Glenmary Challenge - Autumn 2025

GlenmaryChallen e

We are a Catholic society of priests and Brothers who, along with numerous coworkers, establish the Catholic Church in small-town and rural America. Founded in 1939 by Father William Howard Bishop, Glenmary is the only religious community devoted exclusively to serving the spiritually and materially poor in the rural US home missions. Today, supported entirely through freewill offerings, we staff missions and ministries throughout Appalachia and the South.

Glenmary missioners serve in areas where frequently less than one percent of the population is Catholic, a significant percentage have no church affiliation, and the poverty rate is often twice the national average. Glenmary is known for respecting the many cultures encountered in the home missions. Our missionary activity includes building Catholic communities, fostering ecumenical cooperation, evangelizing the unchurched, social outreach, and working for justice.

GLENMARY CHALLENGE

Our quarterly magazine has three goals: to educate Catholics about the US home missions, to motivate young men to consider Glenmary priesthood or brotherhood, and to invite all Catholics to respond to their baptismal call to be missionary by partnering with Glenmary as financial contributors, prayer partners, professional coworkers, and/or volunteers.

Glenmary Challenge is sent to all donors, to US diocesan clergy, and to anyone who requests it. (To begin receiving issues, use the contact information below.)

GLENMARY HOME MISSIONERS

P.O. Box 465618 · Cincinnati, OH 45246-5618

513-874-8900 · 800-935-0975 · challenge@glenmary.org

2025, Glenmary Home Missioners. Reprint permission granted upon request.

More Than Luck

With a lot of luck, you just might succeed in life.” That’s what a teacher wrote in my yearbook. It wasn’t meant to hurt—but it did.

I also never expected that offhand remark—or a lecture from a college professor—would shape how I saw myself for so long.

While studying journalism, one professor told our class, “You’ll need to be more skilled than those graduating from bigger-name schools. We’re a border region—and we’re often looked down upon.” Those words sank deep.

But over time, faith reshaped how I saw the world and my place in it. I’ve learned that words carry weight and where we come from matters, but it’s our actions—rooted in purpose, persistence, and above all, faith—not luck—that define our legacy.

I’ve also learned we need people who believe in us and speak for us when we can’t. For me, that was Glenmary’s interview committee. They believed in me—and took a chance.

My very first day began with a weekend trip to one of Glenmary’s home mission areas. There, I witnessed Glenmary’s essence: faith and works in real time.

This magazine reflects many voices—both seen and unseen. I’m grateful to work with Laney Blevins, Theresa Nguyen-Gillen, and Omar Cabrera—whose creativity strengthens my calling as Glenmary’s first bilingual director of communications and marketing.

Together, we continue Glenmary’s storytelling tradition.

Thank you for your ongoing readership and support. We hope that The Challenge and El Reto keep inspiring you through the stories of mission, faith, and hope we share from across rural America.

Francisco Cepeda, editor fcepeda@glenmary.org

GlenmaryChallen e

SUCCESS IN SMITH COUNTY

Catholics in Smith County, Tennessee, find a faith home in Glenmary’s mission.

By Theresa Nguyen-Gillen

IN SEARCH OF LATINO VOCATIONS

Hispanics represent the vast majority of Glenmary parishioners, yet the congregation has only one Latino priest and novice.

By Omar Cabrera

FATHER VIC'S NEW CHAPTER

Health struggles have taken Glenmary Father Vic Subb out of the missions. But he continues to strive to be a missioner every day.

By Theresa Nguyen-Gillen

Publisher: Father Dan Dorsey

Editor: Francisco Cepeda

Assistant Editors: Laney Blevins, Omar Cabrera, Theresa Nguyen-Gillen

Design: E + R Design Studio

Planning-Review Board

Chris Phelps, Lucy Putnam, Father Vic Subb, Father Richard Toboso, Father Aaron Wessman

Called to action: Five men take their first step toward becoming Glenmary priests. By Francisco Cepeda

ON THE COVER

Glenmary Father Steve Pawelk

from right) proudly stands hand in hand with Glenmary’s newest five first-oath missioners, taking another step toward priestly ordination. Photo by Omar Cabrera.

WHO IS MY Neighbor?

from the president

Father Dan Dorsey

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the expert in the law asks Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Lk 10:29).

