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A
Vanceburg View
A Monthly Update From the Director
of Glenmary's Volunteer Office
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| Farm
bids Quad a fond farewell in August. She is buried next
to the statue of St. Francis. |
News
From August 2003
The
month of August at the Glenmary Farm has been one of new
beginnings—and one big good-bye. It is also the month
that we saw the completion of the new Chapel. It was also
a sad time where we see the passing away of Quad, the faithful
Farm dog for the last decade.
New
Beginnings: Don and Rebecca. First, I would like to
introduce two new Farm managers, Rebecca Coomer and Don
Malewitz. Both have taken up the challenge of spreading
the Glenmary charism to the many high school and college
students that come and serve with us. I applaud them for
taking the counter-cultural step of putting service to others
as a first priority. I hope that God blesses their time
with the volunteers and the community of Lewis County.
Don
was born and raised in Ypsilanti, Mich., but has spent the
last six years living in Adrian, Mich., and working for
Siena Heights University as a Computer Applications Analyst.
Through work with Siena's campus ministry team, Don got
involved with community service programs like Glenmary Home
Missioners and Habitat for Humanity. He plays guitar—and
you are likely to find him playing for Sunday Mass at Holy
Redeemer Church in Vanceburg throughout his year as Farm
Manager.
Rebecca
is originally from South Portsmouth, Ky., where she was
raised in a Southern Baptist church and in a traditional
Appalachian family. She attended Morehead State University
and the University of Kentucky, majoring in psychology and
philosophy. She was active in extracurricular organizations
and has traveled quite a bit. She was married to a native
of Ecuador for two years, who introduced her to the Catholic
Church. Her relationship with the Church lasted much longer
than her marriage!
For
the next nine years she attended Mass, usually by herself.
During that time she received her BA and a master's in Clinical
Psychology. She worked as a psychotherapist for two-plus
years and as a phone center supervisor in political fundraising
for four years. Finally, in 2001, she entered the Church
and reports that she has felt very "alive" ever
since.
Earlier
this year she knew she was being called to somehow spread
the Good News. In April she began to seriously discern God's
will for her. The outcome has involved returning to her
roots in Appalachia and a year of service at the Glenmary
Farm.
Good-bye,
Quad! Sadly we had to put poor Quad, our farm dog to
sleep. For the last decade Quad has been a friend of many
a volunteer and the prototypical farm dog. Unfortunately
Quad was diagnosed with cancer and has been in much pain.
So she was put to sleep on Aug. 24 and buried next to the
Farm's statue of St. Francis. Now Bonzo has to step up and
take on Quad's responsibilities.
Come
and See the Chapel! I invite anyone to come down and
see the newly completed chapel. It is truly worth a trip.
Dave Kreher and People's Self Help did an excellent job.
And Charlie Campbell created some amazing stained-glass
windows. I would like to thank the many volunteers, Farm
managers and benefactors that made the new Our Lady of the
Fields Chapel a reality. Also a special thank you to Father
Jerry Dorn who was the driving force behind the project.
And
if you missed the Vanceburg View from last month,
check it out.
Peace,
Joe Grosek
jgrosek@glenmary.org
For
more information about the Glenmary Farm:
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