Their enthusiasm for mission is contagious; their call to further
U.S. mission efforts is endless
Father Dan Dorsey

MAKING CONNECTIONS: Missioners like Paul Witte, center, make connections in the community by being visible and active. Above, he and members of the HOLA (Helping Out Latin Americans), which Paul helped found, sell Mexican food at Elkton’s Harvest Fest.

Recently, Jean Bach and Tricia Sarvak of Glenmary’s Communications Department traveled to our Western Kentucky missions in Elkton and Guthrie. While there, they spent a day with Father Frank Ruff to gather information for a story about a “typical” day in the life of a Glenmary missioner.

After being immersed in the ministerial lives of Father Frank and pastoral associate Paul Witte, Jean said she is amazed to see how a Glenmarian connects with the larger community in his county. Following Father Frank around for a day (a 14-hour day that is!) “you witness how a missioner sees himself as the pastor of everyone in the county.”

Returning home, it became obvious that words alone could not convey the story. So, you will notice that the cover story contains many photos. After my conversation with them I was reminded of the Chinese proverb: “A picture’s meaning can express 10,000 words.”

I wasn’t surprised by what Jean and Tricia experienced. The same kind of enthusiasm and dedication to mission they witnessed during their time with Father Frank and Paul can be found in any of Glenmary’s over 50 missions and ministries. I know because over a two-year period I visit each of our mission sites. While styles of ministry and the personalities of Glenmarians and our coworkers differ, I am inspired by the way they live out their missionary call!

As president of Glenmary over these last four years I have learned a lot about Glenmarians and our coworkers. Their enthusiasm for mission is contagious: they have a deep relationship with Jesus Christ and are faithful to prayer. As earthen vessels, they embody the words of St. Peter to the lost and forgotten in the mission regions of the United States: “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, (rise and) walk” (Acts 3:6).

Glenmary brothers, priests and coworkers are gifted individuals. They are incredibly generous with their time, energy and resources. They continue to fulfill the many missionary dreams of our founder, Father Bishop, in ways that few will ever notice, but in ways that are nevertheless heroic.

Someone recently mentioned to me that, in his opinion, the Catholic Church in the United States has lost its sense of mission. I disagree! I believe the Catholic Church in the United States has always had a sense of mission, and I also believe that it has always struggled to live out that sense of mission.

Father Bishop believed in 1939—and Glenmary missioners and coworkers believe today—that Glenmary needs to be a part of that ongoing struggle and should work tirelessly to remind the Church in the United States that it is a missionary Church at heart and that there are missionary needs in our own backyard.

I think after reading the cover story you will see how Father Frank and Paul are working tirelessly to meet those missionary needs in Western Kentucky. Through their words and actions they remind all of us that, by virtue of our baptism, we are all called to be missionaries.