Glenmary Challenge Winter 2013

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

Winter 2013

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Mission Bishop

Texas bishop hails from former Glenmary mission

Returning to the Fold Outreach to inactive Catholics at Christmas and throughout the year

Glenmary Home Missioners Founded by Father William Howard Bishop in 1939, this Catholic society of priests and brothers, along with numerous coworkers, establishes the Catholic Church in smalltown and rural America. Glenmary is the only religious community devoted exclusively to serving the spiritually and materially poor in the rural U.S. home missions. Today, supported entirely through freewill offerings, it staffs missions and ministries throughout Appalachia and the South.

Glenmary missioners serve in areas where less than three percent of the population is Catholic, a significant percentage have no church affiliation and the Father William poverty rate is almost twice the national average. Glenmary is Howard Bishop known for deeply respecting the Glenmary Founder many cultures encountered in the home missions—Appalachian, Native American, African American and Latino among others. Its missionary activity includes building Catholic communities, fostering ecumenical cooperation, evangelizing the unchurched, social outreach and working for justice.

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

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

Publisher: Father Chet Artysiewicz Editor: Jean Bach Assistant Editor: Dale Hanson Art Director: Tricia Sarvak Staff Writers: Margaret Gabriel, Father John S. Rausch Planning-Review Board: Father Bob Dalton, Father Dominic Duggins, Father Gus Guppenberger, Brother Jack Henn, Brother Curt Kedley, Patrick McEntee, Kathy O’Brien, Susan Sweet

Glenmary Home Missioners P.O. Box 465618 • Cincinnati, OH 45246-5618 513-874-8900 • 800-935-0975 www.glenmary.org • info@glenmary.org © 2013, Glenmary Home Missioners. Reprint permission granted upon request.

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‘Come home’ to the Church FROM THE EDITOR / Jean Bach

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he idea of focusing on the life of Jesus during the Vacation Bible School (VBS) held at Glenmary’s Erwin, Tenn., mission in June arose out of necessity. Out-of-state volunteers were scheduled to plan and coordinate the VBS but had to cancel their trip at the last moment.

Using resources at hand, volunteers joined with Kathy O’Brien, the mission’s pastoral associate, to quickly come up with Bible lessons and activities to deepen the children’s knowledge of Jesus—and to keep them involved and entertained!

But the reach of the VBS went well beyond its young participants. Some of the parents, after being away from the Church for some time, had the opportunity to reconnect with their faith through their children’s involvement. As a result, four families, so far, have found their way back to the Catholic Church and the sacraments.

Missioners and coworkers find a variety of creative ways to invite inactive Catholics to “come home” to the Church—like a summer VBS in Erwin, Tenn., that includes a Christmas pageant!

Jean Bach jbach@glenmary.org

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ext year will mark the 75th anniversary of Glenmary’s founding by Father William Howard Bishop.

Plans are underway for several celebrations to mark the occasion, including an anniversary Mass in Cincinnati in October 2014. More details will be released to our friends and donors in the new year regarding the Mass and other special events.

Until then, may the newborn Savior fill your heart with love, encourage you with hope and bless you with peace! 

about the cover: Children who participated in a Vacation Bible School program in Erwin, Tenn., practice for the Christmas pageant that concluded the five-day event.

Readers’ Views welcome! Send comments to: Editor, Glenmary Challenge, P.O. Box 465618, Cincinnati, OH 45246. Fax: 513-8741690. E-mail: challenge@glenmary.org. Please include a postal address.

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THE MAGAZINE OF C ATHOLI C MISSIONERS TO RURAL AMERI C A

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Vo l u m e 7 6 / N u m b e r 4

Cover Story

9 photo / courtesy St. Michael mission

Returning to the Fold

Glenmary missioners and coworkers find creative ways to invite inactive Catholics to “come home” to the Church, including Vacation Bible School programs and door-to-door visits.

Feature Story

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Mission Bishop

Having grown up in a Glenmary mission and now leading a mission diocese, Bishop Joseph E. Strickland knows the challenges of being in the Catholic minority.

Texas bishop, Page 15

Departments & columns

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From the President / Father Chet Artysiewicz

Jesus’ message of peace, hope and joy are needed today more than ever before.

Glenmary News & Notes

New development director appointed; migrant workers fed and welcomed; county Fast Facts now available.

New director, Page 5

Partner in Mission

A North Carolina parish has adopted a Georgia mission and is serving county residents this Advent.

Then & Now

Evolving technology has helped Glenmary spread the message of the Gospel and home mission ministry.

Partners, Page 11

Missioner in Action

In his new role as prenovitiate director, Father Bruce Brylinski serves as a guide to new students.

www.glenmary.org

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

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Technology, Page 12

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from the president / Father Chet Artysiewicz

Good news amidst the bad Christ’s message of peace, hope and joy needs to be shared today more than ever

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ach approaching Christmas season seems to evoke memories of previous years’ celebrations—the family reunions, the holiday foods that appeared only once a year, and of course, the gifts. My parents, like the vast majority of parents, went to great lengths to make Christmas a very special time for us.

I recall the year that my brother and I were to receive our “special” Christmas gifts early so we could use them before the weather became prohibitive. So we accompanied our parents to pick out new bicycles—our first ones. That done, all that was left was the waiting until they were delivered. The day came and the bike arrived.

No, that’s not a typo. Bike. Singular.

While my brother was admiring his beautiful new gift, I ran to the corner store where my mother was working. I told her, fighting back tears, “The delivery man came, Mom, but he only brought one bike. I didn’t get one.”

