Glenmary Final Oath

Of my own free choice, I Crispine Adongo, Craig Digman, Aaron Wessman, a member of the Glenmary Home Missioners, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, do solemnly promise and swear before God to dedicate myself for my wholie 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.

Glenmary First Oath

Of my own free choice, I Clive Owuor Otieno, a member of the Glenmary Home Missioners, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, do solemnly promise and swear before God to dedicate myself for one year 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.

Glenmary Oath Renewal

Of my own free choice, I Levis Kuwa, a member of the Glenmary Home Missioners, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, do solemnly promise and swear before God to dedicate myself for one year 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.

What's the Glenmary Buzz?

So much is going on at Glenmary Headquarters that it is truly buzzing with activity...

Vocations: To date 4 Men have been accepted into Glenmary's pre-novitiate class which will start in August of 2011... Other applications in process.

Oath Season: This week, 5 men will be taking their oath with Glenmary Home Missioners. Information about each one of them and all of our students in formation can be found at our website glenmary.org

General Chapter: June 6th we will begin our XVth Glenmary Chapter. All Glenmarians and Co-worker representatives will be present for two week to discuss the needs of the missions and setting goals for Glenmary and the next four years.

New Superior: During the General Chapter we will also be electing a new president and two vice-presidents. Fr Dan Dorsey our current president has served 8 years and will become Novice Director after the elections.

Other News: Glenmarian Fr. Les Schmidt will celebrate his 50th Anniversary as a priest. A group of 30 donors and benefactors started a tour of the missions in Lewis and Grayson counties in Kentucky. Missions in Logan, Chapmanville and Mann, West Virginia are scheduled to return to the care of the Diocese in early June. Ordinations to the Deaconate for two Glenmarians in June. Glenmary is exploring new Mission territories in Tennessee. Come and see weekend for those interested in joining Glenmary scheduled for July.

And too much more to include in todays post. Keep checking back for follow-up info on the above events and new info.

Thanks.

Glenmary Prepares to Celebrate Oath Ceremonies

This month we are excited to celebrate Oath ceremonies for five men in Glenmary formation. Although these events won't be televised around the world like the royal wedding or the beatification of John Paul II, there will be photos, Facebook and blog posts, tweets and possibly a YouTube video in the near future.

So what exactly is Glenmary's Oath? The actual text of the Glenmary Oath can be found on our Web site, and you can watch Glenmarians recite it on the Vocation department's YouTube channel (English or Español). But an oath is more than just words to be read or recited.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, an oath (vow) is defined as a "promise made to God." The Glenmary Oath is a promise we make before God to dedicate ourselves to Glenmary's "missionary apostolate in the rural areas" of the United States. Our Oath commits us "to a special practice of poverty, chastity, obedience and prayer." It also serves as a covenant we make with the Glenmary community and all of its members. In other words, it means we are dedicated to one another and the work of the society, which strives to build up the Kingdom of God.

By our Oath we commit ourselves to be members in this spiritual family called Glenmary Home Missioners, and in turn that family commits to us. As the Glenmary Constitution states: "By our Oath, therefore, we reinforce our baptismal commitment to God.... By our Oath, we publicly renew our baptismal commitment to live habitually in imitation of the virtues of Jesus and the Apostolic Community."

Congratulations to the men who are preparing to take their Oath very soon. As a result, Glenmary will have new members in its growing society. We'll have new missioners to serve in Mission Land, USA, and their public profession is a great testimony of faith in this secular age. For me it is a wonderful opportunity to gather with my fellow Glenmarians and listen to the words I publicly professed a few years ago.

The Oath celebrations for Glenmarians are like the Easter Vigil. At the Vigil, we are awed by those being baptized into the Church—and are reinvigorated and rededicated to the baptismal promises each of us has made. In the same way, we Glenmarians are awed by these five men and we will rededicate ourselves to our missionary apostolate.

You are welcome to join us for one or all of these celebrations, if you could please just let us know in advance. If you are unable to be with us in person, I ask that you remember each of these men in your prayers as they continue their missionary journeys.

