Father William Howard Bishop (1885–1953) had an incredible love and concern for the rural people of the United States. As a pastor for 20 years at a rural parish, he worked relentlessly to bring America’s missionary plight to the awareness of city dwellers and to an urban Catholic Church.
During his time as a rural pastor, he became impassioned with the dream of finding a way to serve the neglected areas of rural America. He mapped the home mission need in the United States and brought it to the attention of the American Catholic Church. And, preferring to remain as a country pastor, he attempted to convince already established religious communities to serve in these desperate areas.
In 1939, after finding no other religious community to take on the mammoth task of serving what he termed “Mission Land, USA,” and after overcoming many obstacles, he founded the Home Missioners of America (Glenmary) in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio, at the invitation of Archbishop John T. Mc-Nicholas.
TOP: Father Bishop (right) and Father Raphael Sourd (left) created a mobile chapel, one of the unique and creative ways of evangelizing a population unfamiliar with the Catholic faith.
Father Bishop was a holy man, deeply committed to establishing this home mission society of priests and Brothers and inviting others to join him. His “No Priest Land, USA” map captured the hearts and souls of the men and women who joined this new mission effort. With unbending determination, Father William Howard Bishop led this community of men and the Glenmary Sisters until his death, in 1953.
Glenmarians continue to be inspired by his life and dream. May his life story and his dream inspire you as well.
4119 Glenmary Trace, Fairfield, OH 45014
Mailing Address: PO Box 465618, Cincinnati OH 45246
