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January
16, 2003
Dear
Friend of the Farm,
As
you can imagine, our first question when we heard
about the fire at the Farm on Dec. 5 was, “Was
anyone hurt?” Thankfully, no one was, and
after a brief prayer of thanksgiving I began to
remember all of the wonderful people and the memories
I associate with the Farm, especially the Old
Farmhouse, which has been used as a chapel since
2000.
We've
had over 10,000 people at the Farm over the years,
and I can’t help but think that every one
of them has a memory or a story about something
that touched them while they were in that Farmhouse.
There’s a grieving process that accompanies
the loss of a building so packed with memories.
(Check the Farm section of www.glenmary.org for
some of the personal messages received during
this time.)
It
took several weeks of prayer and discernment before
we came to a decision about how we wanted to proceed
after the fire. On Jan. 8 we decided that building
a new chapel will be the best way to honor all
of the people who have been volunteers at the
Farm, the work they did in Vanceburg and the directions
their lives have taken.
I’m
so pleased that Dave Kreher, director of People’s
Self-Help Housing in Vanceburg, and Father George
Mathis will be involved in the rebuilding process.
We feel confident that, with their input, the
new chapel will carry on the tradition of prayer,
reflection and action that was a hallmark of the
Old Farmhouse.
Many
friends of the Farm—former volunteers, parents
of volunteers, campus ministers, group leaders—are
asking how they can participate in this rebuilding
effort. While we will be receiving insurance money
to help with the rebuilding, the cost of new construction
will likely exceed those funds. And the cost of
the Farm program always exceeds the fees paid
by those who come to serve. Any financial contribution
you would like to make to insure the future of
the new chapel and of the Farm’s outreach
in Eastern Kentucky will be most appreciated.
Thank
you for the love and support that you have given
Glenmary in the past and for the prayerful support
that you continue to give us now. Please know
that each of you is remembered in our daily prayers,
and we ask that our re-building process be remembered
in yours.
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In
Christ's name,
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Father Jerry Dorn
President |
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