From Cincinnati to Rural America with Love Glenmary Missioners Rooted in Cincinnati BY JOHN STEGEMAN
In its early days, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati was home mission territory. The faith wasn’t widespread, and priests had to travel long distances to serve the people. Now, and for the past 82 years, the archdiocese has hosted the headquarters of Glenmary Home Missioners, a society of priests and brothers that serves today’s home missions. Glenmary starts mission parishes in rural counties in Appalachia and the South where Catholics are few and poverty is high. In Glenmary mission areas there is no pre-existing Catholic ministry. They spread the faith, grow their communities and help the poor and marginalized however they can. THE SEED
The idea for such a society came from Father William Howard Bishop, a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Father Bishop enjoyed rural ministry and had the foresight to realize much of the country, with a particular concentration in Appalachia and the South, was at risk of being lost to the Church.
Glenmarians like Father Les Schmidt bring spiritual and material aid to people throughout Appalachia and the South.
When it came time to found his society, he needed a home base. Several bishops were enthusiastic, others less so. On April 17, 1937, Archbishop John T. McNicholas gave Father Bishop the good news. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati would be the home for his yet unnamed society dedicated to bringing the Church to priest-less counties and winning souls for Christ. BIC E N T E N N IAL / JU NE 2021 | 99