I don’t think the term “nanosecond” was in vogue in the 1950s, but that’s about how long it took for my mother to call my father, instructing him to make sure the oversight was corrected—and quickly.

My shiny two-wheeler arrived the following day.

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hile my very temporary disappointment was understandable, it certainly pales in comparison to situations that are genuinely tragic. Today, from an adult perspective, I think of the children for whom bikes or any toys are not priorities. Instead, they are focused daily on surviving warfare or street violence, or obtaining the basic necessities of life.

In the season of heightened spirits, there are so many realities that can dampen those spirits.

From a faith perspective, I find the Advent prayer “Come Lord Jesus” to be so timely.

Come Lord, we need you more than ever! We need your messages of peace and hope so that despite all the inequalities of this world, we may find eternal joy in our faith in you.

If you print the words peace, hope and joy and display them next to a manger scene or on a star, you will express the essence of the season for Christian people.

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still experience Christmas letdowns, but they are far more significant than a delayed bicycle delivery. I’m disappointed when the Prince of Peace arrives and wars continue to rage. It seems the Savior’s message of love has not been fully realized. Doesn’t the world realize how much better and happier our existence would be if we simply followed Jesus’ instruction to “love one another”?

How discouraging it is to acknowledge that the words from Father Chet the prologue of St. John’s Gos- Artysiewicz pel—“He came to...his own, but cartysiewicz@glenmary.org his own people did not accept him”—represent a contemporary truth as well.

Don’t get me wrong. I rejoice at all the wonderful gestures of generosity at this time of year.

To be sure, there is much goodness exhibited, and that goodness is a reflection of God. But as the newborn Christ, with arms outstretched, seeks our embrace, the words of St. John ring a sad note. The world, it seems, does not know who he was—and most important, who he is.

That’s why the work of Glenmarians and all people of faith is so vitally important today.

Answering the call to share the Good News of Christ’s message of peace, hope and joy with those around us is more necessary today than ever.

We have been given, through our faith, a wonderful opportunity amidst the tears, tragedy and heartbreak to proclaim: “Folks, do we ever have some Good News to share with you!”

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he birth of this God-Child begins the greatest story ever told. And the story only gets better as we Christians follow Christ’s life and example throughout the liturgical year.

On behalf of Glenmary I wish you a blessed Nativity season. Thank you for the prayers and assistance that make it possible for us to continue proclaiming the Good News that “today in the city of David a savior has been born for  you who is Messiah and Lord” (Lk 2:11).

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Glenmary

New director to lead fund-raising program

news &notes photo / jean bach

d eve l op m e n t

Father Dominic Duggins taking senior membership [ohio] For the past 13 years, Father Dominic Duggins has served as director of Glenmary’s Development Office. His tenure will come to an end on Dec. 1 when he takes senior membership and Father Don Tranel assumes the position.

“It’s been a wonderful and challenging position to hold,” Father Dominic says. “It’s given me an even deeper appreciation for our Glenmary donors and their generosity in supporting our missions.”

As development director and as a member of Glenmary’s leadership team for eight years, Father Dominic gained a broad insight into all the “phenomenal” ministries and outreach efforts in which missioners and coworkers are involved.

“It’s been a privilege to help raise the funds that make our efforts possible,” he says.

Father Don, who has served as a mission pastor for most of his 25 years as a home missioner, looks forward to assuming his w w w. g l e n m a r y. o r g

transition: On Dec. 1, Father Dominic Duggins (left) will take senior membership and Father Don Tranel will become the new director of Glenmary’s Development Office.

new position. For the last year, he has worked as a Development Office staff member. He has also worked closely with Father Dominic in the past months to help ensure a smooth transition.

“I miss being in the missions,” Father Don says. “But I’ve realized over this past year that God has given me the gifts to meet the needs of my new fund-raising ministry. God is in control!”

He sees his role as inviting people to help Glenmary share the greatest gift it has: the gift of the Catholic faith.

“When we ask for

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people’s support, we’re actually inviting them to be Glenmary’s partners in mission—which offers them the chance to respond to their baptismal call to mission and to put their resources at the disposal of the Kingdom.”

Father Dominic says

Father Don brings vast experience as a home missioner, and “that experience will inspire our donors—and potential donors—to help us continue establishing the Catholic Church in Mission Land, USA.” There is much Father Dominic will miss, especially the daily communication with donors.

But one thing he says he won’t miss: meetings!

As a senior member he is looking forward to having more time for reading, praying and reflecting. He also plans to volunteer at Glenmary Headquarters “in whatever ways will be helpful,” and he’ll serve as house director of the Glenmary residence.

But he adds that these are only his plans. “God often has other plans,” he says. “And I’m open to however I can best serve God and Glenmary.” to learn more: Visit www.glenmary.org and read more about Father Dominic’s and Father Don’s ministries.

Online Prayer Intentions Those wishing to have special prayer intentions remembered by Glenmary priests, brothers and lay coworkers can now submit intentions electronically via e-mail.

Intentions sent to prayerrequests@glenmary.org are printed and placed in Our Lady of the Fields Chapel located at Glenmary’s Cincinnati Headquarters.

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news & notes

continued

l a y m i n i st r y

Pastoral coordinator leads growing, diverse N.C. mission Julian Crespo has been getting to know and reaching out to those living in Washington County [north carolina] Reflecting on his time as the pastoral coordinator at Glenmary’s St. Joan of Arc mission in Plymouth, N.C., Julian Crespo says he has “learned more about pastoral ministry in the last year of leading a Glenmary mission than I did in five years at a university.”

