners are now seeking a building to serve as the Catholic church. One day they hope to build a church of their own.

folks articulated how they may help. We had contractors, painters, teachers, musicians, choir members and more.

We had numerous unsolicited comments from folks who said they never felt the presence of the Holy Spirit so alive and so active in their lives as they did that night.

If the church was not officially given birth to this night, at least it was a prerequisite to any official beginnings! It was clear to me that the gathered folks were recipients of the fire of the Spirit and were eager to get started.

Birth of the local Church As the pandemic slowly improved last summer, I introduced myself to local pastors and tried to meet civic leaders. Lots remains to be done in this arena. I sensed a lot of anti-Catholic sentiment and tried to break down I sensed a lot of anti-Catholic

sentiment and tried to break down barriers of false stereotypes.

barriers of false stereotypes. We owe a debt of gratitude to the pastor of the Methodist Church, who allowed us

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to use their church for our meetings and Holy Mass.

A second organizational meeting followed by Mass took place June 24, the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. It was here, with the presence of the Vicar General and the Chief Financial Officer of the Diocese of Nashville, that our eucharistic community was born.

We heard testimonials in support of our initiative that were so emotional, it produced tears of joy. It was at this gathering that the historic first public Mass was celebrated in Smith County. Here we unanimously agreed to begin regularly scheduled weekend Mass every Saturday evening at 5 p.m., at the Methodist Church.

The challenge ahead: We began our regularly scheduled weekend Mass July 3.

Folks are still basking in the reality of a dream that came true in record time! The Methodist Church continues to offer hospitality. We are privileged to participate in the miracle of the Eucharist on a weekly basis.

Still, we know that challenges abound: There are many people of Hispanic origin in this county. We need to invite our Hispanic brothers and sisters to full participation at the Lord’s Supper. We need to match the giftedness of our new community with the many ministerial and administrative needs. We need to come to know one another on a social basis.

We also need to find our own venue so we can offer educational opportunities and weekday Mass to our young community. We also need to somehow finance whatever venue we find.

Of course, other needs have yet to be discovered. Still, the afterglow of these early gatherings and being surrounded by brave disciples who are willing to confront all challenges—to be part of this history—is comforting.

We thank God as we embark on a future that is bright with God’s promise and potential.

Please pray with us for the

success of our newest mission!

Smith County Prayer Good and Gracious God, we thank you for loving us and blessing us, and for gifting us with life.

In your infinite wisdom, you have gathered us at this moment in time to be a sign of your saving love and presence in Smith County.

Though small and humble our beginnings, you make us worthy of this calling.

Help us to embrace this new beginning in our journey as a Catholic community of faith.

May we be known as people of hospitality, welcoming all who come to us. While we deepen our own Catholic faith, help us to understand and respect people of other faiths in our county.

We do not know what the future holds, but we know that we are held in the palm of your hand. May we work together and draw strength from one another. As we commit ourselves to the work of building your kingdom, keep us mindful of your goodness, and let us share your joy in all we do.

We make this prayer in the name of Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen!

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ABOVE: Brother Josiah proudly holds the cross he was presented with upon Final Oath, a sign of his lifelong commitment as a Glenmary Home Missioner.

Photos by Cassie Magnotta

RIGHT: The number of men pursuing religious brotherhood is growing in Glenmary! Here, Brother Josiah celebrates among Glenmary friends who share his vocation.

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The Moment I’ve Been Waiting For Brother Josiah professes Final Oath with Glenmary by john stegeman

On May 29, Brother Josiah Kimani stood at the altar of St. Matthias Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. His eyes went back and forth from the Final Oath he was reading aloud, to the assembled crowd there to celebrate the special day.

It was a moment that had been a long time coming.

Brother Josiah started life in Nyahururu, Kenya. In his first 12 years, he never left the village. Eventually he felt the beginning of his vocational call and left home for high school seminary. Since then, he’s ministered in Qatar, the Philippines and of course eventually the mission fields of the United States.

He thought about priesthood but encountered the work of religious brothers. This solidified his calling.