Pope Benedict XVI wrote what I believe is one of the most profound and moving encyclicals I’ve ever read: Deus Caritas Es, “God is Love” (December 25, 2005). In that Church teaching, Pope Benedict reflects from a faith and theological perspective on that very question the expert in the law asked of Jesus.

The issue and question of immigration today is in the forefront of our political and secular debate. Through the lens of our faith in Jesus Christ, it is also a question: Who is my neighbor? I would suspect that readers of this column have differing beliefs and opinions.

In Glenmary, the issue of immigration affects us in a very personal way—both in those we serve in our missions and for our Glenmary missioners who are from Kenya, Uganda, and Mexico.

Pope Benedict reminded us as Catholics that the Church’s deepest nature is expressed in her threefold responsibility:

• Proclaiming the Word of God,

• Celebrating the sacraments,

• Exercising the ministry of charity (#25a). These duties are inseparable.

For the Church, charity (love of neighbor) is not a kind of welfare activity that could just as well be left to others. Rather, it is a part of our nature, an indispensable expression of the Church’s very being. Jesus shows us the way to love our neighbor. The Bible proclaims it.

In God and with God, Jesus commands us to love even the person whom we do not like or even know.

This can only take place on the basis of an intimate encounter with God, an encounter that has become a communion of will, even affecting my feelings (#18). When I embrace this communion, I learn to look at this other person not simply with my eyes and my feelings, but also from the perspective of Jesus Christ. His friend is my friend. Going beyond exterior appearances, I perceive in others an interior desire for a sign of love, of concern—God’s desire (#18).

So who is my neighbor when it comes to immigration and the political debate? We look to the Church for guidance. Here are the principles of our Catholic Church teaching on migration that can assist us:

Sovereign nations have a right to control their borders. The Church recognizes the right of sovereign nations to control their territories but rejects such control when it is extended merely for acquiring additional wealth.

Refugees and asylum seekers should be afforded protection. Those who flee wars and persecution should be protected by the global community.

Persons have the right to find opportunities in their homeland. All persons have the right to find in their countries the economic, political, and social opportunities to live in dignity and achieve a full life through the use of their God-given gifts.

Persons have the right to migrate to support themselves and their families. The Church recognizes that the goods of the earth belong to all people.

The human dignity and human rights of undocumented migrants should be respected. Regardless of their legal status, migrants, like all persons, possess human dignity that should be respected.

My purpose in writing this column is to move each of us from a position that is political and abstract to a position that begins and ends with our faith in Jesus Christ and his commandment to love our neighbor.

I conclude with the prayer at the end of Pope Benedict’s encyclical. Let us kneel at the foot of the cross and ask our Blessed Mother for guidance:

“Holy Mary, Mother of God, you have given the world its true light, Jesus, your Son—the Son of God. You abandoned yourself completely to God's call and thus became a wellspring of the goodness that flows forth from him. Show us Jesus. Lead us to him. Teach us to know and love him so that we too can become capable of true love and be fountains of living water in the midst of a thirsting world. Amen.”

Glenmary News & Notes

ministry team quickly jumped into action to provide for the people’s spiritual and material needs. A portion of his nomination reads:

“Father David Boettner, while accompanying Diocese of Knoxville Bishop James Mark Beckman to visit the area following the deadly floods, said, ‘Everywhere we went with Father Charters, every person in Erwin knew [him] and was consoled by his presence no matter where we were.’

Father Tom Nominated

We’re proud to share that Glenmary Father Tom Charters has been nominated for the Catholic Extension Society’s Lumen Christi Award for 2025–26, which recognizes people who radiate and reveal the light of Christ present in the communities where they serve.

Father Tom is mission pastor in Unicoi County, East Tennessee, where a deadly flood occurred last September. He and his parish

“Father Charters had been practicing all his life for that time of supreme need. He believed, ‘Unless you take Jesus who you‘ve received in the Eucharist and go forth and carry it to others, it’s not worth it— you are the missionaries! You have to go forth and do it.’

“And that is what Father Charters—50 years a priest and missionary—did and does still today.”

From left: Fathers Francis, Steve, and Isaac share a joyful moment as the visiting priests finally arrive in Cincinnati after a very long flight.

Cameroonian Priests Join Glenmary’s Mission Effort

Glenmary Home Missioners has welcomed two visiting priests from Cameroon, Africa: Fathers Francis Ncham Wuyen and Isaac Anuchem. The pair recently arrived in the United States and have begun their official assignments at Holy Family in Lafayette, Tennessee, and St. Michael the Archangel in Erwin, Tennessee, as missionary associate pastors. “I like the spirit of Glenmary,” says Father Isaac, “of sacrificing for others.”

