Three Men Respond to Multicultural Outreach
Glenmary prepares to welcome members from other cultures

Three men from three different cultures (U.S.A., Kenya, Mexico) have applied this year to Glenmary to become candidates for priesthood. They will join an already diverse group of Glenmary men-in-training. Glenmary vocation director Father Steve Pawelk spent three weeks in Africa in February interviewing several additional inquirers.

To prepare for living and working with members from other cultures, 30 Glenmary priests, brothers and coworkers attended a multicultural seminar Jan. 27-30 in Nashville. Tailored specifically to the needs of Glenmary, it was presented by staff from the Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) in San Antonio, Texas.

Father Steve invites everyone to pray for those exploring mission ministry in the United States, particularly Glenmary’s 2003 applicants:

Sylvester Ochieng, 24, a native of Madiany, Kenya, has been in contact with Glenmary by e-mail since September 2001. He received a visa in October 2002 to come to the United States and further explore Glenmary. Since then he has spent time in Glenmary’s Georgia missions living with Father Vic Subb and Brother Virgil Siefker, and in the Western Kentucky missions living with Father Frank Ruff and Brother Ken Woods. He is currently at MACC in San Antonio studying Spanish.

José de Jesús Navarro Romero, 33, a native of Mexico, has family living in the United States. He has completed two years of theology in Guadalajara, Mexico. While living in Statesboro, Ga., he helped a team of Glenmary priests who introduced a Spanish Mass there last year. He has also been active in Glenmary’s mission in Claxton, Ga., where pastor Father Brian LaBurt initially invited him to look into Glenmary. José is currently living in Indiana.

Ian Teal, 30, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, has recently completed two years of service as a Comboni lay missioner in Ghana, Africa. He comes to Glenmary with a variety of life experiences, including service in the Marine reserves. After spending three weeks on a mission trip in April, he decided to apply to Glenmary. He was particularly attracted by the "life of simplicity and community" that he found among Glemarians.