"Fr. Tour Guide" Takes a Detour

Fr. Vic Subb, a Glenmary priest, is probably best known as Glenmary's "number 1 tour guide." In this video he shares about discerning his vocation and dreaming about working in Appalachia. The detours along his journey extended his formation years but as Fr. Vic say's "the detours were probably the best thing for me." As a Glenmary missioner he admits he has been challenged to become a better Christian and has found many joys with the people he has served.

The Scenic Route to Priesthood

Fr. Don Tranel, a Glenmary priest, explains how he took the scenic route to priesthood. During his discernment, Fr. Don learned it is better to "run to something, than run from something." He also challenges viewers to dream big dreams, to follow their passions and to move out of their comfort zone as they discern where God is calling them. If God might be calling you to a life as a missionary priest or would like more information, be sure and contact us right away.

Jeeps or Horses?

How do you decide between a horse or a ditch? Listen to Fr. John Rausch, a Glenmary priest, share his vocation story, his formation and some of the joys he has found serving as a Glenmary Missioner.

Rev. William Howard Bishop

This morning I share with you a couple of quotes by Fr. William H. Bishop, the founder of Glenmary Home Missioners:

“The true missioner adopts all the people in his area, regardless of creed, for his own. His aim is to make all of them better people and bring them nearer to God. Whether he ever makes a convert to the Church or not, the town, the county, the lives of the people must be better because of his example, his preaching, his activities among the poor, the sick, and the sinful of all creeds and none.”

“Our work is to go into the forgotten and neglected places, the no priest land, the no-Catholic land of America to accept as bases of operation the little border-line parishes that nobody wants and from them to build up little outposts and parishes where now no hope of them exists.”

XLVIII Jornada Mundial de Oración por las Vocaciones

Oración por las Misiones Nacionales

Señor Jesucristo, por la salvación de todo el mundo fundaste tu Iglesia en la sangre de tu sacrificio en la cruz. Mira con misericordia a la gente de nuestra tierra. Muchas personas por las cuales sufriste tu pasión y muerte todavía no te conocen, ni saben de tu palabra. Encomendamos a tu Sagrado Corazón la labor de llevar tu Evangelio a las regiones misioneras de Norteamérica. Danos nuevos apóstoles santos para proclamar con entusiasmo tus palabras de salvación a los que tienen sed de la verdad. Ten misericordia de ellos, Señor, y mándanos pastores para guiarlos a tu único y verdadero redil. Amén.

Nuestra Señora de los Campos, ruega por ellos.
San José, amigo de las almas olvidadas, ruega por ellos.
Santos Apóstoles y Mártires, ruegan por ellos.
Santos Confesores y Vírgenes, ruegan por ellos,
Que a través de nuestro labor, podamos ganarles el don Divino de la fe.

—Padre W. Howard Bishop,

Fundador de Glenmary, 1939

48th World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Home Mission Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, who, for the salvation of all people, founded Your Church in the Blood of Sacrifice, look with mercy on this land of ours where Your truth is unknown to many for whom You endured Your passion and death. We commend to Your Sacred Heart the work of carrying Your gospel to the mission regions of America. Raise up holy and zealous apostles to bring Your words of salvation to souls now thirsting for the truth. Have mercy on them, Lord, and send shepherds to lead them into Your one true fold. Amen!

Our Lady of the Fields, pray for them.
Saint Joseph, friend of forgotten souls, pray for them.
Holy Apostles and Martyrs, pray for them.
Holy Confessors and Virgins, pray for them,
that through our labors we may hope to win for them the Divine gift of faith. Amen.

—Father William Howard Bishop
Founder of Glenmary, 1939

Brothers vs. Priests

One of the most frequent questions I am asked is; "What is the difference between a brother and a priest?" My funny answer is "The brothers do all the work and the priest get all the credit." The reality in Glenmary is that both the priests and brothers do a lot of work and we do it for a greater good. We do it because "The love of Christ impels us." 

Glenmarian Brother Jack once said of brothers;  "By our presence, we bring a perspective of the Church and of brotherhood to people who may never have met a Catholic let alone a religious brother." While Priests are ordained ministers and commonly serve as pastor or sacramental ministers in the missions, Brothers although they are not ordained ministers in the Catholic Church serve in a wide variety of ways. Throughout our history we have had brothers who have been on Church building crews and others that have worked as carpenters in Habitat for Humanity programs in our missions. Therefore people often associate Glenmary brothers as builders, which is true but that is not all that they do. Glenmary also has brothers who have worked as teachers, nurses, social workers, interpreters and more. As brothers there is a bit of freedom to use one's gifts to serve in a variety of ways. Since there are about ten times as many priests as brothers in the U.S. it is much more likely Catholics know priests and what they do versus what the brothers are doing.