Both men bring with them not only deep pastoral experience but also a heart for mission. In preparation for their work in communities with growing Latino populations, Fathers Francis and Isaac have been actively studying Spanish. Their commitment to learning the language reflects their desire to connect meaningfully with the people they’ll be ministering to.

The mission areas are often underserved and diverse. The addition of these two dedicated priests reinforces Glenmary’s ongoing commitment to reaching the spiritual needs of all, especially in places where the Church is not yet present or is under-resourced.

“It is a happy opportunity,” says Father Francis. “I pray that God be with me to lead me through to be able to do the work.”

OUTREACH / Catholic Media Awards

Glenmary Awarded Best Website

The Glenmary Communications and Marketing Team was honored by the Catholic Media Association with nine awards for outstanding journalism and communications.

They include two first-place awards for Best Website for a Magazine and Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues, which featured Glenmary Brother Larry Johnson and Holy Family mission's Matthew 25 Ministries.

We also received three second place awards—one featuring an essay by Father Vic Subb—one third place, and three honorable mentions.

El Reto Glenmary, our Spanish publication edited by our own Omar Cabrera, was also awarded a second place, third place, and honorable mention.

For a full list of recognitions and links to our award-winning work, visit glenmary.org

BELOW: Three members of our communications team pose with a cardboard Pope Leo at the Catholic Media Awards night.

FORMATION / New novices

Novices Begin Glenmary Journey

In June, Glenmary welcomed Ángel Barocio and Hillary Ladema to the novitiate year. Both men have been involved with Glenmary in the past year, studying at our house of formation in St. Meinrad and spending time in the missions to understand the Glenmary way of life.

The novitiate year is set apart, however, as an intensive year dedicated to helping the men discern if being a Glenmary missioner is their vocation. Ángel and Hillary will spend the first half of their year in the North Carolina missions, fully experiencing what it means to be a Glenmary missioner. The second half of the year will be spent in Cincinnati, at Glenmary’s headquarters, for study, formation, and prayer.

Typically, the end of the novitiate year leads to the novices taking their first oath. Walking with Ángel and Hillary is Father Steve Pawelk, Glenmary’s second vice president and novitiate director. Join us in praying for Father Steve, Ángel, and Hillary as they embark on this next step in their vocational journey.

around the missions

MISSION ANNIVERSARY

Holy Trinity in Martin County, North Carolina, celebrated their 64th anniversary on June 15, their feast day. They celebrated with Mass, food, and entertainment that showcased their diversity: an English song and dances in Peruvian, Mexican, Ghanian, and Philippine styles. Father Michael Burbeck, vicar general of the Diocese of Raleigh, joined them in celebration.

DIOCESAN CELEBRATION

Glenmary missioners and parishioners attended Mass with Bishop Stephen D. Parkes and the Diocese of Savannah to celebrate the 175th anniversary of their founding on July 19. Glenmary’s first mission in the diocese began in 1944 in Statesboro, Georgia. Since then, we have had 21 mission parishes there, including the two current missions in Blakely and Cuthbert.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Leaders from Jesus the Good Shepherd Church in Maryland, who have had a long history supporting Glenmary, continue to lead Vacation Bible Schools at Glenmary missions. This summer they led two successful one-week programs at St. Joan of Arc in North Carolina and Holy Family in Tennessee.

BELOW: Sister Imelda Ngwitu teamed up with fellow volunteers from MD to help make Vacation Bible School a joyful success in TN.

SUCCESS IN Smith County

Catholics in Smith County, Tennessee, find a faith home in Glenmary’s mission.

TEXT AND PHOTOS

BY THERESA NGUYEN-GILLEN

Five years ago, there had never been a Catholic Mass celebrated in Smith County, Tennessee. In January 2021, Glenmary Father Don Tranel arrived there “with nothing.” Six months later, he celebrated the first Catholic Mass at the local Methodist church. Two years after that, the first Catholic church—St. Peter the Apostle—was dedicated in Carthage, the county’s seat.

“It’s a real Glenmary success story,” says Father Don. And today, the parish continues to find success.

