Out of the Country...

I will be in San Juan de los Lagos this week, visiting vocation prospects and the seminary where our men study philosophy. I don't think that I will have much time to blog. But check back in case I do get the chance. Otherwise highlights and photos will be posted the beginning of next week when I am back in the USA.

Here I Am Lord 2012

I just got back from a great weekend in St Charlies, Illinois for the annual "Here I Am Lord" Vocation Conference (HIAL). I don't know how many youth were actually present but there were LOTS - and of all different ages. I had a chance to talk with many of them at the Glenmary Vocation Booth others in small groups and around the dinner table. This was the third year I participated in the event and probably about the tenth that Glenmary has been present. I am always impressed by the high energy and enthusiasm of the youth. It is also great to see over fifty different religious communities together to support the program and to see the wonderful participation of many different parishioners who volunteer for this event. I would love to see the event be a model for vocation events in all dioceses. This year's highlight for me was performing my juggling show on Friday night. I pulled out all the stops and juggled everything from snowballs to flaming torches! A great time was had by all!

Glenmary "Come & See"

A sign during the weekend captured some of the
discerners sentiments... We are only partway through
the journey of life and still searching where we
are being called by God. 

Fr. Dennis Holly shares a little of his mission theology

Fr. Frank Ruff explains the mission need

Fr. Steve in the mission in Maynardville, TN

Group photo from the weekend 

A view on the way home provided perfect spot for final reflection

Another Day on the Road

As Vocation Director I probably spend more time on the road then I do in my own bed. And although I would prefer to be serving in one of our missions, there are a lot of joys to be found on the road and walking with men interested in becoming a priest or a brother. Just last week I interviewed another excellent candidate for Glenmary. Each time that I hear someone's vocation story it is a sacred and humbling experience for me. Today I find myself in Western Kentucky visiting the mission of Scottsville, Kentucky. The exciting part about this trip to the missions is I am traveling with three men who are interested in joining our community.
Yesterday was spent at St. Meinrad Seminary and today we are visiting Glenmary priests Fr. Dennis Holly and Fr. Frank Ruff. Both of whom will share a little of their experiences in becoming Glenmary priests and the joys they have found in ministry. And as Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J., said, “Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God.” Cardinal Timothy Dolan has used that same line and is a wonderful public example of sharing the joys of ministry. "Infectious" is the word I have heard many people use in describing Cardinal Dolan's joy.
Tomorrow we will travel to Glenmary's newest missions in Eastern Tennessee which will also be a joyous time. Glenmary has three new missions in Unicoi, Grainger and Union Counties. There we will get a chance to celebrate Sunday mass with the families in the new missions and visit with Glenmarians, Br. Craig Digmann, Br. Joe Steen and Fr. Steve Pawelk.
Please pray for these three men who are participating on this mission trip and for all those discerning their call to serve as a missioner. If you are interested in learning more about Glenmary or taking a mission trip in the future please let us know.

The Challenge

The latest edition of Glenmary's quarterly magazine, The Challenge is coming soon!

The Challenge 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."

I am particularly impressed with the upcoming issue and hope that all of my readers already receive copies in the mail or by email. If you do not receive this magazine yet, you can sign up on our website to start receiving it in either hard-copy or electronic format with a few simple clicks. The current issue which should be coming out in a few days has an outstanding cover story about Glenmarians serving the mission fields of Georgia. 

Ash Wednesday

Today we begin our Lenten journey, a journey in which will hopefully deepen our faith and encourage us to renew our baptismal commitment. Glenmary's Associate Vocation Director shared an insightful reflection on the meaning of fasting and abstinence during Lent and it can be found on our website. 

Pope Benedict XVI's reflection for this year's Lenten season is based on the Letter to the Hebrews: “Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works.” (Hebrews 10:24). 

My prayer during this season is that it may be a time for my own renewal of my faith and my commitment to the mission need. I look forward to sharing that experience with my readers and particularly with those who have expressed an interest in joining Glenmary to serve the Home Mission need. 

Spring Training

A couple of days ago I attempted to compare College Football's National Signing Day to Religious Vocation Prospects joining their new communities. I think that concept creates quite an exciting image of young men interested in joining Glenmary or another community. Although I have never attended a signing day party, I imagine that they would be a really good party - both for the athlete and the school preparing to receive them. I am thinking that we should do should try that here at our main residence when our new candidates come in for their interviews. If you could not relate to the image of signing day for prospects maybe I need to try a different sports analysis... Major League Baseball opens its Spring Training season this coming Sunday. Seems to be happening a bit early to me but it must be the right time to get ready for the upcoming season.


"There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to give birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant." ECCLESIASTES 3:1-2

And now is also the time for spring training for vocation prospects. I am headed up to Minnesota today to see a man who is making application to join us in August. Next week I take three new men on a week-long mission tour. After that we will be making a few different vocation trips but this spring we will also be hosting a  number of men who will be completing their application and coming to our headquarters for their interviews. None of them may be ready to go up to the major leagues their first day here but that is why we have spring training... Time to loosen up the muscles and get ready for the long season of seminary training ahead of them.

Pray for all the men who will be applying to Glenmary this spring and those who continue to discern where god is calling them to serve. Glenmary's Home Mission prayer can be found on our website.