Social workers, nurses, builders, educators and more, Brothers’ outreach brings the Church to the people.
by Brother David Henley
It is often said that Catholic social teaching is the best kept secret in the Catholic Church. I would argue the same could be said about Glenmary brothers, or even religious brothers in the United States. As vocation director for Glenmary the two questions I have been asked more than any other are: “What is a brother and what is the difference between a priest and a brother?” And at the many different Church events I have attended over the years it is too common for the emcee to ask all the priests and religious sisters to stand up to be recognized—but not the brothers.
Probably the biggest reason for the secrecy or lack of knowledge about brothers is because of their sheer lack in numbers. While 50 years ago there were 11,623 brothers in the United States, that number has plummeted to only 3,550 in 2023. By comparison there are over 35,000 priests and 37,000 sisters in the United States today.
Like the national trend, the number of Glenmary brothers drastically reduced in the last 50 years. In 1973, Glenmary had twice as many brothers than there are today. In addition, Glenmary had a drought of 16 years in which no new brother professed final oath. That lasted from 1990 until 2006.
One new trend that cannot be explained by those statistics is that 50 years ago Glenmary priests outnumbered the brothers three to one. Today the ratio between new priests and brothers in Glenmary is becoming closer to equal. Since 2006, when I professed my Final Oath with Glenmary, there has been nearly the same number of priests and brothers to profess the final oath (six priests and five brothers). In our current Glenmary student body seven men are preparing for priesthood: Five are brothers in training and one student is still discerning brotherhood vs. priesthood. These recent entrants in Glenmary have given us a new hope for an increase in Glenmary brothers.
Whether Glenmary priest or brother, we see ourselves as missioners first. We live together in mission and profess the same oath, which includes promises of poverty, chastity, obedience, and prayer. But brothers are not ordained ministers, meaning they do not receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Their roles will be different, and it will vary widely as will their training.
While all Glenmary brothers study some philosophy and theology, the master’s degree level required for a Catholic priest is not required of a brother. After theology, Glenmary brothers generally study another trade or skill that can be of service to building up the kingdom of God in our mission areas.
I think one of the unique gifts of Glenmary brothers is their trade or ministry reflects their deep concern and love for the people of God in our mission counties. Their ministry is what allows brothers to be available to the people.
Variety of Ministries
Glenmary has a long history of brothers who have been part of building crews that built many of our mission churches, constructed or repaired thousands of homes for the poor, and made innumerable home repairs for people who could not otherwise afford it. By doing so, Glenmary building brothers have come to know the people in the missions. Glenmary Brother Joe Steen, a carpenter in our Tennessee mission says, “Working alongside people or having a trade outside of the typical church role gives me an opening with people. People can feel more at home with a brother, there is less separation or more connected in a human way.”
Some Glenmary brothers have studied nursing and used those skills to serve in rural areas where there is a lack of healthcare. Currently Glenmary has two brothers in our mission areas who are trained nurses and two others who are studying nursing and physical therapy.
Other brothers have specialized in social work or other direct service to the poor. Glenmary Brother Jason says, “As a student I served some summer assignments in the missions. While serving in Georgia, I saw the need of service to the poor. I saw very few social workers in the mission areas.” Brother Jason Muhlenkamp helped start a program that serves people on the margins and provides transitional housing.
Like the Good Samaritan, Glenmary brothers are outsiders in our mission territories but are moved by compassion to serve those most in need. “Many people don’t want to stop because they don’t want to be inconvenienced, as a brother we end up saying yes to lots of things,”says Brother Jason. Brother Thomas Nguyen describes Brother Jason’s and other Glenmary brothers’ ministries as “an inspiration to me. They are being present in places that are alien to us.”
Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, Glenmary brothers walk with the people on their journey. Brother Thomas, who is working on a pastoral ministry degree at the University of Dayton, knows that as a brother he can witness a presence of God anywhere. “Even walking across campus people have shared their struggles, pains, and difficulties with me.” He adds, “To be a brother in their life is to listen to them, pray with them in their pain, and let them know that their story is important.”
Among people in poverty
Glenmary brothers try to be present wherever there is a need. This might be seen as a Glenmary brother sits in an emergency room with a family awaiting a loved one, or in the ministry of another Glenmary brother who visits the local county jail. Brothers are spending time in the county nursing homes visiting the isolated and listening to their stories. Glenmary brothers volunteer at the local schools making themselves available to the students and teachers.
In the rural areas where Glenmary serves there is a scarcity of jobs that pay a living wage. The poverty level in some of our mission counties is two or three times the national average. Among other things that means food insecurity. Glenmary brothers are packing up food boxes at the local food pantry to give to those who are hungry. Through their presence they are building relationships with the people on the margins.
Glenmary brothers meet people where they are at. Brother Tom Sheehy has a ministry of serving the hikers on the Appalachian Trail. Brother Craig Digmann also meets people at churches where he is stationed. He tries to visit any church in the county that someone has invited him to. And that is literally hundreds of churches over the years.
Brother Craig has now visited numerous non-Catholic churches in his mission county. He says, “The Spirit led me to getting involved in other churches.” He added, “I am an introvert; therefore it must be the Spirit leading me into new churches.”
In his ministry Brother Craig is often the first Catholic to visit and pray with the members of these small country churches. His presence has helped him to build relationships with people and break down many of the misconceptions of the Catholic faith.
In some of the churches he has even been asked to preach. When asked, his message is always about Christian unity. “I preach on Church unity, John 17, ‘so that they may all be one.’”
With their steady growth in numbers the last 15 years, of new brothers professing the Glenmary Oath, their presence has brought a renewed hope to the entire community. They join the work of other Glenmary brothers, who by their presence in Mission Land USA, are bringing hope.They are witnesses to the Gospel to all those they encounter.
What is a brother? Brother Craig sums it up well: “We are called to be with people not always having to do something, but offering hope to people just by being present with them.”
If you are feeling called, or know someone who might have the vocation to serve as a Glenmary brother (or priest) feel free to contact Vocation Director Brother David at 513-881-7411 or dhenley@glenmary.org.
This story first appeared in the Autumn 2023 publication of the Glenmary Challenge.