Julian started work at St. Joan in September 2012. A native of Julian Crespo Cali, Colombia, he was formerly a seminarian for the Raleigh diocese and in Colombia. During his formation, he gained valuable experience in parish work.

He is the only full-time pastoral person at the Plymouth mission. Glenmary Father Mike Kerin, pastor of the Windsor, N.C., mission in the next county, serves as sacramental minister for St. Joan.

One of Julian’s goals for him-

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self and his family has been to visit the homes of mission members. As a result, “I know the people and their needs better, and they know me.”

He believes the mission’s greatest strength can be its cultural diversity.

“We have Hispanics from different parts of Mexico and from Colombia, Peru and Honduras, as well as Anglos from the northern and southern United States.

It’s a strength if people share

their gifts and become a unified community.”

Julian has also become an active member of the local ministerial association during the past year. The members of the mission continue to reach out to the larger community through ecumenical programs such as the concert they are organizing for this Christmas.

His goal for the future is to “build up our group of committed lay leaders so we can keep growing as a strong faith community.”

co u n t r y r a ff l e

Fund-raiser a success; winners announced Top cash prizes go to donors in New York and Michigan [ohio] The names of the winners of the 2013 Glenmary Country Raffle were drawn by Father Chet Artysiewicz on Sept. 1 in Cincinnati.

The first-place winner of $5,000 was Diane Januszewski of Rockville Centre N.Y., and the $1,500 third prize went to Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Keenan of

Roscommon, Mich. The secondprize winner of $3,000 wishes to remain anonymous.

An additional 10 participants received $100 prizes.

Glenmary’s Development Office sponsors the annual fundraiser. The proceeds—$119,000 this year—help support Glenmary’s mission and ministry.

Do you want to help the home missions but are worried that you can’t afford a gift right now?

A provision in your will may be the answer!

To request information on how to include Glenmary in your will or trust or to notify us that you have already done so, please contact: Susan Lambert, Planned Giving Officer 800-935-0975 slambert@glenmary.org

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photo / courtesy st. michael mission

tired and hungry: Members of St. Michael the Archangel mission in Erwin, Tenn., wel-

comed and fed migrant workers who arrived in their county this spring and summer. The 280 workers traveled 1,900 miles by bus to work on two local fruit and vegetable farms.

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Migrant workers fed and welcomed by Tenn. Catholics Members of Glenmary mission answer Jesus’ call to help those in need throughout the year [tennessee] This year the members of Glenmary’s twoyear-old St. Michael the Archangel mission in Erwin, Tenn.

(Unicoi County), fed and welcomed 280 tired and hungry migrant workers, who had traveled 1,900 miles by bus to the mission county from their homes in Mexico.

The Mexican men, all with temporary U.S. visas, spent three to six months working in the fields at two large commercial farms.

When workers first arrive, they are “so busy with paperwork and orientation that they have no time to buy food for themselves,” says Kathy O’Brien, the mission’s pastoral associate.

The migrant workers came in two waves, the first in late Aprilearly May and the second in late July-early August. However, w w w. g l e n m a r y. o r g

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neither wave came all at once but instead on multiple buses— so mission members ended up serving three meals at one farm and five at the other on eight different days.

“We were thankful for this opportunity to welcome and interact with the men, give them a good meal, and let them know we were there as a church community if they needed us,” says Kathy. “It was a cooperative effort by almost the entire mission community. Everything we do, we try to do together.”

Kathy says the workers were grateful for the warm welcome, the kindness of the parishioners, and the meals prepared especially for them. “They made a point of coming up to us and expressing their thanks.”

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members also gave them a farewell meal in late October.

“I expect this ministry will become another annual tradition of our mission community,” says Kathy, “as long as the Mexican men keep making the long trip to Unicoi County to find work.”

After the migrant workers left, the members of the mission began working on another mission tradition: collecting food for the Thanksgiving boxes assembled by the local food pantry for area families in need of assistance.

There will be more outreach efforts in the future, Kathy says, as the mission does its best to answer Jesus’ call to help others in need: “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me…” (Mt 25:35).

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Rese a r ch ce n te r

U.S. County Fast Facts now available Downloaded PDFs contain unique statistical information able and sought after because the information isn’t available anywhere else.

“No other resource gives religious congregation statistics along with general population and geography information.”

The Fast Facts for each county are available in downloadable PDF files organized by state.

Within each PDF are individual pages for all the counties in a particular state. Each county sheet contains comparable statistics on the county, diocesan, state and national levels.

In addition, the three largest faith groups in the county, dio-

photo / tricia sarvak

[ohio] The Glenmary Research Center (GRC) has finished compiling statistical information tables for every county in the United States, and that information is now available on the Glenmary Web site.

To assemble these Fast Facts, the GRC combined religious data from the Religious Congregations & Membership Study: 2010 and geographic and socioeconomic data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 Quick Facts.

Lucy Putnam, who coordinates the efforts of the GRC, says Glenmary’s Fast Facts are valu-

President’s Friends gather: Members of the President’s Friends gathered at Glenmary Headquarters in Cincinnati on Oct. 4 for Mass and lunch. The annual gathering honors those who have given over $1,000 in the past fiscal year in support of Glenmary’s home mission ministry. Father Cris Adongo (above), who was ordained a year ago, spoke at this year’s event. The associate pastor thanked the donors for their support and he shared stories about his decision to leave his homeland of Kenya to join Glenmary, his formation journey, his ordination and his first year as a mission pastor.