“I was studying to be a priest, but I liked what the brothers were doing,” he said. “I found what they did was something I wanted to do. I wanted to be doing more things than being a minister. I wanted to be out there doing stuff with the people. I just liked what the brothers were doing.”

When he encountered the work of Glenmary, Brother Josiah was surprised. His impression of the United States didn’t include its rural areas with little to no Catholic presence.

“The idea of going to the rural places in America struck me [back then] because I never thought that in America there were rural places where people don’t have Catholic churches,” he said. “I feel like I just got here yesterday. I applied. I learned what Glenmary is all about. I went to the novitiate and learned about the charism and community life.”

The oath Brother Josiah professed in May has been uttered by many men before him. In it, he promised and swore before God “to dedicate myself for my whole life 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 Glenmary community, I ask for their support and loyalty and pledge to them my own.”

As Brother Josiah finished reading, applause broke out.

“This is a warm moment,” Brother Josiah said. “I feel more comfortable and feel like I am being supported by the community life. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for.”

Photo by John Feister

Brother Josiah is studying to become a nurse. One day he will work in a healthcare setting, maybe even like this mobile clinic, pictured outside of Glenmary's St. John Paul II mission in Rutledge, Tenn.

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Photo courtesy of St. Michael the Archangel Facebook Page

Glenmary Father Tom Charters hands a certificate to a First Communicant during Mass at St. Michael the Archangel parish in Erwin, Tenn. The mission serves the community of Unicoi County.

Erwin Mission Grows Amidst the Pandemic

Immigration and vibrant mission life leads to 10 percent increase in parish size by omar cabrera

An increase in parishioners is good news for a mission, but it’s even more exciting amidst a pandemic. This is exactly what has happened in Unicoi county, Tenn., where the number of people who attend St. Michael the Archangel parish increased by 10 percent up to 429 in the last year and a half.

“We’ve had new families move in, and these come to the parish that haven’t been here before,” said Glenmary Father Tom Charters, pastor of St. Michael’s. “Actually, we have 430, because we had a baby born just the other day.”

The mission is 84 percent Hispanic and 16 percent English speaking, or Anglos. Most of the Anglos are 14

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retired military. Some of the Latinos are agricultural laborers who come from Mexico to work at two tomato farms in the area.

Father Tom says that a lot of the Latinos have young children, and the mission offers them confirmation, First Communion classes, as well as catechesis. Before the pandemic, the groups reached a total of 76 kids, which was a challenge to accommodate in a church building that doesn’t have enough separate spaces.

“That’s a lot of kids! And we’ve got more kids since then,” Father Tom said. “Our project now is trying to raise funds for two classrooms because we have grown that much.”

The mission asked its parishioners to consider donating part of the stimulus checks they received from the government. They replied generously and by early June, the fund reached $85,000. Then, in mid-June, the parish received a visit from Knoxville Bishop Richard F. Stika, who officially installed Father Tom as mission pastor.

During the ceremony, the bishop made a surprising announcement: he would donate $10,000 to the project.

Even with these generous donations, the project

“We’ve had new families move in, and these come to the parish that haven’t been here before (the pandemic).” faces new challenges. Construction prices have more than doubled and builders in the area are backlogged to such an extreme that one company offered to start a year from now. Father Tom says that they keep looking for a building company that can take the project relatively soon and, in the meantime, they keep growing the building fund.

The St. Michael the Archangel mission has grown steadily since its humble beginnings in 2011. Back then,

Photo courtesy of St. Michael the Archangel Facebook Page

Participants in the Faith in Action Team program attend daily Mass and have opportunities for reflection. St. Michael the Archangel has a thriving youth population.

parishioners gathered at the local Elk’s Club. Seven years later, in 2018, the parish inaugurated its new church building, which now the community has outgrown.

Youth in action This summer when pandemic restrictions eased and virus cases were dropping, the parish reinstituted several activities. One of them is a program aimed at middle schoolers, called Faith In Action Team (FIAT).

