Service made possible through support of partners in mission
Father Dan Dorsey

Brother Builder: Brother Larry led one of the three Glenmary Brothers’ Building crews. It’s estimated that these crews saved Glenmary missions 25-35 percent of the cost of any project.

In his book Joshua: A Parable for Today Father Joseph Girzone tells the story of a quiet and simple man who appears to seek nothing for himself. He supports himself solely through carpentry and woodworking and charges very little for his services. Yet his work is exquisite. Even more exquisite and even more mysterious is the effect he has on everyone he meets. All who come in contact with Joshua can’t help but be transformed by him.

This description also tells the story of one of our Glenmary brothers, Larry Jochim, who died in September. For over 55 years Brother Larry quietly served the people of the home missions as a master carpenter and, in his simple way, shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those he came in contact with. I have no doubt that those who came to know Brother Larry over the years were transformed by the experience.

Brother Larry was a member of the Glenmary Brothers’ Building Crew from 1965 to 1997. He led 46 major building projects—churches, rectories, parish halls.

Along the way he met a lot of people who were baffled that such a talented artisan would work for nothing. When asked about this, Brother Larry would simply explain his vocation as a Glenmary brother-builder: “We build for the love of God, not for money,” he would say.

But he didn’t see his ministry as just about buildings. Another large part of the ministry was building community. Brother Larry solicited help on his building sites from the people who made up a particular mission community. Through their work on the construction project, the tiny mission community would draw together as everyone worked for the love of God.

And as much as Brother Larry’s life was about building, it was also about prayer. In his direct and common sense way he often said that in his life “religious life is first, and building is second. You can hire people to build for you; it’s pretty hard to hire people to pray for you.”

Through his many years of ministry a special friend traveled with him: St. Joseph the Worker. At the start of each project, Brother Larry placed a statue of St. Joseph at the work site. As soon as the building was under roof, St. Joseph moved indoors until the job was completed.

While Joshua is a fictionalized character of one man’s imagination, Brother Larry’s life is the flesh and blood response of one man to the love of God in his life. As Glenmary’s partner in mission you helped support Brother Larry’s building ministry and allowed him to witness his faith commitment in the home missions! And it’s that same support that helps us continue our mission work today.

As we approach the Christmas season and prepare to celebrate the great love that came to live in our midst, Jesus Christ, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your prayers and financial support. Both of these gifts help us continue to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the home missions, just as Brother Larry did.

And please know that the prayer intentions of all our partners in mission are remembered daily in the prayers of all Glenmarians. May our Lord’s joy and hope grace you during this blessed time of the year.