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county stats: The Fast Facts for Butler County, Ohio, shows demographic and religious statistics for the county that is home to Glenmary’s national headquarters.

cese, state and nation are listed on each county report.

The GRC is responsible for and funds the collection of the Catholic data for the every10-year Religious Congregations & Membership Study. The 2010 study was released in May 2012.

It was then that work began on compiling the data used in the Fast Facts.

Lucy notes that because the GRC collected data for all Catholic (both Latin and Eastern Rite) parishes in the United States, diocesan, state and national numbers included in the Fast Facts reflect both Roman Catholic and Eastern Rite Catholic populations.

“To obtain the number of Roman (Latin Rite) Catholics or Eastern Rite Catholics living in a particular county, a person must contact the local diocese,” she says. to learn more: Contact Lucy Putnam at grc@glenmary.org or 513-881-7439. View and download county PDF files by visiting www.glenmary.org/fastfacts.

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cover story

Returning to the Fold During the Advent and Christmas seasons, inactive Catholics in many U.S. dioceses are invited to ‘come home’ to the Church. Glenmary priests, brothers and lay coworkers share that same message throughout the year—often in creative ways—with inactive Catholics living in home mission counties.

By Dale Hanson “‘What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?’”

—Lk 15:4

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hen Glenmary’s two-year-old Erwin, Tenn., mission community decided to host its first Vacation Bible School (VBS) this past June, the theme chosen was “Go Tell the Jesus Story.”

The weeklong program helped bring this story to life for the children, with a special focus on the Nativity. And its climax was a Christmas pageant, with many students playing parts in costume and the rest forming a rhythm group to provide music.

“Since a lot of the Latino children go to Mexico in December to celebrate Christmas with family,”

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says pastoral associate Kathy O’Brien, “summer was a good time to have this kind of pageant, which the kids had never experienced before.”

It turned out to be a memorable, fun-filled, educational week for 50 children from both the Catholic mission and the larger community.

Kathy and other Glenmary missioners and coworkers also see this kind of ministry through the lens of outreach to inactive Catholics. (An inactive Catholic is commonly defined as one who doesn’t regularly attend Sunday Mass.)

“Quite a few inactive Catholics brought their children (to participate in the VBS) and attended our pageant, which we hoped they would,” Kathy says. “Four of these families have now joined our mission and are attending Sunday Mass.”

When Glenmary enters a new county, the pastoral team publicizes its plans to call together  Wi n t e r 2 0 1 3

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‘Brother Craig provided the gentle kick I needed to return to the Church.’  a Catholic church community. The members sacraments, deepening their relationship with may include Catholics who had been attending Mass at churches in neighboring counties. But some may have stopped going to church, receiving the sacraments and practicing their faith simply because no Catholic church was available to them or because they drifted away from weekly Mass attendance.

“We never stop trying to connect with them,” says Kathy. Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep captures the dedication Glenmary brings to this effort.

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ften, the mere presence of a Glenmary mission can catch someone’s attention.

For example, 17-year-old McKenzie and her grandmother were surprised to see Glenmary’s new storefront mission in Rutledge, Tenn., while driving by in 2012. They stopped to investigate because McKenzie’s Catholic grandmother hadn’t been to church in a number of years.

As a result of the visit, her grandmother began going to Mass again. McKenzie also started attending Mass with her and, after learning more about the Catholic faith, entered the Church last Easter. None of these things would have occurred if the Church weren’t present in Grainger County.

A simple, personal invitation can also be the key in motivating an inactive Catholic to return to practicing his or her faith.

Earlier this year, Roger, an Erwin mission member, was giving away a load of freshly cut wood. Joe stopped to inquire about it. As the two men talked, Roger learned that Joe was Catholic but hadn’t been to church in a while. Roger invited him to Mass and encouraged him to visit the mission’s pastor, Father Tom Charters.

Joe, his wife and their teenaged daughter are now active members of the mission.

Sometimes, the invitation can follow a knock on the door. For example, after Glenmary’s Maynardville and Rutledge, Tenn., missions were first gathered in 2011, Brother Craig Digmann compiled a list of Catholics who had not responded to the Glenmary pastoral team’s initial letter. Then he began visiting each of these families or individuals in the two counties.

“I simply knock on the door, introduce myself, and ask if they know there is a new Catholic church in their county,” says Brother Craig. “Then I find out about their history as Catholics, and if it seems appropriate, I invite them to join us for Mass or faith formation.”

Brother Craig’s persistent work has resulted in a number of inactive Catholics returning to the

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Christ and joining their counties’ Glenmary missions. One new mission member noted, “Brother Craig provided the gentle kick I needed to return to the Church.”

Missioners also invite inactive Catholic parents to enroll children in religious education programs with the hope that, in time, whole families will join the missions.

Bruce, Miss., pastoral coordinator Deborah Holmes has even transported children from other parts of the county to weekly classes—now via a newly acquired bus—when parents can’t. “Our program is growing,” she says, “and some of these families have become active parishioners.”

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eligious feasts—such as Easter, Christmas, or the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe— and Ash Wednesday also attract inactive Catholics to their local churches. Parents are particularly drawn when their children have active roles in these special celebrations. As families connect to the missions through experiences like these, they often reconnect with their faith.

Inactive Catholics might first visit the missions for very practical reasons, such as attending English as a Second Language classes. “Individuals come to classes, gradually get to know us, and sometimes end up wanting to belong,” says Kathy. “In just the past year, five families have joined our mission after the adults attended these classes.”

