The Mighty Macs

I had the opportunity to see a sneak preview of the movie The Mighty Macs last night. I don't go to the movie theater very often so the chance to see a free movie on the big screen was an opportunity I had to take advantage of. It turned out to be a really good movie too!

Prior to getting the invitation to the showing, I had never heard the story of Immaculata College (now University) and their three consecutive National Titles in the early 1970's. A true David and Goliath story, the Mighty Macs overcame being too small, too slow, too under-talented, too unmotivated and beat the odds by defeating the number one team in the country to become National Champions. This movie does an excellent job of taking the viewer along for the championship ride during the Macs first title run season and accomplishing their dream of becoming #1. The phrase "She dared to dream. They dared to believe" captures the heart and soul of the team and movie. I particularly enjoyed the suspenseful scene near the end of the movie as the team arrives back to campus after a devastating loss to West Chester. I won't tell you what happened next because I don't want to ruin all the surprises this movie has in store for you. Its a great family movie, therefore I recommend taking the whole family to the big-screen to see this one.

How often do we feel too small or that we are lacking in something which means we can accomplish our own dreams. This movie is a terrific reminder of how working together as a team we can accomplish great things. If you are interested in learning more about Team Glenmary or feel that God might be calling you to overcome the put downs of this world in order that you serve as a priest or a brother send me an email: dhenley@glenmary.org

Glenmary Family

Recently I had a chance to travel home for a family reunion. It has been a long time since I had been in a room with SO MANY people who looked so much like me. It was wonderful to hear people people speak like me; no accent, using the same words and phrases that I do. Sometimes when talking with my sister I heard us say the same thing at the same time or I could look across the table and know we are thinking about the same thing. It was very cool... Family is about who we are and often the people who we share the most things in common with - its genetic. We can't choose who are family is and as it turns out they are always a part of who we are.

When discerning a vocation and people are faced with the dilemma that there are so many different religious communities they could join and they don't know how to make a choice. Sometimes at the Glenmary Vocation office we get emails sent to us from people who have visited OYE or Vocation Vocation Network websites in order to find out about the different communities. Both are great organizations which people can use to get in contact many different religious communities at the same time. After which discerners have asked me "How do I decide between the different communities?" At first it may not seem like an easy task - how to pick between two or more options when they are ALL good choices? I think the answer becomes clear in the discernment process. We look at the charism of the community and ask ourselves "do I share the same ideals and values as these groups." We might also ask "am I better suited to live in a cloistered community or a missionary community?" Or "do I need to live with many people or just two or three?" "Can I see myself doing the types of ministry they are involved with?" "Am I more apt to stay in my own diocese or do I have the ability to travel as a missioner to a foreign place?" These types of questions help us in the discernment process to learn about who we are and where we are being called to serve.

When we enter a religious community we are in essence joining a new family. Maybe all the members don't look, sound and think exactly as we do but we do share in some common beliefs, dreams and visions. Community life is not always the easiest but we know that our brothers in community are going to support us for the rest of our lives and that we want to share in the life and ministry that they are part of. Glenmary's oath that all members profess ends with these words: "... 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."

The Glenmary Family shares the same mission, prays, lives and works together for the same common goal of spreading the Good News and building the Kingdom of God. Are you called to be a part of the family and share in that same dream?

Vocation or Vacation

I often search the word "vocation" on twitter in order to see what people are tweeting, to look for new people to follow and to find the latest links. I am always amazed at how often people misspell "vacation" with "vocation." The end result is that their tweets can be very humorous because of the error. See some of my recent finds below.

I need a vocation, NOW!

I don't want my vocation to end! I'd rather stay here forever.

I just returned from my vocation !!!!!! It was great !!!!!

Guess where I went on my summer vocation?

Two flights, car, plus small yacht to get on board the big one! Now my vocations started, time to enjoy n relax!

So it seems like I just need to pack some stuff for my 2 weeks vocation and then I'll be off.

Europe trip! Europe trip! I want a vocation !!! :o

Have a long vocation planned which doesn't start till next week.

Vocation specials - two for one.

3 days & counting until my vocation starts

Today I wanted to share some inspiring words from the Latin American Bishops which capture Glenmary's sense of mission. Now is the time! And for Glenmary, the mission is here in the United States. We go to places where the Church is not present in the rural and neglected regions of the U.S.

A great example is in Eastern Tennessee where Glenmary is building up new missions in Union and Grainger Counties. Fr. Steve celebrated the first mass from their rented home in the area last weekend. Br. Craig is sharing his skills with the community. There is no church building in the county yet but Church is happening and someday soon the Catholics will have a place to call home. Other places around the U.S. still need you to share your gifts and to help spread the Gospel of Love to all peoples.

“We cannot let this hour of grace slip by. We need a new Pentecost! We need to go out to meet individuals, families, communities, and peoples to communicate to them, and share the gift of encounter with Christ, who has filled our lives with “meaning,” truth and love, joy and hope! We cannot passively and calmly wait in our church buildings, but we must move out in all directions to proclaim that evil and death do not have the last word, that love is stronger, that we have been liberated and saved by the Lord’s paschal victory in history, that He calls us into Church, and wants to multiply the number of his disciples and missionaries in building his Kingdom….”

