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In
Search of the Spirit
A
monthly letter from the Glenmary Vocation Office
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February
2003
The
Spirit Is Amovin' All Over This Land. Is It Movin' in
You?
By
Father Steve Pawelk
"The
Spirit is amovin’ all over, all over this land!”
When
I was in college this song was sung often at Mass, Bible
studies, prayer groups and, sometimes, just for fun.
Well, the Spirit certainly has been amovin’ recently
all over the land of Glenmary and beyond.
In
January three men began the process of applying to Glenmary.
They were born in Kenya, the United States and Mexico.
(To read
about them) Furthermore, two men from Mexico are
making plans to visit us here in April. Both are hoping
to apply to Glenmary some day soon.
From
Feb. 12 to March 6, I will be in Africa interviewing
more men who desire to apply to Glenmary. There will
be nine interviews in Nigeria and two in Kenya. From
these only a few will receive an invitation to come
to the United States. The Spirit has inspired these
men to take steps to discern if their call is to leave
their homeland to serve people of the U.S. rural missions.
I ask for your prayers while I am away.
The
Spirit is amovin’ . . .
The Spirit is also moving two other men here in the
United States to have a short mission placement during
March. Each will spend a week or so, living with one
of our missioners to learn first hand the nature of
our work. Another U.S. citizen may give a month in May
or June. If you are interested in a mission placement
for seven to 30 days, please call me after March 6 or
contact Susan Hellmann now.
All
of this is a sign of great hope for Glenmary and for
the people living in our missions.
The
Spirit is amovin’ . . .
We have seen the United States and the world moved to
grief as the Columbia, its crew and the scientific data
fell to Earth. It reminds each of us how short and unpredictable
life can be. It also shows how a common Spirit can be
felt.
The
Spirit is amovin’ . . .
The Spirit is moving some folks to pray for peace. In
the midst of our busy lives as students, workers, teachers
or whatever our occupation, talk of war continues. Each
of us, despite personal feelings, needs to join Pope
John Paul II and the U.S. bishops in urging that all
diplomatic solutions be exhausted before any war is
launched. I invite you to join a peace effort that asks
everyone to take three minutes to pray for peace on
3/03/03 at 3:00 p.m. This is being done in honor of
the Trinity. May the Spirit break through the heart
of Saddam Hussein and all world leaders to take whatever
actions are necessary to insure peace.
The
Spirit is amovin’ all over this land and beyond.
Is it movin’ in you? Are you willing to let it
blow you where it will?
