Volunteers from Maria Stein, Ohio, support Glenmary’s new parish in Tennessee. By Lindsay Braud

A new three-panel dividing wall, handcrafted from birch plywood and pine trim, stands as a warm and inviting backdrop for the altar at Glenmary’s new mission parish in Overton County, Tennessee. This work was recently completed thanks to the efforts of SON Ministries from Maria Stein, Ohio.

Last winter, the growing Catholic community in Livingston was grateful to finally move into a space they could make their own. The building, however, needed some renovations to make it feel more like a church. That’s when Brother Jason Muhlenkamp reached out to his friends at SON (Serving Our Neighbors) Ministries.

This ministry formed more than 40 years ago to spread the Gospel and serve others through mission opportunities. Brother Jason grew up in Maria Stein, and his parents still attend Christ Our Light family of parishes there. Hank Kaiser, who is a member of SON Ministries, says that “as a group, we decided to follow Brother Jason wherever he would be assigned, if possible.”

And they have done just that. In the past, this volunteer ministry has financially supported other Glenmary projects. Since 2018, they have traveled to Georgia to volunteer in Glenmary missions. They also support an orphanage in Haiti and several other organizations in Ohio and Kentucky.

Approximately eight people from the ministry spent a week in Livingston fixing up the new parish. “The group was very well received, and the people we interacted with were very grateful,” says Hank. “It was such a blessing for our group to help them get their church to where they wanted it.”

The group worked on several projects to benefit the church. They built a confessional, replaced doors, added shelves, built a base for the Tabernacle, and installed two exterior signs that say, “Catholic Community of Overton County Tennessee.”

“The presence of SON Ministries in the Livingston community was of great impact,” says Lorenzo Aju. “The enthusiasm that the team put into making the interior modifications was surprising and exemplary.”

Lorenzo and his wife Nicolasa spent years establishing this vibrant, new Catholic community. He also helped with the building renovations, getting to know the folks who shared their time and talents with the Glenmary mission. Throughout the week, local families organized dinners to welcome and thank the volunteers.

“The support was very valuable for the community. Everyone was impressed and happy with the changes made, of course, all very grateful,” says Lorenzo.

This story was published in the Summer 2026 issue of the Glenmary Challenge.