Glenmary’s founder included in new ecumenical compilation of everyday “saints”
by Karen Hurley

Saints: Father Bishop is one of about 75 Catholics included in the volume.

“William Howard Bishop—Roman Catholic” is one of 365 men and women included in the recently published volume, A Year With American Saints. Father Bishop, the founder of Glenmary Home Missioners, is included for remembrance on Jan. 22.

In addition to a brief biography, the listing includes an excerpt from what is described as a typical speech defining his vision.

Here is part of that excerpt: “If we may be permitted to do a bit of wishful thinking and dreaming…we would indulge the image of the Church all over America…adopting the entire public for its audience.…If this were so, not some parishes but all parishes would have a convert-making program. Not some but all dioceses would have street-preaching and open-air meeting programs in their cities and town.…Not some religious communities but all religious communities would give some of their men for this work.…”

This ecumenical compilation of “saints” by G. Scott Cady and Christopher L. Webber, published by Church Publishing Incorporated (New York, 2006), is intended to “provide insights into the impact of Christianity on America and of America on Christianity.”

It is not intended to bestow any kind of canonization on the selected individuals, say the authors, who affirm that “all God’s people are saints set apart for God’s purposes and called to be holy.”

Father William Howard Bishop is one of approximately 75 Catholics in this volume which includes such diverse religious figures as Episcopalian Thomas Gallaudet, Puritan Jonathan Edwards, Baptist Sojourner Truth and Presbyterian William Sloane Coffin, Jr.

The Catholics included in this volume are equally diverse—from John Carroll, the first Roman Catholic bishop in the United States, to novelist Flannery O’Conner to anti-war activist Philip Berrigan.

All in all these randomly arranged biographies provide a fascinating journey through the year—with more than enough to ponder about the nature of holiness and sainthood in each day’s entry.