Goals for the future established, new leadership elected
at June General Chapter
Father Dan Dorsey

New Leadership: Father Dan Dorsey concelebrated the installation Mass for the new leadership team with Father Dominic Duggins, left, and Father Mike Kerin.

In my Spring 2007 column of Glenmary Challenge I invited each of you to become a participant in Glenmary’s upcoming General Chapter by praying daily for the gathering’s success. Specifically I invited you to pray the Chapter Prayer that all Glenmarians, coworkers and I were praying in the time leading up to the June Chapter.

I was overwhelmed by your response to my invitation! Your prayers—and all those of our missioners and coworkers—were answered! Our 12 days of Chapter were Spirit-inspired and a time of great blessing and grace for our community. We sought the guidance of the Holy Spirit in mapping out through prayer, dialogue and discussion the next four years and beyond for our community and for our ministry.

We also experienced—through the work of the Holy Spirit—spiritual and physical renewal as a community and as individual missioners challenged with the task of establishing the Catholic Church in areas where it has never been before. We recognized that in our unity as a “community of missioners” there is strength.

At the Chapter’s conclusion, Brother Bob Hoffman, one of our long-time missioners, said that in his 56 years in Glenmary this Chapter “has been our finest hour.” Father Jim Kelly, who has participated in all of Glenmary’s 13 chapters since our founding in 1939, agreed, saying this most recent Chapter “has been the best Chapter in Glenmary’s history.”

Our membership also elected a new leadership team during our June gathering. I was humbled to be re-elected to another four-year term. Joining me in leadership are Father Dominic Duggins, who will serve as first vice president and Father Mike Kerin, who will serve as second vice president.

In my first column as president in 2003, I told you that I was “fundamentally optimistic” about Glenmary’s future. The same is true today! After four years as president, I continue to see God’s hand in our mission work as I witness the amazing ministry and outreach our missioners are providing in our home missions. And I’ve experienced firsthand the generosity of our donors—both with your dollars and your prayers. We depend on both to help us to continue to fulfill Father Bishop’s home mission dream.

I ended that 2003 column asking you to pray for me and for Glenmary. Will you once again join with me and all Glenmarians in praying the following Prayer of Thanksgiving for the remainder of 2007? As a community of missioners we have much to be thankful for—most especially our loyal partners in mission.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Loving Father, you are the source of life
and goodness.
We rejoice in the gift of your Son Jesus,
who dwells constantly in our midst
and reveals to us the splendor of your love.

Thank you for showering your grace upon Glenmary during their 14th General Chapter.
Blessed by your love and wisdom, Glenmary missioners have grown in love and have discerned how best they can serve the mission regions of the United States in the coming years.
Lord Jesus Christ, Master of the Harvest, you are the true light come into the world.
Thank you for the graces bestowed on Glenmary during their Chapter.

As a community of missioners they once again dedicate their missionary efforts to ensuring that your gospel may shine through them to the most forgotten and neglected areas of our country.
Holy Spirit, you have opened the hearts
and minds of Glenmary missioners to
the Divine call.

May all who labor in the home mission fields live that call zealously, generously and courageously, seeking always the Father’s will. Amen