The following story first appeared in the Summer 2005 Glenmary Challenge.
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27 Blessings For Home Mission Ministry
Glenmary Priests and Brothers over 70 Don't Know the Meaning of 'Retirement'
By Jean Bach

CONTINUING TO INSPIRE: Father Bill Smith, 83, assists with sacramental ministry in Glenmary's mission in Metter, Ga., where he is a much-loved member of the community.

There are currently 67 Glenmary priests and brothers. Of those, 27 are “senior members” now living in various missions as well as in Glenmary houses in Cincinnati and Nashville. Within Glenmary, senior member status is typically conferred between the ages of 65 and 75—when a missioner submits his resignation from assigned responsibilities.

But in no way does senior membership imply retired! The vast majority of Glenmary’s senior members who are physically able are still living in mission areas and focusing on various home mission ministries—without the constraints of administering a parish.

“In their heart of hearts, they will always be missioners,” says Father Dan Dorsey, Glenmary’s president. “These men have committed themselves to a life of mission and, although they may not be able to missionize in the ways they always have, they remain active.”

For Father Steve Pawelk, the senior members of Glenmary have been an inspiration since he first joined Glenmary. “Their main gift to me is their perseverance and fidelity,” he says.

As one of the younger members of Glenmary, he values the history they bring to the community—especially Brother Vince Wilmes and Father Jim Kelly who worked with Father Bishop, Glenmary’s founder. Brother Vince was Glenmary’s first brother and Father Jim was Father Bishop’s secretary.

As vocation director, Father Steve makes sure that those discerning a vocation as a missionary priest or brother visit with both Brother Vince and Father Jim whenever possible. “Their sense of history and the way they express the vision of Father Bishop can’t be found in a book,” Father Steve says. “These men worked side-by-side with Father Bishop. How they relate that experience to vocation prospects is invaluable.”

In return, those in discernment who visit with Brother Vince, Father Jim and all the senior members they meet in Cincinnati are struck by the men’s holiness, dedication and—most of all—their happiness. This is reinforced as they share prayer in a community setting with all Glenmarians living in Cincinnati.

“The men in discernment all mention how happy these men are—and they all talk about the infamous Wednesday night penny-poker games,” Father Steve laughs. Each Wednesday, the senior members in residence at the Cincinnati headquarters gather for friendly penny-poker. “It is very apparent when you see the interaction among these men, who have known each other for 40-plus years, that they genuinely like each other,” Father Steve says.

Both Father Steve and Father Dan say that senior members have had an impact on their own lives and their ministry through the years. “Sometimes I have felt beaten down in my ministry,” says Father Steve. “Then I look at Father Bill Smith who, at 83, is living in our Metter, Ga., mission—and is learning Spanish so he can better minister to the Spanish-speakers living there!

“Sometimes I am asked by one of the older guys how things are going and I share my trials and worries. Then they tell me about a similar experience in their ministry. Their advice and perseverance,” he says, “renews my spirit.”

The same is true for Father Dan. While he was pastor of Glenmary’s missions in Monticello and Warren, Ark., Father Frank Schenk, then 76, came to live with him. “He was a gift God put in my life,” Father Dan says. “His presence was also a gift to the mission.”

Because Father Frank suffers from vision problems and can’t drive, he and Father Dan spent a lot of time together in the car. “Sometimes we don’t take the time to listen and learn from those who have gone before,” Father Dan says. “But it’s in their lives and experience that we can learn the most.”

“The beauty of community life is that there is a support and caring—a sense of respect—for wherever people are in their life journey,” Father Dan says. “As president, I’ve realized that we can’t lump all senior members together in one category. They are all in different stages and different places and bring various gifts to Glenmary and to those served by their individual ministries.”

The men in those stages and places are all supported through the Glenmary Charitable Trust, a fund separate from the society, established to provide for the aged and infirm in Glenmary.

Glenmary’s 27 senior members, however, give much more than they receive. For example, Father Gerry Peterson, 75, has made three vocation-recruiting trips to Africa, the most recent with Father Steve. “These are not easy trips, but he is always willing to help,” says Father Steve.

During their last trip earlier this year, they visited two countries and Father Gerry interviewed 12 men. During his first trip to Africa in 2001, Father Gerry was named chief of a local tribe!

The willingness of senior members to help finds many expressions: giving mission appeals at parishes across the country; staffing the Glenmary booth at vocation fairs; receiving vocation prospects into their homes and acting as host during the visit; holding the mission of Glenmary, its members and potential members in prayer. All are “invaluable to Glenmary and those we serve,” says Father Dan.

“We never underestimate the power of their prayer,” Father Steve says. “Senior members are a great grace to Glenmary.”

The names and ministries of senior members are not always in the forefront of Glenmary’s publicity today, but they are the foundation on which Glenmary’s ministry and mission have been built.

“They may not be able to build the house anymore,” Father Dan says, “but they still find ways to contribute significantly. And those contributions, both past and present, are a great blessing to all of us.”