Our Lady of the Fields /// Nuestra Señora de los Campos

Our Lady of the Fields

Our Lady of the Fields,
The Seed of your womb
Is the Hope of the earth.

Help us sow this Seed
To all those in need.

In the soil of sorrow,
Help us sow fields of comfort.

In the dry ground of discrimination,
Help us sow fields of rich harmony.

In the hard clay of doubt and despair,
Help us sow abundant fields of hope and care.

O Mary,
Our Lady of the Fields,
Patroness of Glenmary,
Pray for us.

Amen.

—Father Steve Pawelk, 2002

Nuestra Señora de los Campos

Nuestra Señora de los Campos,
La Semilla de tu vientre
Es la Esperanza del mundo.

Ayúdanos a sembrar esta Semilla
Para todos los necesitados.

En la tierra de la tristeza,
Ayúdanos a sembrar campos de consuelo.

En la tierra seca de la discriminación,
Ayúdanos a sembrar campos llenos de armonía.

En el barro duro de la duda y la desesperación,
Ayúdanos a sembrar campos abundantes de esperanza y de cuidado.

O María,
Nuestra Señora de los Campos,
Patrona de Glenmary,
Ruega por nosotros.

Amén.

—Pbro. Steve Pawelk, 2002

Powerful Words

Just heard the translation of a poem which has recently been shouted on the streets of Tunisia and now being recited on the streets of Egypt. They are powerful words which seem to stir up something inside and therefore wished to share them here.

These words and the inspiring images coming from the streets of Cairo make me feel the need to pray for a peaceful revolution or transition of power in that part of the world. May the presence of the Prince of Peace be felt throughout the world in particular in those places where injustice and despair are so overwhelming.

To the tyrants of the world. (Ela Toghat Al Alaam)

by Abu alkasem al Chebbi, 1909 - 1934

Hey you, the unfair tyrants...
You the lovers of the darkness...
You the enemies of life...
You've made fun of innocent people's wounds; and your palm covered with their blood
You kept walking while you were deforming the charm of existence and growing seeds of sadness in their land

Wait, don't let the spring, the clearness of the sky and the shine of the morning light fool you...
Because the darkness, the thunder rumble and the blowing of the wind are coming toward you from the horizon
Beware because there is a fire underneath the ash

Who grows thorns will reap wounds
You've taken off heads of people and the flowers of hope; and watered the cure of the sand with blood and tears until it was drunk
The blood's river will sweep you away and you will be burned by the fiery storm.

FOCUS

Opening night of FOCUS Conference in Nashville, TN. This is the fourth and final regional conference the year. Glenmary has been present at all four conferences in order to support the great ministry of FOCUS and their outreach to University Students and their promotion of the new evangelization. Glenmary shares in their desire to promote the theme: "Answer the Call." To be missioners who are growing in our love of God and invite others to share in our relationship with Jesus Christ. In particular Glenmary does this by going to areas where the Catholic Church is not fully present in Mission land USA. Our hope is to find like minded individuals at these conferences and to engage in conversations with people who might share in the dream of Father Bishop, Glenmary's founder, and be called to serve in Mission Land USA. Let us pray for more vocations to the religious life and to serve in missions.

Photo from this tremendous gathering

of youth at the FOCUS Conference in Nashville.

.

Saint Angela Merici

Photo of Sr Luisa Bickett OSU and I with one of our parishioners in Ohio County, Kentucky.

Angela Merici, who was born in the 15th century, founded the Company of Saint Ursula. Angela and her small group of followers dedicated themselves to further the work of God by being women of prayer and virtue. Today, thousands of Ursuline Sisters work to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and in particular they continue to educate girls throughout the world.

"You will accomplish more by kind words and a courteous manner than by anger or sharp rebuke, which should never be used except in necessity." - Angela Merici.

Being an Alumni of Brescia University in Owensboro, Kentucky, I have a special connection to St. Angela. Brescia is a small Catholic University founded by the Ursuline Sisters. I am indebted to all of the sisters and staff associated with Brescia University for all that they taught me. And I am especially grateful for Sr. Luisa Bickett OSU who taught me so much more than I could have ever learned in school. During my formation years I worked side-by-side with her in serving the immigrant community in Glenmary's mission in rural Ohio, Kentucky.

Sr. Luisa's life and dedication to the people in the mission community continues to inspire me. Which is why I often said my favorite pass-time when we worked together was "to sit at her feet to try and learn all that she knew." I believe that one of St. Angela's quotes describes Sr Luisa and her manner of serving particularly well. “In the fulfillment of your duties, let your intentions be so pure that you reject from your actions any other motive than the glory of God and the salvation of souls.” - Angela Merici

Where We Are Needed

In preparing for Glenmary's upcoming Chapter gathering in June of this year, I have been reading some of our communities older documents. I recently came across these words of our founder, Rev. William Howard Bishop: "The one great central thought that brought our society into existence in these unfavored regions was the fact that these regions, of all others in America, are, generally speaking, the least supplied with and the most in need of Christ's Church and the means of propagating it." His words and observations are still are today. Below, A current U.S. Census map of the poverty levels in the U.S. shows significantly higher percentages of poverty in the rural areas this country. Below it, a Glenmary map of the counties in the south which lack a catholic congregation or resident pastoral minister demonstrates how these areas of great spiritual needs overlaps with the areas of material needs. The third map shows how Glenmary's current and former mission counties coincide with the first two maps.

