Make a sacrificial gift this Lent... to ensure that missioners like myself will continue to be present in forgotten and neglected areas of the United States.

When I was serving as pastor of a Glenmary mission in Georgia many years ago one of my parishioners came to me and told me his marriage was in crisis. Joe said he had little hope that his marriage to Alice (I’ve changed their names to protect their privacy) would survive. But he wasn’t ready to give up hope. So he turned to me as a neutral party.

Like Joe and Alice, all of us—even priests and missioners!—face times of darkness, times “in the desert,” when we thirst for God’s healing and forgiveness just as Jesus did during his 40 days in the desert. One of the great joys I have as a priest is helping people through those desert times and seeing them rise out of their despair as they discover the fullness of God’s redemptive love. I welcomed this invitation from Father Dominic Duggins to share Joe and Alice’s story with you as a living example of how Glenmary priests, brothers and coworkers are truly making a difference in Mission Land, USA.

As Catholics, you probably aren’t surprised that Joe and Alice would turn to their pastor in times of crisis. But it might surprise you to know that even non-Catholics in our mission counties come to the local priest for help. Although they don’t know much about Catholics, they do know about “confession.” They say to us: “We know we can trust you—priests can’t tell what they hear!” And while that might not be strictly true outside of the sacred confessional, I’m happy that type of reasoning brings hurting people to the local Catholic Church for help to work through the pain in their lives.

Joe told me of the injuries he and Alice had inflicted on each other. There were many and there was a long history. But the two issues that caused the deepest pain were eventually revealed: Alice had aborted Joe’s child and Joe had an affair. After months of meeting, it was obvious that they both were lost in despair, unable to see any sign of hope. And their despair was impacting their two school-aged children.

I encouraged the couple to become involved in Retrovaille, a program that helps couples rediscover a loving marriage. Although Joe was willing, Alice was convinced that it wouldn’t work. “Go as a personal favor to me,” I asked her. Because of the strength of our friendship, she agreed. And a miracle happened.

During the Retrovaille weekend and three months of follow-up work, Joe and Alice learned to communicate and forgive each other. It took lots of hard work but that work resulted in the rescue of their marriage. They forgave each other. And most importantly they came to know and embrace God’s love for them and God’s limitless capacity for forgiveness. Several years later I had the joy of baptizing the two little boys who blessed their marriage after it had nearly crumbled!

Joe and Alice’s miracle reminds me of our journey through Lent, as we take stock of our lives, work hard to purge ourselves of sins and offenses and reconcile ourselves to God and to those around us.

I often meditate on the phrase from The Lord’s Prayer: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Christ must have intended forgiveness to be a cornerstone of the Church if he put it right smack in the middle of the prayer he taught us to pray!

After four years in Glenmary leadership, I have received a new assignment as pastor of St. Christopher Church in Claxton, Ga. I am excited to once again be available on a daily basis to the folks of this mission county. And I’m happy that I can personally thank you, our loyal Glenmary donors, for making my ministry possible—and for helping those in our missions, like Joe and Alice, who have lost hope.

May peace and the joy of forgiveness be part of the your Lenten journey this year. And I hope that you will also make almsgiving a part of your Lenten observance by making a gift to Glenmary. Your gift will ensure that missioners like myself will continue to be present in forgotten and neglected areas of the United States. May God richly bless you for your on-going generosity and your love for the home missions.

Sincerely in Christ,



Father Bob Poandl

P.S. Together, we are making a difference in Mission Land, USA!