(L to R) Fathers Steven Pawelk, Dan Dorsey and Aaron Wessman swear their oaths of office in June 2023. An image of Glenmary founder Father Wm. Howard Bishop looks on.
Increased commitment to lay leadership, a continuation of broad outreach to Spanish-speaking Catholics—those of two of the themes that emerged from Glenmary Home Missioners’ quadrennial Chapter of Affairs at Pope John XXIII Center in Charleston, WV, June 5-12, says Father Dan Dorsey, president. Glenmary serves Catholic missions in Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia, and provides national leadership to the US bishops’ conference on the missionary needs of the Catholic Church in the United States.
A vision for the next four years was crafted from Glenmary missionary themes: Social Justice, Catholic Nurture, Ecumenism, Evangelization and Connection to the Universal Church. In addition Glenmary’s newest member, Jude Smith, professed his First Oath, a one-year commitment following his novitiate year.
“We reaffirmed and reflected on those central pillars of our mission,” says Father Dan. The 42-member community, joined by lay coworkers, also shared stories from their various missions, caught up with their fellow missioners, and spent social time in respite from their day-to-day mission work. “At least two of our missions have model programs in lay leadership,” he said. “We’re going to try and get lay evangelizers going in some of our parishes to begin with.”
Father Dan and two others were installed into office at this Chapter. Father Aaron Wessman was installed as First Vice President; Father Steven Pawelk was installed as Second Vice President. The three men will reflect together on the directive that emerged from the Chapter and a four-year plan of implementation.
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