—Concluding document of the Fifth General

Conference of Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean at Aparecida, Brazil, 2007

Reflecting on Glenmary and the Back Roads of Mission Land, USA

Below is a clip from an article just posted on the Glenmary Vocation website. To read the whole article follow the link. (Glenmary Vocations)

"Glenmarians are doing God's work along the back roads of rural America. We are not racing along the interstate but steadily building up faith communities and sharing God's love with those we meet in the rural, neglected regions of our country. Maybe you, too, are called to move off the interstate of life and serve in Mission Land, USA. The gifts that you'd bring as a missioner would make a difference in these areas and the lives of the people we serve."

Back to School

I am at Divine Word College this weekend with Glenmary's aspirants. They have completed their summer mission assignments and are getting settled back into seminary life. Paul, Juan Pablo and Jerry all will continue with their philosophy studies, while Jose Carlos will be focusing on English as a Second Language classes. It is always an exciting time as all the students return to school. I particularly enjoy the meal time and the stories people share from their summer experiences. I thought about quoting Rodney Dangerfield from his famous movie Back to School but couldn’t think of an appropriate one for this blog space. So I leave you with a couple other quotes I thought to be more appropriate at this time.

“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.” Albert Einstein

“I've never let my school interfere with my education.” Mark Twain

Summer Mission Experience II

Glenmary's aspirants have returned from their summer mission experiences and for the most part they all had a good time. Without a doubt there where challenges during the summer but no broken bones - only a few minor bumps and scratches.

Yesterday we spent a day reflecting on their experiences and giving the aspirants a chance to share with one another some of the details about their mission assignments. They talked about the powerful moments which were shared with the children participating in the Glenmary Friendship Camp in Mississippi. Others realized that the theories and discussions they had at school about justice issues really hit home once they met and got to know families who were dealing with those situations on a daily basis. "The immigration issue is a lot more complicated than what it seems on paper." Another learned that the "small rural parish" does not necessarily mean "uneducated Catholics" - shortly after arriving there the aspirant realized that many parishioners where he was assigned had read more theology than he had! "They inspired me to really rededicate myself in school so that when I return I can offer them something more."

Glenmary has a long history of sending its seminarians out for summer mission assignments - it is an instrumental part of the formation process. And in each of the places they went this summer they were touched and astounded by the welcome they from the Catholic community.

I say thanks to all the receiving missions and pastors - their opening of their doors for these men to be with them will help prepare them to serve in Glenmary's future missions. A great service to the church and a way that we can all share in the baptismal call to be missioners.

New Student Orientation

I am in Hartford, KY these days for the new student orientation program. Here at the Discernment House we are helping the students from foreign countries to get adjusted to life in the U.S. It is the first time here for two out of three of them so it is a little bit overwhelming for them. This time also allows them to get to know Glenmary and Glenmarians a little bit better. So far they have visited missions in the Owensboro, Covington and Nashville dioceses. They have also had Glenmary priests, brothers and lay co-workers come in to lead discussions about mission life and theology. Hope they enjoy my Chicken Line Theology talk tomorrow morning.

Thursday schedule includes a day of reflection for the four Glenmary aspirants before going to Divine Word College. Friday morning Pat and I will be taking a Glenmary road trip with the aspirants - back to school at DWC in Epworth, Iowa. Please pray for the returning students and new students as they get back into academic life.

Mission Bell is Ringing

The Glenmary Mission Bell was ringing this morning. Fr. Steve Pawelk left Glenmary Headquarters and headed out to the new missions in Grainger and Union County, Tennessee. He will be joined there by Br. Craig Digmann who has been in the missions in Mississippi and Br. Joe Steen who has been part of the formation team in St Meinrad, Indiana. The three will officially open the new mission and start celebrating the sacraments on a regular basis in these counties for the first time ever.

Last night we had a special community prayer service and this morning was Fr. Steve's send off. The ringing of the Glenmary Mission Bell at our Headquarters in Cincinnati is our traditional way to send men off to the missions. I hope to post more updates on this blog from them and of the life in the new missions.

Ngày Thánh Mẫu

50,000 + in attendance at Marian Days Sunday Mass 

I just spent the weekend in Carthage, Missouri at the annual Marian Days festival. This was only my second opportunity to attend and I am already looking forward to next year. The event is an annual gathering of Vietnamese American Catholics. Among other things it is an opportunity for people from all over the country to come together in order to reunite and spend some beautiful time in prayer and celebration. I heard crowd estimates from between 50,000 and 70,000 people in attendance! WOW. The main liturgies in the front yard of the seminary were impressive and inspiring. Great fun was had hanging out in the Vietnamese Martyrs Auditorium on Friday and Saturday night with the teens. The temporary tent city spread as far as the eye could see. Excellent Vietnamese food was in abundance. Despite the immense heat, the masses of people seemed to have a fantastic time! Lots of water and Boba Tea were my methods to beat the heat. I spent the days at the Glenmary Vocations Booth. I met with a number of young people who stopped by and are interested in missionary life. Pray for them as they continue to discern their call. I am thankful for the long time Glenmary friends and young people who hung out at the booth, helped to pass out prayer cards and meet with the many people who stopped by. Also want to thank all the wonderful people who gave generous donations to support the mission cause.