Rev. Jim Kelly

Fr. Jim Kelly, a life-long learner

Glenmary priest, Fr. James Patrick Kelly passed away last week at the age of 95. Fr. Jim professed his first Oath with Glenmary in 1949, meaning he served 63 years as a Home Missioner. 

Apart from his years of service in the missions, Fr. Jim’s major contributions included serving as personal secretary for Glenmary’s founder, Fr. William Howard Bishop, faithfully preserving much of our history and continually calling Glenmarians to sanctification. The sanctification of members was a great concern of his. Every year at our annual gatherings, Fr. Jim would remind us that we are called to a deepening of our holiness through prayer, retreats, adoration, frequent confession, small group sharing and many other means. I thank Jim for this reminder and pray for his intercession in heaven for my own sanctification and the sanctification of all Glenmary members.

As I got to know Fr. Jim better in recent years I have been continually impressed by his never giving up at learning something new. Just last year he showed me his collection of books about Google and the internet that he had been reading. He wanted to know how the internet worked and what he could do with it at his age. A few months ago he asked me to help him set up his Facebook account and take him to the store so that he could buy a book about using Facebook and Twitter. I did not know that books like that existed; I thought you just had to get online and learn it there. Sure enough we found a book and Jim was excited to be reading and learning about something new. I am thankful for his enthusiasm and desire to be a life-long learner. His quest to continue to learn his entire life is a great inspiration to me.

A favorite quote by Fr. Jim is:

"We are trying to make the Church available to every American and that means we have to cover the territory. We succeeded, I think, in improving it. It is better than it was. The Church is more available to more people than it was when we first started." 

L.A. Baby!

Glenmary's Vocation Booth at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress is set up and ready to go. Our team of Glenmarians hosting the booth hope to meet with many potential missioners over the next few days. Please pray for ALL THOSE MEN who are discerning a call to serve in "No Priest Land USA."
Enjoy this video from the fun and games on the convention floor at last years Congress.

California Here We Come!

Glenmary Home Missioners Vocation Department has been attending the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress for the last three years. We set up a Vocation booth their in order to meet with potential prospects who are discerning a call to religious life. This year we are taking a team of missioners in order to allow us to meet with more potential candidates than ever before! I will be accompanied by Pat McEntee, the Associate Vocation Director, Fr. Vic Subb a Glenmary priest who is serving with us as a vocation counselor and Fr. Neil Pezzulo, Glenmary's First Vice-President. In addition to the Vocation team we will also have representatives from the Communication Department and Development Office; Tricia Sarvak and Allison Barrett. Their goal for the conference is to promote Glenmary's Mission Education and Vacation Bible School materials among the conference attendees. 

If you are in the area and would like to visit with us, stop on by the Glenmary booth! Mention this blog and you will receive a special prize.

Solemnity of Saint Joseph

St. Joseph serves as a wonderful model for those discerning a call to religious life. We all know the story, Joseph intended to divorce Mary quietly and move on with his life... But God spoke to Joseph and told him "do not be afraid." And "When Joseph awoke he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him..." Matthew 1:24

I am not sure that all of Joseph's questions at that moment were answered but the message he received from God assured him enough to stay with Mary. Similarly when we feel called to the priesthood or religious life, we may not have all the answers but we trust in God that we will find our way. I am reminded of a quote by Martin Luther King Jr. which fits into this idea of trusting God: "Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."

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!