A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of traveling to the sleepy, rolling hills of Madisonville, Tenn. I first visited this spot just over 10 years ago with a pad, pencil and camera. I was scouting this area of southeastern Tennessee as one possible site for Glenmary’s new effort to establish mission churches with lay leaders.

I will never forget how I visited the local college and couldn’t find any Catholics in attendance. Next I headed to a retirement center where folks assured me they didn’t know of any Catholics living there. I then visited the post office.

“I don’t think there are many Catholics around here,” the postmaster said. “I’ve never met one, and I’m over 60.” When I stuck out my hand and told him I was a Catholic priest, you should have seen his face!

In January 2003 the bishop of Knoxville, a few Glenmary missioners and a whole church full of local Catholics gathered in Madisonville, Tenn., to consecrate St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church. From no Catholic presence to a thriving community in 10 years!

So much can be done with the commitment of lay leaders like the Glenmary pastoral coordinators who built up this Catholic church from scratch: Jay Gilchrist (1992–99), supported by his wife, Pam, and their family, and Paul and Ginny Witte (1999–present). What a day of celebration it was!

That’s a good experience to remember as I wind up my term as president of Glenmary. By the time you receive the next issue, our General Chapter will have elected a new executive council for the coming four years.

As I look back over my 12 years here in Cincinnati (eight as president and four as vice president), I have much to be thankful for—and many people to thank: Brother Jack Henn and Father Dan Dorsey (who have served with me on Glenmary’s Executive Council), Father Bob Hare (Glenmary personnel director), Peggy Bell (my administrative assistant), the people in our Glenmary offices and, of course, my fellow Glenmarians. These people have stood by me over these many years as we have continued to sort out what it means to be missionary in our modern world. I’m grateful to all of them.

I am also indebted to you—the bishops, priests, religious sisters and brothers, and the laity of the United States who have supported Glenmary over these many years. Our missionary work in the small places of our nation will continue only because of your prayers and financial support. And, as you know, much still needs to be accomplished for Christ and his Church in our beloved country.

Finally, I thank the Lord for all the grace-filled moments of my time in leadership. And, as I move on to my next missionary challenge, I pray that grace will linger on.

God bless!