Father John Brown—Idabel, Oklahoma
The Ripple Effect of Glenmary Ministry
 

Father John Brown, right, adds to the “ripple effect” of Glenmary’s ministry in the small towns of rural America through his involvement in local organizations and events, like the local thrift shop in Idabel, Okla., above.

When 23 people moved away from St. Francis de Sales Church in Idabel, Okla., in the spring of 1999, Glenmary pastor Father John Brown was slightly discouraged. Their presence in the 200-person congregation was missed. “Their leaving put a hole in various ministries,” Father John reports.

But that’s the way of life in a small, rural parish. There is a lot of movement, especially movement to the more populated, urban areas where jobs are more readily available. “Sometimes I think, ‘Just when we get this or that project running smoothly, they leave and we have to start all over again,’” he confesses.

But, he also realizes that whenever someone leaves Idabel—or Plunkettville or one of the countless small towns in which Glenmary serves in the South, Southwest and Appalachia—they are moving on to “bless God’s people somewhere else. They are a part of the Body of Christ and move on to share with the rest of the body.”

With that move, he says, the story and ministry of Glenmary is moved on too, spread in wider and wider circles throughout the country. 

But this “Glenmary ripple effect” isn’t limited to Glenmary parishioners who move on. Glenmarians themselves are always creating this ripple effect through their involvement in civic, diocesan and national church organizations. As they reach out to the surrounding community, ever-expanding circles of people become familiar with the mission and ministry of Glenmary.

Through involvement in diocesan deaneries or serving on diocesan committees, Glenmarians have the opportunity to introduce others to rural ministry. They remind those in urban areas that rural parishes do exist and have needs just like any other parish except rural parishes have a lot fewer resources with which to work.

Four years ago, the Church of the Madalene in Tulsa began a relationship with St. Francis de Sales in Idabel, the farthest outpost of the Tulsa diocese. The urban Tulsa parish donates $200 to the Idabel parish each month in addition to sending Christmas gifts to the children of Idabel. Two years ago, over 400 gifts were collected and last year over 450. 

The money, according to Father John, goes to the poor fund, helping needy persons who ask for help from the parish. (The parish’s service to the poor hasn’t gone unnoticed. Last year, the parish received a citation from the state legislature and senate for outstanding service to the poor).

Through this relationship between the two parishes, the 205 miles between Tulsa and Idabel are transcended as Catholics work together and learn from each other. The congregation in Tulsa has learned a great deal about the rural area of their diocese and vice-versa for the Catholics in rural Idabel.

Glenmarians touch the lives of more than just their own parishioners. Because of the small town atmosphere in which they minister, everyone in a county usually knows the “Catholic priest,” and that Glenmary missioner is usually involved ecumenically and civically in ways that reach beyond the county they serve.

Many Glenmarians, especially senior members living in the missions, offer help on the weekends to neighboring rural parishes. “These areas are typically hard to get to (from the cities),” Father John explained, so it is not easy to get a priest from the diocese to fill in if the pastor is on vacation or is called away from the parish or just needs extra help with a penance service or special event. That means more ripples.

“It’s really amazing, if you stop and think about it,” Father John says. “There are people all over the country now with ties to Glenmary and its charisms. From our small parishes, the Word of God and the Glenmary mission spirit is being shared with the world.”

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