"There was never a time when missionary activity was more needed in our beloved land than it is today."

Rev. William Howard Bishop

Andrew and Peter Search for Meaning

Jesus believed in Andrew and Peter and called them to follow him and to share in his ministry: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. At once they left their nets and followed him.” I have wondered how could they leave "at once?" I have to believe that they were not satisfied in their current job - working to make money and had to have felt an overpowering urge to find something more meaningful in their lives and Jesus' call inspired them to move "at once."

Like Andrew and Peter, we too are called - and in this call we feel an urge which is counter cultural - called not to make a lot of money but to find a purpose and meaning in our lives. Sharing the Good News in Mission - is how Glenmarians find a purpose and meaning in our life.

I recently saw an old video clip on youtube of Victor Frankl, a holocaust survivor and author, speaking at a youth conference. He shared his thoughts about belief in others and that many people have a desire to find meaning. His words reminds me that we are not alone in our search to find meaning in our life but that it is a common desire throughout all times. Jesus believed in the Apostles and called them to find that meaning. God believes in us and calls us to find that meaning in our life too.

Search for Meaning - Clip from an old Lecture of Victor Frankl

FOCUS

I am making my way out west to look for vocation prospects! I will be at the 2011 FOCUS Conference in Denver, Colorado. The theme for this year's conference is "Answering the Call." I don't think they mean just answering the call just to go to the conference... But as they say on their website (focusconference.org) "At FOCUS Conference 2011, we invite you to join thousands of other college students who are answering God’s call to become active participants in His plan for the world..."

In Denver and all my other travels I hope to meet lots of people interested in following their call to be missioners. Hope to also meet Emilio Estevez too - he's one of the featured speakers at this year's conference. He'll be showing a sneak preview of his new movie "The Way." During this time of National Vocation Awareness Week take some time to consider what "Way" God is calling you and how you can "Answer the Call."

If you want to learn more about Glenmary Home Missioners and discern if that is where God is calling you visit our website, glenmary.org and fill out the contact form. Don't worry, we don't sell this list to telemarketers or other Vocation Directors.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Happy Vocation Awareness Week

What a great week to celebrate! But what are we celebrating? Do you know your vocation? I think that we all have a vocation - it is where God is calling us to be and the place where we find the most joy or fulfillment in our life.

Hope we all have the time to pray and discern where God is calling us. And that we find an opportunity to promote vocations by encouraging one other person to pray and discern his or her vocation. Let's do it this week and then again every week for the rest of our lives.

Cuando los Reyes Llegaron Tarde

Hace unos años en uno de las misiones de Glenmary unas personas pensaban que será una buena idea para celebrar la Epifanía como le hicieron en su pueblo. Sus planes eran para nombrar unos hombres de la parroquia para vestirse como Reyes, comprar dulces para los niños, y entregarles después de la Misa. El plan fue que los Reyes entraban la Misa y rezar antes del nacimiento y el fin de la Misa regalar los niños unos dulces. El único problema fue que esperaban hasta dos días antes de la Epifanía para iniciar sus planes. Al fin, el día antes me llamaba a las once de la noche para decirme que no serian listos para el día siguiente. Entonces tuvimos que esperar hasta la próxima semana para celebrar la Epifania y los Reyes Magos con los niños en la Parroquia.

La importante fue que si llegaron los Reyes. Un poco tarde en aquel año pero si llegaron. Los Reyes siguieron la estrella, la luz, hasta encontraban Jesús. Nosotros también somos llamados a seguir la luz de mundo. No importante si somos un poco tarde, podemos iniciar la jornada desde ahora. Como los Reyes quienes miraron las señales del tiempo y confiaron en Dios, ellos caminaron sin seguridad de su destino. Nosotros también necesitamos mirar las señales del tiempo y escuchar la voz de Dios para saber adonde nos quisiera ir. Escucha la llamada, confiamos en Dios y tendremos la seguridad para estudiar en el seminario o estudiar para ser religioso hoy. Los Reyes llegaron al un destino muy feliz, y nosotros también podemos entrar y estudiar por la vida consagrada y les aseguro que llegará un destino feliz.

Happy New Year!!!!

Szczęśliwego nowego roku

Heri ya mwaka mpya

Ein gutes neues Jahr

Hauoli makahiki hou

Xin nian kuai le

新年快樂

Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit

Felix sit annus novus

С Новым Годом

Chúc Mừng Nǎm Mới

Farsælt komandi ár

Felice anno nuovo

Bonne année

Feliz año nuevo

A gut yohr

良いお年を