This year, 11 middle schoolers registered for the program, including a non-Catholic boy who traveled across state lines from North Carolina. Along with them were the three kids of the Tavares missioner family, who work for Glenmary.

In the week that the program lasted, the kids developed two projects. One of them was the construction of 14 stations of the cross. “And these are not simple little

Photo by John Feister

St. Michael the Archangel church was dedicated in 2018. Just three years later, the community has outgrown the building.

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This year, 11 students participated in the mission’s Faith In Action Team (FIAT) program. The youth group event helps children develop a faith for life.

Help to a widow The other project the kids developed was helping a widow in her 80s with some tasks at her home.

ABOVE: FIAT students built the Stations of the Cross seen behind the rosary garden. RIGHT: At the end of the program, the kids had a time to enjoy a cookout and play water games.

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“She had a stroke in January,” Father Tom said.

“The kids went over there and trimmed trees, trimmed brushes, planted flowers, cleaned the house, and helped her with whatever she needed inside the house.”

Participants also went out to work on a walking trail in town and picked up over 100 pounds of trash. The city came along after them and picked up the bags that they left.

The FIAT program, which was organized by Pastoral Associate and Glenmary Lay Missioner Kathy O’Brien, also included daily Mass, breakfast, lunch and dinner.

“On Thursday, they got back at three o’clock and had nothing but a lot of water games and fun until about 7 or 7:30 p.m. that evening; and they had a lot of fun,” Father Tom said. Finally, on the last day, they ended with a blessing of the stations of the cross.

Photos courtesy of St. Michael the Archangel Facebook Page

stick items; they are major crosses and major stations,” Father Tom explained.

“We had three men helping oversee it, but these young middle schoolers did the chiseling work, they did the nailing work, I mean, they really put things together,” Father Tom said.

The stations “look beautiful,” Father Tom added, and were installed at a rosary garden that was inaugurated in May. The garden includes a small statue of Mary in the center, and pavers represent the beads of the rosary.

It was a gift of the family of deceased parishioner John Donzella.

Wise Missioner

interviews on glenmary spirituality

father wil steinbacher it’s one thing: the Spirit of God, calling. I learned that years ago in novitiate, when I prayed to know whether Glenmary was really what I wanted, and it’s a great grace that has stayed with me for my entire life, for 86 years!

One thing that Father Wil Steinbacher has learned over a lifetime of service is that God calls each of us. He has served as mission pastor, director of Glenmary Research Center, the society’s vice president, and, most recently, as minister to men on death row in a Tennessee prison.

Q: How does a person know that he or she is called? What does a calling look like?

A: First of all, it’s a response of faith that convinces me that the call is there. The graces that I’ve had over a time of faithfulness to the call tells me that it’s there.

Q: Just what is a calling, to you?

A: It’s the call to follow Christ, and to carry that message to others. The call is to all that Glenmary does in trying to bring the Church to people in rural America. So, it’s a combination of things, but really

Q: How does that work?

A: Well, I have to look at Scripture and see how Jesus called the men around him to do what he was going to be able to do after a while.

The call for them was the same as it is for me. It is following Christ as much as possible, with that grace that I receive. It is really God reaching out to me. That, I’ve found, is what gives me energy.

Q: So how do you know that call is for you, and not just a kind of generic call for anyone?

A: Now that’s what you have to discern, asking yourself, “Is this what I really want?” I remember when it came to take the oath of celibacy, the thought came to me, If you don’t want this, run away, because it’s not for you! I didn’t run.

Q: I guess that call changes over time?

A: I’ve had a lot of experiences in

Glenmary. When I was at the research center, it was different from when I was personnel director. And it was different when I visited prisoners. For example, in some cases as personnel director I was helping the men to understand themselves better, maybe even through testing, or shared prayer. That was my way of communicating love to them. It is a gospel calling. I drove thousands of miles doing that across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama…. I was responding to my calling, and the work helped me to see what my calling is. God is present in forming community.

Q: You have a particular devotion to Stations of the Cross, I hear.