Adult faith formation is also available for those thinking about coming back to the Church. Religious studies programs and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)—as well as counseling and guidance by pastoral team members— are offered to help them rediscover and explore their Catholic faith.

“Some of my most joyful moments in 39 years of Glenmary ministry,” Kathy says, “were times when I’ve been able to help Catholics return to practicing their faith—and to see their joy in coming back.”

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he Advent and Christmas seasons are times when Catholics celebrate that the Word of God became flesh and that Jesus is “Emmanuel”—God with us.

That’s the message missioners and coworkers share each day with those living in the U.S. missions. It’s a message that reminds all Catholics— longtime or just-returned—of the story they are called and privileged to share with others.  DONATE NOW

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Partner in mission / by Dale Hanson

Reaching out beyond local needs Adoption of Glenmary mission widens N.C. parish’s vision of outreach this Advent

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ast fall, Father Pat asked parishioners John and Marion CasaSanta to help make this idea a reality. He spoke to Father Don Tranel of Glenmary’s Development Office about a possible adoption. Then Father Don traveled to Charlotte in February 2013 to talk further with the prospective adopters.

His visit helped the North Carolina Catholics learn more about Glenmary and the mission need in places like Randolph County.

They learned, for instance, that St. Luke is the county’s only Catholic church, fewer than 1 percent of county residents are Catholic, about 46 percent don’t belong to any church, and 28 percent live below national poverty level.

In July, Father Pat, the CasaSantas, and two other parishioners visited St. Luke. They met with pastoral coordinator Susan Sweet and two mission members, toured the county, and celebrated Mass with them.

“I think our visit convinced us the adoption is a good idea and is needed,” says Marion. John agrees and says his fellow parishioners “just w w w. g l e n m a r y. o r g

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want to pray for and help the people in any way they ask.”

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he experience has also made Susan and the members of the Georgia mission excited about the future. “We’re thankful to the members of St. John for their caring, prayers and assistance,” she says. “I think they’ll be a catalyst for us to reach out to the larger community here. We pray for them every week. I hope we can find ways to work together so we can be examples of the Church for each other.”

The CasaSantas will make another trip to Cuthbert in December to deliver Giving Manger gifts—blankets, sweaters, jackets, socks and other warm clothing. They will also deliver surplus food from St. John’s Thanksgiving food drive to the local food pantry.

Father Pat thinks parishioners, mission members and Randolph County residents will all benefit from the adoption. “It gives us a wider view of the universal Church,” he says. “And we hope to involve parishioners in a variety of service projects for Randolph County and St. Luke, coordinated by Susan, John and Marion.

“We’re really looking forward to building this relationship and helping the people of the  mission county.” photo / courtesy St. John Neumann Church

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uring Advent each year, the members of St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte, N.C., set up their traditional Giving Manger display in the church’s gathering area.

Attached to the display are removable gift tags that identify items parishioners can purchase for struggling Charlotte-area families.

But this year, for the first time, the display will also include tags identifying needed gifts for people beyond Charlotte—elderly persons in Randolph County, Ga., home of St. John’s newly “adopted” Glenmary mission, St. Luke in Cuthbert. It’s the first collaborative effort of the 1,300-family parish and 25-member mission community.

Father Pat Hoare, pastor of St. John, had read Glenmary Challenge articles about the uplifting experiences of parishes and home missions in Glenmary’s Adopt-A-Mission Program, and he believed it could broaden the Charlotte parish’s outreach efforts. The program pairs a parish with an economically challenged mission in a relationship involving prayer, financial assistance, regular communication, and often an exchange of visits.

Adopters and Adoptees: Father Pat Hoare (left) and members of St. John Church in Charlotte, N.C., visit with Susan Sweet (right) and members of St. Luke mission.

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Then & NOW

Spreading the message Missioners continue to adopt the latest technology to educate, inspire

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n Glenmary’s 74 years of home mission ministry, a variety of technologysupported approaches have been used to communicate the society’s missionary message to those living in mission counties and across the United States.

Among the early efforts were mass mailings, tent preaching, newspaper articles and radio programs. As the decades have passed, computers and then the Internet have changed the methods of communication, with the advent of Web sites, blogs, texting and social media. These methods have become part of everyday business—and also part of Glenmary’s home mission ministry.

As a result, the world has become much smaller and Glenmary’s reach much wider.

Today, the Vocation Office can be in daily contact with men living in the United States as well as in Kenya, Uganda and Mexico. Donors can access the most recent news from the home missions via social media or make donations via the Glenmary Web site. And missioners in the field have more ways to help those they serve access needed resources to learn about their faith, the Catholic Church and so much more.

 1950: Father Pat O’Donnell used his 8-mm

camera to film The Glenmary Story. The completed movie was one of the first multimedia productions created to share Glenmary’s mission and ministry with donors, as well as prospective Glenmary priests and brothers.

 1958: Reel-to-reel pro-

jectors were key pieces of equipment for missioners and students who traveled through Appalachia and the South tent-preaching each summer. Missioners found that attendance at the gatherings increased if attendees were promised a movie in addition to singing and preaching!

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 1970: Radio and local newspapers have

been longstanding modes of communication for informing those living in mission counties about the local Catholic mission and the Catholic faith. Father Rollie Hautz did just that at a local radio station in Murphy, N.C., where he served as pastor.

