Father Dominic Duggins   Director of Development

Together, We're Making a Difference

How can you measure the difference Glenmary—with your support—is making in Mission Land, USA? I could survey our missions for an accurate count of people enrolled in RCIA programs, homes built and repaired for low-income families, ecumenical projects underway, food distributed to the hungry, radio programs broadcast...

But I prefer stories.

• How Brother Curt Kedley helps keep the Good Shepherd Food Pantry open in Windsor, N.C. The pantry, made possible by the support of a coalition of churches, including Glenmary's Catholic Community of Bertie County, provides over 200 families with emergency food packages each month. As one woman expressed to Brother Curt: "I would be in bad luck it it were not for you all. I do not have anybody to help me except you and God."
  
  
• How because of Father Dennis Holly's presence in Lafayette, Tenn., a teenage girl—and eventually her parents—found answers to her questions about Catholicism and joined the Church. She and her parents live in a county where Catholics make up less than one percent of the population. But after attending a Catholic high school miles away in search of a better education than the local schools could provide, this young woman grew increasingly curious about the Catholic Church during the daily religion classes she attended with her classmates. She talked to her parents about what she was learning, in turn sparking their curiosity. Not knowing any other local Catholics, they sought out Father Dennis and the small Glenmary mission community in Lafayette. And the rest, as they say, is history.
  
  
• How a Glenmary mission community called together 13 years ago in Ripley, Miss., by a lay pastoral coordinator was able to fulfill the dream of a new church. Through the years, this fledgling congregation met in hotel rooms, a funeral home and storefront buildings. Now in its second generation of lay leadership, the membership of St. Matthew mission has grown from five members to over 100 families...and is still growing. The story of the birth and growth of St. Matthew mission—the only Catholic Church in Tippah County—is a success story, made possible by our dedicated missioners and the support of our generous donors!

These are some of the stories I have shared in my recent letters, phone conversations and personal visits over the past year. With your help, we can keep the stories coming.