A: I don’t mean to focus on suffering, but I do think the cross helps us to understand who God wants us to be. Lots of difficult things happen to us. As we understand the Cross, I refine my sense of who I am and how the Spirit is working within me. I know it’s unusual, but I pray the Stations of the Cross daily. Even as he carried the Cross, Jesus never lost the sense something bigger was coming. What he was bringing was the resurrection. I guess that’s how I can have a sense of humor, too!

—John Feister

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letters to the editor LOVE OF JESUS I just received the summer edition of Glenmary Challenge featuring Father José Carlos Miguel López on the cover and Father Steve Pawelk on the back.

I looked back and forth several times between these two men, taking in the smiles on their faces and in their eyes, and seeing the love of Jesus there. Truly I remember that same look on other faces of those involved in this wonderful ministry throughout the years, including my wonderful uncle, the late Brother Paul Wilhelm.

Mary Wilhelm Matteson • Lynchburg, VA ‘YOUR WORK IS WONDERFUL’ I have read the Challenge since 1950, and when I was a deacon in 1960, I spent the summer with Glenmary in South Georgia with Father Frank Wuest and Father John Barry, in Sylvania, Ga. [both former missions].

It was a wonderful experience for me, one that has influenced my 60 years of priesthood, although most of it has been spent in New York City, the opposite of your missions.

God bless your work and all your new missioners, from Mexico and from Africa and elsewhere. Your work is

wonderful, starting new parishes from a handful of Catholics.

Fr. Thomas B. Fenlon • New York, NY BUILDING FAITH Glenmary Challenge builds up my faith! The late Glenmary Father John Rausch was a dear friend. We met at Notre Dame in 1979, when he arrived to study for a Master’s in Economics, hoping those studies would improve his ministry with workers in Appalachia.

Father John became a regular columnist on justice issues in the Glenmary Challenge. He inspired me. I pray to him to keep on inspiring me and countless other readers to work for justice.

Fr. Jack Martin • Newark, NJ FAITH AND WORKS Thank you for all of the work you are doing to build God's kingdom. One of my favorite letters in the Bible is from James 2:14-26. But the last verse, 26, really sums it up! 'For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.' Thank you and God's grace and blessings.

Dcn. and Mrs. Dean Burry • Seymour, TN

BLESS THE CLODHOPPERS I have especially enjoyed receiving the Glenmary Challenge the past 20-plus years during my mission office ministry with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

I’ve been fortunate in my work to come to know many of these down-to-earth, humble and holy Glenmarians and have visited some of their mission parishes and ministries.

In the past, my wife Kathy, I, and our four sons served with the Maryknoll Fathers and Lay Missioners. Sometimes we were known as the “clodhopper missioners,” as we were out in the fields, off the beaten track, and out in the mud with the folks who were often left behind by the rest of society. When we finally returned home to Cincinnati, it was heartwarming to come to know another group of “clodhopper missioners” who have similar mission fields but in the U.S. So keep the Challenge coming and keep “clodhopping” in God’s fields.

Mike Gable • Cincinnati, Ohio we want your feedback !

Send to: Editor, Glenmary Challenge, P.O. Box 465618, Cincinnati, OH 45246.

Email: challenge@glenmary.org. Comments are printed at the discretion of the editor and may be edited for clarity and space. Please include a postal address with your letter.

Change Lives By Planning Your Legacy Today Gifts to Glenmary in the form of bequests from wills and trusts ensure a lasting Catholic presence and Christian care to people in our missions for years to come.

Go to FreeWill.com/Glenmary to create a legally valid will at no cost to you.

If you have remembered Glenmary in your will or trust, please let us know so we can have the pleasure of thanking you now.

Glenmary's Planned Giving Office info@glenmary.org 513-874-8900

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GLENMARY CHALLENGE

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NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

The low country of Eastern North Carolina is part of Mission Land, USA. Glenmary operates three missions in the region.

Photo by John Feister

"The Church is called to come out of herself and to go to the peripheries." —Pope Francis Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for ministry updates and inspiration.

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