 1963: Thanks to the enthusiasm of a Ten-

nessee convert, 13 short films were written and produced featuring Father Frank Gardner discussing the basics of the Catholic faith. These films were created in the basement of St. Bernard mission in Gate City, Va., to be shown on the most popular medium of the day: television!

 2012: Social media platforms such as Facebook  1999: Glenmary joined the World Wide Web by

securing its Web address, www.glenmary.org, and launching its first Web site. Ten years later, the site was redesigned to take advantage of technological advances. Today, through e-mail, blogs and the Web site, Glenmary continues to find new ways to communicate the home mission message to more people.

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(left) and Twitter provide effective ways to share the latest Glenmary news and connect people interested in the home missions with Glenmary. These platforms, while still relatively new, continue to expand and provide avenues to help spread God’s Word and highlight Glenmary’s home mission ministry.

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missioner in action / by Margaret Gabriel

A guiding presence Father Bruce Brylinski helps new students discover more about Glenmary, themselves

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ather Bruce Brylinksi has found a way to blend his unique gifts as a home missioner and artist with guidance of Glenmary’s men in formation on their vocation journey.

After serving as a mission pastor, Father Bruce began his ministry as director of the prenovitiate program at the House of Studies in St. Meinrad, Ind., this past September.

The men living in the house are in various stages of formation and come from both African and American cultures. Father Bruce works closely with prenovices Charles Aketch, Richard Toboso and Jeremy Hagedorn, teaching them about Glenmary’s history and home mission charism.

These prenovices attend St. Meinrad School of Theology with Ambrose Wanyonyi, who is in the postnovitiate phase of formation. Brother Jason Muhlenkamp also lives in the house while completing his degree at a nearby college. Both Ambrose and Brother Jason are under temporary Oath.

Father Bruce is using art to give the formation house an international feel. Among the many things he has planned is the creation of gift of being a missioner: Father Bruce Brylinski, as director of Glenmary’s prenovitiate program, shares his experiences as a missioner and artist with men in formation to help them discover how their unique gifts and talents can be used in current and future ministries.

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a mosaic of the globe that features Africa as the focal point. He’ll use fabric he purchased during a trip to Kenya to frame the mosaic.

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o prepare for his work with the prenovices, Father Bruce attended classes in formation direction at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. When he commented to one of the instructors that he was unsure what he could bring to men in formation, the instructor said, “You have the gift of being a missioner, and that’s what the students want from you.”

Father Bruce shares that gift with the students each day as he guides their academic work and helps to enrich the sense of community in the formation house. “Praying and having meals together are very important,” says Father Bruce. “By doing these things together, we are developing a community.”

Food, he has learned, is an area where cultures can vary greatly. “Culture, in real time, begins with food,” he says. “Prayer is universal; food is not.”

The new Kenyan students are accustomed to food that is freshly grown or caught. “It’s a leap for them to eat preserved or frozen food,” Father Bruce says. “When they eat fish, they’re used to eating the whole thing—the head, the fins, everything—instead of the boned fillets that we eat here in the United States.”

As a result, the students share meals that are international in flavor to help broaden everyone’s perception—and palate!

The prenovices also take part in service ministries by volunteering at a local nursing home, teaching religious education classes or working with Habitat for Humanity. “Service puts theory from the classrooms into practice,” Father Bruce says.

Monday is “Glenmary Night” at the House of Studies. After dinner, all the students join together to discuss Glenmary’s charism or hear a Glenmarian speak about his home mission experiences.

“The process of discernment is continual,” Father Bruce says. “I encourage the men to ask themselves, ‘Does the call of Glenmary fit with my image of Jesus? And does the call of Jesus  help me to understand Glenmary?’”

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MISSION

BISHOP photo / courtesy the Catholic East Texas

Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, couldn’t have dreamt as a child growing up in an East Texas Glenmary mission that one day this mission and 32 other churches in the diocese would be guided by his hand.

By Jean Bach

B photo / glenmary archives

Texas roots: Within an hour of receiving the

phone call from the papal nuncio in September 2012 asking if he would become the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Tyler, then-Msgr. Strickland went from “routine work in my office to work on a ‘how to be ordained a bishop’ to-do list.” The future bishop (bottom photo, front row, second from left) says the foundation of his faith was formed with the help of missioners like Glenmary Father Ed Haggerty (far left). Both pose with members of St. Catherine of Siena mission in 1970, including the bishop’s parents, Monica and Ray (back row, far right), and younger sister Barbara (front row, far right).

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efore Ray and Monica Strickland made the decision to move their family to Atlanta, Texas, in 1963, Monica had one question for her husband: “Is there a Catholic church there?”

His reply: “There will be.”

Ray Strickland’s words were prophetic. That same year, Glenmary Father John Garry began celebrating Mass for the handful of Catholics in Atlanta, including the eight members of the Strickland family. Two years later, St. Catherine of Siena Church was built and became the first permanent Catholic presence in Cass County.

The Stricklands were among the five founding families.

“I often jokingly say that when my family moved to Atlanta we doubled the number of Catholics living in the area,” says Bishop Joseph Strickland, the second-youngest member of his family. “But, quite honestly, that wasn’t far from the truth.”

Monica was an Irish Catholic from Australia; Ray was a Baptist from Texas. They met and married in Australia during World War II, and Ray eventually converted to Catholicism.

“The little church in Atlanta was started  Wi n t e r 2 0 1 3

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photo / glenmary archives

ll vocations come from God, the bishop says. “And I know most definitely that my call to seminary was guided by God’s grace.