I think that the vocation brother is a very distinct one and I have seen an increased interest in young men who are contacting the vocations office. As we pray for more vocations to serve the Catholic Church and the missions, let us not forget to pray for sisters and brothers.

Soon I will upload a video about Glenmary priests but for now enjoy this short video about Glenmary brothers, as explained by Glenmary Brothers.
To contact us for more information about life as a Glenmary priest or brother follow this link.

Glenmary brothers, offer themselves as a life of service and share their gifts with the people in Mission-Land USA. If you want read more about Glenmary brothers, visit Glenmary's website and search "brothers"

Another Quick Trip

As much as I love to travel the one downside for me is that their is NEVER enough time to visit all the people I want to see. This week in San Ignacio has flown by. The number of youth participating in the week has been phenominal! Over 300! It has been high energy all week. Last night included games for the youth and a high-powered presentation of all the Vocation Directors. For the presentation they introduced us and we came running through the middle aisle to the loud cheers and singing of the youth. Makes us seem like Rock Stars. Maybe that should be our new vocation phrase... "Be Rock-Star, join Glenmary!"

Habits, Good and Bad

A question that I aways seem to get asked, and even more so while in Mexico is; "Why don't you wear a habit?" Glenmary Home Missioners is a Religious Society of missioners with both priests and brothers but we don't wear a distinctive habit. I think that habits can be a good thing and in particular as those who wear them give a strong witness to the Gospel values. Glenmary is not against that but wearing habit has never been a part of our tradition. I think the main reason is that we go and serve in the rural mission areas and for all the good habits can bring they also can present challenges. In areas where the majority of the community 99% are NOT catholic and there is often STRONG anti-catholic sentiment a habit can serve as a barrier or wall between us and the people we meet. In these areas we try to reach out to everyone in the community and by presenting ourselves as standing apart or being so different we might alienate ourselves more than we are reaching out. Therefore Glenmary does not have a distinctive garb. Most of our members dress very simply, similar to the people where we serve and hopefully all of our actions serve as an example of the Gospel values we are trying to promote.

JORNADA VOCACIONAL

This week I will be participating in la Jornada Vocacional (Vocations Week) with the diocese of San Juan de los Lagos in Jalisco, Mexico. It is a fabulous program with about 40 Vocation Directors! This week will be in the town of San Ignacio Cerro Gordo, Jalisco, Mexico.

Today kicks off the week as we visit the schools and start scouring the neighborhoods looking for youth to remind them of the weeks activities. Everyday we'll be giving vocation talks to the children in the morning, adults in the late afternoon and los jovenes (youth) in the evening. Songs, games, parades and a whole lot more.... Check out the video from another recent week if you haven't seen it already.

New Prospects

A great few days at the seminary in San Juan de los Lagos. I thank everyone there for their hospitality! I studied here a few years ago so I always feel like I am coming home when I am come in for a visit. To be around so MANY men who are preparing for the priesthood is an inspiring thing. I hope some of their holiness rubs off on me. This weekend I am meeting with at least one new prospect. Looking forward to the opportunity to visit with him and share about Glenmary and the great need to serve in the missions here in the United States. Hopefully will be meeting with some other potential missioners in the coming days.

Seminario de San Juan de los Lagos

Esta semana voy a visitar los seminaristas en el Seminario de San Juan de los Lagos. Favor de pidan mucho para ellos, mientras están preparándose para ser misioneros.

J. Carlos Miguel va a terminar su filosofía este semestre y llegar a los EEUU en agosto. Carlos Parra va a terminar con su primer año de filosofía.

Unos candidatos de Glenmary Home Missioners estudian filosofía aquí en San Juan antes de entrar Teología en un seminario en los EEUU.

Si te gustaría recibir un DVD de Glenmary clic aquí.

Mires el trailer de DVD aquí.