Men from the United States, Mexico, Kenya and Nigeria
discern missionary priesthood, brotherhood

Kenya visit: Brother Jack Henn (far left) and Father Steve Pawelk (second from right) pose with the Kenyan retreatants in the courtyard of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Nairobi, Kenya.

Father Steve Pawelk, Glenmary’s vocation director, spent several weeks this spring in Africa and Mexico furthering Glenmary’s commitment to international vocations.

Brother Jack Henn spent two weeks with Father Steve in Kenya helping lead a March discernment retreat for prospective candidates. Over 30 men filled out preliminary applications and six men were invited to the retreat.

Father François Pellissier joined Father Steve for his two-week visit to Nigeria where they hosted a similar discernment retreat. Over 180 applications were received with eight applicants invited to the retreat.

Two men will be invited from both Kenya and Nigeria to enter the 2007-08 prenovitiate.

While in Nigeria, Father Steve and Father François met with Catholic Church leaders and personnel from the U.S. consulate attempting to make it easier for Nigerians to receive traveling visas to the United States. In the past, Glenmary candidates have had a difficult time gaining these necessary visas.

Father Steve has also spent time visiting seven aspirants in Mexico, some who may study in the United States and others who will be involved in the aspirant program in Mexico next fall.

“I am continually amazed at the deep faith and strong missionary call of these men from other nations,” Father Steve says. “Part of my work is to ignite this type of missionary fervor in the hearts of young men in our own country.”

And there are signs that this is happening. Three men from the United States spent time in Glenmary missions in May and two more college students will give a month of their summer break to the missions.

“Not only do the mission needs in the U. S. excite these American men,” Father Steve says, “but the idea of living and working with men from other nations with the common goal of spreading the Gospel in the home missions is very appealing to them.”