“The Baptist church in town thinks it’s great when they have 30 or 40 people come a weekend,” says Chris Woodard, a parishioner who greets every person who walks through the doors of the church. “And here we are with about 100 people a weekend.”

It’s true—cars are overflowing in the parking lot and the adjacent grassy area before the Sunday morning Mass. And inside the church, almost every pew is filled.

The crowd may have been drawn by the Knights of Columbus breakfast held after Mass on this particular day in mid-July, but Father Don alludes to a greater devotion taking place in Smith County. “This is the most important thing we do this week,” he says, as he begins the Mass in prayer.

“And here we are with about 100 people a weekend”

—CHRIS WOODARD

Supporting the community

While Mass continues, several Knights of Columbus are setting up tables and chairs in the parish hall.

The Knights of Columbus is an international, fraternal organization founded in 1882 by a parish priest “to bring financial aid and assistance to the sick, disabled, and needy members and their families,” according to its website.

Carl Rasmussen, who is frying sausage patties for the breakfast, is the newly appointed financial secretary for the parish’s Knights council. Like many other men in the parish, Carl was a knight at a previous parish before he joined St. Peter the Apostle.

“We wanted to be a separate council,” he says, to

raise funds and support their own projects in the parish and throughout the community.

One such project was purchasing an ultrasound machine for the local pregnancy resource center.

It’s one of the many things that Michael Manor, a fellow knight, says has helped shift the attitude toward Catholics in the area.

Compared to 10 years ago, Michael emphasizes that the Catholic community is now more accepted in Smith County. He can see the change in his family, especially his teenage daughter. “My daughter, who just graduated, is not afraid to admit she’s Catholic,” he says.

Working together

Although the Catholic community in Smith County was started by Father Don, it’s the parishioners who help keep the church going.

“St. Peter’s is blessed with everyone who does all they can,” says Chris. Volunteers clean the church, mow the lawn, and perform various other tasks around the church.

A kitchen was built and finished in the parish hall earlier this year. Much of the physical labor was done by parishioners, and the cabinets were donated. Even the sausage for the Knights breakfast was donated.

It might not seem like much, but it adds up. “With everyone doing sweat equity instead of paying to have everything done,” says Chris, “we are able to have a parish that is paid for.”

Paying off the debt for the church building is an-

other milestone that St. Peter the Apostle has accomplished in a little under two years. Much of it was possible thanks to Glenmary’s supporters, says Michael.

“It’s a big deal for a small parish,” he adds. Indeed, it’s an important step for the parish toward self-sufficiency and growth.

Finding a faith home

The vitality of this small-town church can be seen in the success of the Knights breakfast. “Fifty-four people showed up,” says Carl. “It was great.”

One of those 54 people was Wendy Clonch, who is not Catholic and was even volunteering to flip pancakes for the breakfast.

She has seen the growth of the church through a longtime friend, who shared his excitement that St. Peter was being built in Smith County after living there for 17 years.

After persistent asking, “he talked me into coming” in December, Wendy says. “And I never looked back. It felt like home.” She plans on joining the church when RCIA classes begin in the fall.

From new ministries to new members, St. Peter the Apostle has, in Father Don’s words, become a true success. Catholics in Smith County, and even nonCatholics, not only have a place to worship, but also they are finding a faith home.

Assistant Editor Theresa Nguyen-Gillen holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.

IN SEARCH OF Latino Vocations

Hispanics represent the vast majority of Glenmary parishioners, but the congregation only has one Latino priest.

BY OMAR CABRERA

The presence of Latinos in the Glenmary missions has grown in recent decades. Mostly immigrants from México and Central America, now they account for about 75% of all the people whom the congregation serves. But in contrast with this reality, Glenmary only has one Latino priest.

Viviana Fernández, a parishioner at the Glenmary mission in Livingston, Tennessee, says that “we are in great need of Hispanic or Latino vocations because many of us don’t speak English.” She adds—in Spanish—that many Hispanics have not had the opportunity to study English, whether because it’s too expensive, because they have to work long hours to make ends meet, or for other reasons.

“We really need, and we implore God’s help so that we could have Hispanic and Latino members under final profession to serve this population,” says Father Aaron Wessman, Glenmary’s first vice president. He highlights that many Glenmarians have gone a long way to learn Spanish in order to communicate with these immigrants. But very few speak the language in a fluent way.

