A native of Sand Lake, Mich., Father John Otterbacher, 74, first heard of the home missions when Glenmary Father Raphael Sourd spoke at St. Joseph Seminary in Grand Rapids where Father John was studying. (Father Sourd was an assistant to Glenmary’s founder, Father William Howard Bishop.) Following a visit to Cincinnati and meeting Father Bishop, Father John decided the home missions were his call.

After his ordination in 1956, Father John was assigned as an associate pastor to Glenmary’s mission in West Union, Ohio. His first Christmas in the missions was memorable—he offered Mass three times for a total of four persons!

He also served as associate pastor in Norton, Va., before receiving his first pastorate in Appalachia, Va., in 1961. He went on to serve Glenmary missions in Pulaski, Tenn., and Spencer, W.Va.

In the early 1980s, he moved on to an administrative position with Glenmary’s Department of Pastoral Services as the director of Glenmary’s religious education department.

He pastored the Jefferson, N.C., mission beginning in 1983. In 1993 he received senior member status. He currently lives in Treadway, Tenn.