During the early years of Glenmary’s establishment and development (1940s and ‘50s), the territory entrusted to Glenmary by a diocese was staffed almost exclusively by Glenmary priests and brothers. Over the years, that situation has changed radically.

In the 1960s, as ministry needs became more complex, Glenmary priests and brothers began inviting others to assist them in their mission work. These “coworkers” participated with Glenmarians in a variety of ways, but particularly in parish ministry. 

Coworkers, at first, usually served as directors of religious education. Later, the benefits, expertise and specialized skills of trained pastoral associates were recognized,  and pastoral associate coworkers have contributed to the mission effort in this capacity ever since.

As a further step in recognizing the critical role of pastoral associates to the home mission effort, Glenmary’s Executive Council has approved a new Pastoral Associate Program to begin in the fall of 2001. This focused, three-to-five-year ministry experience will enable coworkers to hone present ministry skills and to acquire those specifically needed for rural ministry.

An added benefit of this program is that it will help create a pool of people qualified in both education and ministry experience to serve as Glenmary pastoral coordinators in priestless parishes. Applications for this program are now being accepted. (See the end of this article for details.)

Minimum requirements for this new Pastoral Associate Program include: a master’s degree in theology, pastoral studies, or related field; previous parish ministry experience, preferably in a southern, rural setting; and some adult-level teaching experience.

Exactly how does a pastoral associate fit into Glenmary’s home mission ministry today?

Glenmary pastors or pastoral coordinators are usually responsible for two—or more—mission parishes in more than one county. The pastor (or pastoral coordinator) lives in the “base mission,” while a pastoral associate usually lives in—and primarily serves—the second mission community.

As a professional minister, the pastoral associate collaborates with the pastor or pastoral coordinator in the overall pastoral care of that parish. He or she is hired by the Glenmary pastor/pastoral coordinator and is responsible to him or her for the ministry performed in Glenmary’s name.

Usually full time, this ministry is comprehensive—that is, it relates to all aspects of parish life with designated responsibilities that often include liturgy, faith formation and development, administration, pastoral care and social outreach. These responsibilities are dependent upon the needs of the parish, the personal and ministerial gifts of the pastoral associate and the gifts parishioners exercise in the parish.

In addition to supervised ministry, Glenmary provides an excellent orientation program and various kinds of in-service workshops.

There are 12 men and women currently serving as pastoral associates in Glenmary missions. Two of the pastoral associates are profiled below.

Sister Colette Gerry, OSF

A former elementary teacher and principal, primarily in the South, Sister Colette serves as pastoral associate for the Glenmary mission in Morgantown, Ky. She works with Father Fid Levri, the pastor of two missions—in Morgantown and Beaver Dam. She discovered the job posting on the Internet—at ministryconnect.org—and was attracted by the rural setting and the emphasis on evangelization. On the job since October 1999, she says the job is everything she had hoped for.

Jerry Woods

A retired engineer, Jerry was looking for a second career in Church ministry. Jerry decided to accept the job as pastoral associate in the Glenmary mission in Fulton, Miss., because, he says, “the need there was the greatest”—compared with other parishes where positions were available. He works with Sister Florita Rodman, the Glenmary pastoral coordinator responsible for missions in Amory and Fulton. Jerry’s wife, Linda, teaches math in the local high school.

Interested?

Does this type of ministry appeal to you? Would you like more information about joining Glenmary in its home mission work?  Contact Liz Dudas, coordinator of the Pastoral Associate Program, at Glenmary’s Department of Pastoral Services, 1312 Fifth Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37208. Phone: 615-256-1900. E-mail: ldudas@glenmary.org.