“Attending Mass in English or in a bilingual format when you only master one language is a challenge,” says Viviana, in Spanish. Moreover, each ethnic group has its own culture and traditions that are better understood by someone who comes from that culture, adds Glenmary Brother David Henley.

A nationwide situation

Latinos account for almost half of all Catholics in the United States, but represent only 17% of all the priests ordained nationwide, on average in the last 10 years (see details in graphic).

To better serve this growing flock of immigrants in its mission territory, Glenmary is strengthening its efforts to attract more Hispanic prospects.

As part of these efforts among Latinos, Glenmary

held this past June a retreat for young men in the town of Villa de Reyes, in the state of San Luis Potosí, in central México. The retreat was prepared in collaboration with Father José Ángel Loredo, a Mexican priest who once explored a vocation with Glenmary.

Father Aaron and Brother David led the group of 16 youth who gathered for one day. “At the end of the day, we asked them, ‘How many of you would like to continue in the process with us, to know us more and continue discerning a vocation with Glenmary?’” Brother David says. Nine of the guys responded affirmatively.

After the retreat, Brother David and Father Aaron visited the homes of five of the young men, who invited the Glenmarians to know their families.

Years of work in México

This was the third retreat that Glenmary organized in México. The first one took place in January 2024 and was led by Brother David and Father Charles Aketch. A year later, in January 2025, Father Steve Pawelk met with some of the same young men and others.

In the group who participated in the most recent retreat in México, there are some young men who are already studying in a seminary in that country.

The effort to attract Latinos to a vocation within Glenmary also includes constant communication. Father Steve, who serves as novitiate director, leads a group of young men who connect once a month via video. Some of them live in México, while others live

Priests Ordained IN THE UNITED STATES

in the United States.

“I usually bring a Glenmarian or a coworker to talk about their ministry,” Father Steve explains. “I send them pictures, for example, when the ordinations took place, and they send me pictures. They also talk to each other about their own journey.”

In addition to having a Latino priest, Glenmary also has a novice, Ángel Barocio, from México. The society also continues recruiting in Kenya and, of course, in the United States.

Father Aaron foresees that in some 10 years, about 50% of the Glenmary priests and Brothers will probably be men from East Africa, the majority from Kenya. Another 25% will be “folks whose country of origin is the US but who come from diverse backgrounds: maybe it’s somebody who has roots in the Philippines but was born in the US, somebody who has roots in Vietnam but was born in the US, and of course, Anglos. And then, I would say, the other quarter will be, hopefully, folks born in México and other countries of Latin America.”

Meanwhile, Viviana, the parishioner in Tennessee, says that she is among many Catholics who pray for more vocations in general to the Church, and specifically for more Latino priests and Brothers.

Assistant Editor Omar Cabrera holds an MA in journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He is editor of El Reto Glenmary.

Five Oaths, One Calling

Called to action: Five men take their first step toward becoming Glenmary priests.

TEXT AND PHOTOS

BY FRANCISCO CEPEDA

The missioner calling isn’t just an ideal—it’s a presence in laughter, tears, shared prayers, and quiet service. These moments reveal the heart of Glenmary’s mission. This past June, at Glenmary’s an-

nual assembly, five men—Evarist Mukama, Aloysius Ssennyondo, Moses Ndung’u, Alex Omari, and Raphael Kavita—took their first oath, beginning their journey toward serving God’s people as future Glenmary priests.

Evarist Mukama: Called to where hope is needed most

From early on, Evarist Mukama recalls feeling a quiet, steady pull toward people on the margins. In his native Uganda, he describes the struggles of the poor and the overlooked—those often left without the resources or support they need to thrive. Over time, that awareness grew into a calling: to dedicate his life to serving them.

With cheers ringing out from Glenmarians, family, and friends, these men take their first steps on the journey toward Glenmary priesthood.

“I’ve always wanted to bring something good, something lifegiving, to people who are frequently forgotten,” he says.

This desire became real when he encountered Glenmary. “I learned about Glenmary’s mission to serve the spiritually and materially poor in rural America, and something clicked. This was exactly what I had been looking for.”

Now, having taken his first oath toward becoming a Glenmary priest, Evarist is committed to a mission that aligns fully with his heart. “Glenmary’s charism is to go where the Church is not yet present. That means accompanying people who may feel isolated—not just physically, but spiritually.”