I have been blessed to hear a clear call from God, and I just knew right out of high school that priesthood was for me.”

He received the esA mission’s son: Father Joe Strickland (left) sentials of his faith in attended the celebration of St. Catherine misthe religious education sion’s 25th anniversary in 1990 with Bishop classes at St. Catherine Charles Herzig, the Diocese of Tyler’s first and from his mother’s bishop (center). Hosting the event was Glenstrong Catholic roots. mary Father John Marquardt, the mission’s But it was also the pastor at the time. “amazing example” of the Glenmary priests who served St. Cath with cradle Catholics and erine that helped inspire his voconverts as part of the founda- cation, in particular Father Ed tion,” the bishop says.

Haggerty.

“He was a great person and oday, Bishop Strickland was very accessible,” Bishop serves as the fourth bish- Strickland remembers. “Because op of the Diocese of Tyler, it was a small parish, everyone which includes Cass Coun- helped out with everything. If ty. There’s much he has had we were mowing grass, he was to learn during his first year of working with us. I really liked leading the East Texas diocese, that hands-on approach.” but the one thing he hasn’t had As the future bishop discerned to learn is what it’s like to be a priesthood, he considered joinCatholic in East Texas, where ing Glenmary. But he concluded Catholics make up only 6 per- that he didn’t need to join the cent of the population. society to serve the home mis“Growing up, the majority sions. He was already living in of my peers were not Catholic, the home missions. “I felt that I and that was difficult at times,” was meant to be here and this is he says. “There was so much where God wants me to work,” misinformation about Catholics he says. among the population—and at Ordained a priest for the Diotimes a total misunderstanding cese of Dallas in 1985, Bishop of Catholicism. I still frequently Strickland was serving as a pastor hear people ask if Catholics are in Tyler in 1986 when he received Christian. Or, instead of asking, a phone call informing him that they state it as fact that Catholics Pope John Paul II had approved aren’t Christian.” the establishment of the Diocese Because he is “from here,” he of Tyler to serve 35,000 Catholics says he’s able to connect with living in 23,000 square miles. the people of the diocese—both The diocese was formally Catholic and non-Catholic—in a erected on Feb. 24, 1987, and unique way. “I’m one of them. I today boasts more than 80,000 understand the struggles and the Catholics in 33 counties. The issues because I have lived them.” rapid growth is partially due to

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the large number of Spanishspeaking Catholics who have become members of the diocese.

Since the rural diocese’s founding, Bishop Strickland has been very involved in its development.

He has held most of the positions in the chancery including vicar general and administrator (twice). In addition, he has served as a pastor and as the diocese’s first vocation director and judicial vicar.

As administrator of the diocese prior to being named bishop, he recounts handing paperwork pertaining to pending diocesan matters to his assistant to put in a file for the new bishop. “Little did I know that the file and all its contents would make its way back to me,” he laughs.

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ver the last 10 years, he says, he’s seen attitudes begin to change in the region regarding the Church and Catholics in general.

Bishop Edmond Carmody, the diocese’s second bishop, made it a goal that some type of Catholic presence be established in each county. It’s an approach that is consistent with the model Glenmary uses in calling together new mission communities.

Having a person represent the Church in each of these counties was the first step, the bishop says, in making the Church more widely known and understood in this area where over 80 percent of the population is Southern Baptist.

Prior to 1987, the majority of the counties that now make up the Diocese of Tyler belonged to the Diocese of Dallas. That meant the “local” bishop lived almost 100 miles away in Dallas, traveling to East Texas only for confirmations and special celebrations.

“Having a bishop living and working in Tyler for the past almost-three decades has been a tremendous blessing for the whole of East Texas,” Bishop Strickland says.

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“That presence in the larger community has helped people gain a better understanding of Catholicism. They still have questions, but they see firsthand the good work of the Church.”

They see Bishop Strickland too—and not just in liturgical settings. Prior to being named bishop, he served as rector of the diocese’s cathedral for 15 years.

Then-Father Joe was well known in Tyler because of his involvement in the community—but most especially because of his affinity for jogging in the streets.

He found it to be a good way to stay healthy and be more visible in the community.

Today his busy schedule doesn’t always allow for running outdoors, but he still tries to exercise daily because “it’s good for the health of my body, mind and soul,” he says.

He also continues to do the “normal” things he did before becoming bishop, such as go to the grocery store.

“I often see people whispering and pointing while I’m in the produce department at the store,” he

‘Glenmary’s missionary spirit continues to benefit the U.S. Church, just as it has the Church here in East Texas.’ the basics of our faith because everything else flows from them.

I like to call it ‘meat and potatoes Catholicism,’ because these basics nurture Catholics and hopefully attract others to the Church.”

As Bishop Strickland continues to learn how to manage his time in light of his ever-growing responsibilities, he works to make sure he stays present and connected to the people of the diocese.

Through his Web site, blog and Twitter account, people have access to him, which encourages two-way communication, another blessing of having a small diocese.

“It’s been a fairly easy transition from administrator to bishop,” he says. “I’ve been humbled by the way my fellow priests have supported me. I feel a great spirit of collaboration with the priests and people of the diocese.

I think we are making headway and moving closer to Christ, and that’s key.”

laughs. “I think sometimes bishops and priests are seen as some type of alternate life form. But we are simply human beings. And it’s good that people know we are all on this journey together.”

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s a native East Texan, priest and now bishop of the region, he says he continues to draw on the experience of growing up in a small Glenmary mission and “making do” with the resources available.