He speaks with conviction

Glenmary’s charism is to

go where the Church is not yet present.

about the need for hope in rural America. “People often assume poverty only exists in big cities or in developing countries,” he says. “But the need in small towns is just as real and just as deep.”

For Evarist, joining Glenmary isn’t about fame or accolades. It’s about answering a call to live out the Gospel among people who hunger not only for food but also for meaning and purpose. “This is where I’m meant to be,” he says. “Serving, listening, being present—that’s where I find joy.”

Aloysius Ssennyondo: Walking with the people of rural America

Sharing in this joy, Aloysius Ssennyondo describes his Glenmary calling with a simple phrase: “to live my Christian vocation authentically.” That authenticity, for him, means bringing the Gospel to small and often humble communities throughout rural America.

“I chose to take my first oath with Glenmary so I could fully live out their charism,” he says. “To go where the Church isn’t yet, and to serve the people of God with all my heart.”

For Aloysius, rural ministry isn’t an end in itself— it’s a purposeful calling, not just a stepping stone. The small-town settings Glenmary serves are not only underserved but also often forgotten. “I believe the Gospel is meant for everyone, everywhere,” he explains. “Establishing a Catholic presence in these places is a sacred responsibility.”

That sense of mission drives his every step. “Whether it’s organizing a small prayer group or visiting a family in their home, everything we do flows from the desire to love and serve.”

Having taken his first oath toward the Glenmary priesthood, Aloysius sees his path as one of deep commitment—not just to Glenmary Home Missioners, but to the people he’ll accompany. “Glenmary of-

fers more than just ministry. It gives me the chance to live out a call that’s been in my heart for a long time.”

Moving forward, Aloysius remains grounded in Glenmary’s mission through “word, sacrament, prayer, and service.” Aloysius emphasizes, “I may not know what every step of the journey will look like, but I know who I’m walking with—and who I’m walking for.”

Moses Ndung’u: Finding joy in serving others

Like Aloysius, Moses Ndung’u lights up when he talks about his calling. Originally from Kenya, Moses says, “I am happy when I’m serving people—especially those in need. It’s how I express my love for God.”

That joy became a focal point when he learned about Glenmary’s mission to serve rural communities across the United States. “These places may be small,” he says, “but the people there have big hearts. I feel at home with them.”

Having taken his first oath, Moses is officially on the path toward becoming a Glenmary priest. For him, it’s not about titles or recognition. He emphasizes, “It’s about being with people, getting to know their lives, their struggles—and helping however I can.”

He’s especially moved by the way Glenmary priests connect with the people they serve—a connection he hopes to share in one day.

“Watching Glenmary priests consecrate the Eucharist, bring Communion to someone who can’t attend Mass, or simply sit and listen—I see the kind of priest I want to be,” he says. “I hope to be a Glenmary priest.”

Moses also appreciates the community he’s found within Glenmary. “Everyone is so focused on love and service,” he says. “We support each other—and we grow together.”

His formation journey will continue in mission settings where he’ll gain pastoral experience. But already, Moses feels deeply aligned with Glenmary’s purpose. “To go where others don’t, to love where love is needed the most. That’s what Glenmary is about.”

I’d be starting churches and helping them grow in places like Appalachia.”

Like others in his Glenmary cohort, Alex took his first oath as part of his journey to becoming a Glenmary priest. For him, the mission is clear: to live the Gospel by being present in rural American communities that often lack access to the Church.

We support each other—and we grow together.

—MOSES NDUNG'U

He adds with a smile, “And I’m grateful to be part of it.”

Alex Omari: A gift to serve across continents

Alex Omari reflects upon his journey from Kenya to the rural South. He sees grace at every step. “It’s a gift from God to serve here,” he says. “I never imagined

“Being a Glenmarian means going out to where others might not go,” he explains. “We bring faith, yes—but also hope and presence.”

Alex feels honored to be part of a team that helps form new faith communities from the ground up. “There’s so much joy in being with people as their church comes to life,” he says. “We’re not just visiting—we’re building something lasting.”

He’s quick to point out that the Glenmarian life isn’t always easy. It often involves long road trips, demanding mission hours, attending plenty of small gatherings, and countless one-on-one conversations. “But that’s what I love,” he says. “It’s real. And it’s needed.”

Aloysius Ssennyondo

Aloysius Ssennyondo

Hometown: Masaka, Uganda

It’s a gift from God to serve here.