“We are a mission diocese, and that means our parishes often don’t have needed resources,” he says. “But we do have the Eucharist, the other sacraments and the Word of God, just as I did as a child. Our faith lives and grows in and through these essentials.”

Glenmary, he says, does a very good job of focusing on the essentials.

“We all need to take a step back sometimes to refocus on

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new responsibilities: In March 2012, Bishop Strickland made his

photo / courtesy the Catholic East Texas

first ad limina visit to Rome, where he met with Pope Benedict XVI. In September 2013, the bishop returned to Rome to attend “bishops’ school,” a ten-day course that provides new bishops with practical training as well as a deeper understanding of the theological underpinnings of the office.

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t. Catherine of Siena mission was returned to the pastoral care of the Diocese of Tyler in 1997. In all, nine Glenmary missions were established in East Texas from 1963 to 1999.

“Glenmary’s missionary spirit continues to benefit the U.S. Church, just as it has the Church here in East Texas,” Bishop Strickland says. “I’m grateful to the Glenmary priests who made St. Catherine a reality and provided me with such wonderful examples of priesthood.

“We all need to be missionary by sharing God’s word with those around us. Glenmarians remind us of that and of the great mission need that still exists in dioceses like Tyler. We—and I—owe Glenmary’s grass-roots efforts so much!”  Glenmary Challenge

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Meet Glenmary’s Future Missioners!

Please keep the following men preparing for missionary priesthood and brotherhood in prayer as they journey through this year of formation.

Brother Jason Muhlenkamp

Brother Levis Kuwa Brother in Training

Brother in Training

Studying: Nursing Preparing for: Brotherhood Hometown: Ol’kalou, Kenya

Studying: Pastoral Ministry Preparing for: Brotherhood Hometown: Maria Stein, Ohio

Temporary Oath

Temporary Oath

Charles Aketch

William Obiero

Candidate Studying: Theology Preparing for: Priesthood Hometown: Kisumu, Kenya

Novice Studying: Theology Preparing for: Priesthood Hometown: Kisumu, Kenya

Alfredo Marcelo Lopez

Paul Cottingham Aspirant Studying: Philosophy Preparing for: Priesthood Hometown: Rittman, Ohio

Aspirant Studying: Philosophy Preparing for: Priesthood Hometown: Jalisco, Mexico

Ambrose Wanyonyi Seminarian

Temporary Oath

Studying: Theology Preparing for: Priesthood Hometown: Bungoma, Kenya

Jeremy Hagedorn Candidate Studying: Pre-Theology Preparing for: Priesthood Hometown: Tell City, Indiana

Carlos Parra Rubio Aspirant Studying: Philosophy Preparing for: Priesthood Hometown: Guanajuato, Mexico

Patrick Muriithi Novice Studying: Theology Preparing for: Priesthood Hometown: Embu, Kenya

Richard Toboso Candidate Studying: Theology Preparing for: Priesthood Hometown: Kakamega, Kenya

Thomas Nguyen Aspirant Studying: Philosophy Preparing for: Priesthood Hometown: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

‘The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to

send out laborers for his harvest.’

—Lk 10:2 To learn more about each of these future missioners, please visit www.glenmary.org/students.

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w w w.glenmary.org 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

O n line Co nte nts

What’s new Working Together to Build Up Ga. Mission

Father John Brown and the members of Holy Family mission are working together to build up an active eucharistic community that reaches out to the larger community around them. glenmary.org/buildup

Father John Brown

Departments Ways to Give

Thinking of making an end-of-year gift? Donating online is safe, secure and easy. glenmary.org/ways-to-give

Vocations

Father Dan Dorsey asks: Are you willing to walk a mile in a missioner’s shoes? glenmary.org/missioners-shoes

Missioner’s shoes

Volunteer Opportunities

Glenmary’s Group Volunteer Program now offers mission trips for parish groups. glenmary.org/parish-groups

Resources

Glenmary’s Fast Facts offer demographic and religious statistics for every U.S. county. glenmary.org/fast-facts

Volunteers

Feature Story Connection With Glenmary Inspires Generosity Grace Heising has a long history with Glenmary. For over 50 years, she has supported missionary efforts in the home missions through annual and planned gifts. glenmary.org/heising

Grace Heising

Stewardship Report

An updated Statement of Accountability for FY 2012-13 is posted. A 20-page report and an audited financial statement are available. glenmary.org/stewardshipreport Remember Special People During the Holidays

Celebrate & Remember family and friends at Christmas and throughout the new year with Glenmary’s all-occasion and Mass cards. glenmary.org/cards w w w. g l e n m a r y. o r g

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Visit this page online

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NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. Postage PAID Glenmary Home Missioners

photo / courtesy Susan Sweet

Glenmary G l i m p s e / Coworkers gather

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lenmary coworkers gathered in October for prayer, learning, mutual support and fun at Mercy Center in Nashville, Tenn. From left are Julian Crespo, pastoral coordinator, St. Joan of Arc, Plymouth, N.C.; Lorraine Vancamp, director of the Department of Pastoral Ministers and Pastoral Services; Kathy O’Brien, pastoral associate, St. Michael the Archangel, Erwin, Tenn.; Susan Sweet, pastoral coordinator, St. Luke, Cuthbert, Ga.; Liz Dudas, consultant for ministry development; and Lorenzo Ajú, pastoral coordinator, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Houston, Miss. To learn more about Glenmary’s lay ministry program, visit Glenmary’s Web site at www.glenmary.org/lay-coworkers.

Catholic Missioners to Rural America

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