Hometown: Kabale, Uganda

These five men begin their ministerial journeys to provide both material and spiritual support for residents living in the rural South and Appalachia.

Moses Ndung’u

Hometown: Nakura, Kenya

With humility and gratitude, Alex sees this path as one that chose him as much as he chose it. “God placed this mission in my heart,” he says. “Now I get to live it.”

Raphael Kavita: Tending the flock with compassion

Living this heartfelt mission path, Raphael Kavita speaks with conviction when describing his Glenmary journey: “For me, this is a commandment from Christ himself: to tend the sheep.”

Originally from Kenya, Raphael has long felt called to serve the poor and vulnerable. That call led him to take his first oath with Glenmary, dedicating himself to bringing faith and comfort to rural communities in the US.

“When I walk with people in the rural areas, I feel peace in my heart,” he says. “It’s not always easy, but it feels right.”

For Raphael, Glenmary’s mission is more than a ministry—it’s a way of life. It means being present to people in their everyday struggles, showing up not only with prayer but also with a willingness to listen, serve, and grow in faith.

He’s especially moved by how open and welcoming people have been. “Even if they don’t know much about the Catholic faith, they know love—and that’s where we begin.”

Having taken this first formal step toward Glenmary priesthood, Raphael feels both humbled and energized. “I’m just at the beginning, but already I see how much this mission matters,” he says. “It’s about caring for souls, not judgmentally, but with compassion.”

He smiles as he reflects on the journey ahead. “I may be far from my goal to be a Glenmary priest,” he says, “but I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.”

Answering the call—together

Each of these five men has taken a bold step in faith, leaving behind what is familiar to walk with those in often forgotten places. In taking their first oaths toward Glenmary priesthood, they are saying “yes” to a life rooted in mission, service, and presence.

As Father William Howard Bishop, founder of Glenmary, once said, “There was never a time when missionary activity was more needed in our beloved land than it is today.”

Let us pray for these men, support them, and follow their example as we, too, find ways to bring the Gospel to life wherever it is most needed.

Francisco Cepeda, editor, holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from New Mexico State University.

FATHER

VIC’S

New Chapter

Health struggles have taken Glenmary Father Vic Subb out of the missions. But he continues to strive to be a missioner every day.

BY THERESA NGUYEN-GILLEN

At 72 years old, Glenmary Father Vic Subb has spent his priesthood in a ministry of presence. He’s built churches, taken parishioners to doctor’s appointments, and helped migrants apply for green cards. But the mission field looks different for him today.

Earlier this year, medical struggles forced him to take a step back from his most recent assignment in Washington County, North Carolina. Today, Father Vic spends his days in a rehabilitation center in Cincinnati, near Glenmary’s headquarters.

“That sense of being a missioner,” says Father Vic. “I ask myself here—I’m in a nursing home now. How can I be a missioner today? How can I be a missioner to those whom I meet?”

A humble experience

It started in March of this year, when Father Vic began to lose the ability to walk. He has used a cane for several years due to a rare spinal cord disease, but this was different. The doctor didn’t have an explanation for the cause either. “It may be a combination of many things,” he had been told.

Father Vic was the pastor of St. Joan of Arc, where he had been since 2023. Glenmary Father Cavine Okello, who was the associate pastor at the time, was away in Kenya celebrating his ordination to the priesthood.

“I wanted to be there for the people for Ash Wednesday, so they would have a priest there,” Father Vic says. So he stayed in North Carolina instead of returning to Cincinnati for medical attention.

“By the time Ash Wednesday came, I couldn’t walk anymore,” Fa-

ther Vic says. He needed help with simple tasks like standing up or getting dressed. “It was very humbling.”

When Father Cavine returned to the parish, Father Vic made the trip to Cincinnati. Since then, he’s been in rehabilitation centers to heal wounds and regain the strength in his legs. He hopes to be able to walk again someday.

“It’s another chapter in my life,” he says.

Listen, pray, visit

After years of being a pastor, Father Vic knows the value of listening to each person he encounters. “It’s important to lift other people up,” he says. “Even as a pastor, I lead the people, but it’s their church. And I have to listen to them all the time.”

That mentality hasn’t changed even though his scenery has. After nine weeks at one rehabilitation center, he recently moved to a different place. “One of the ladies said—when I left she said—‘Well, when we felt bad, we knew we could come to you, and we would feel better.’”

And as he settles into this new place, he surmises that he has new people to meet, to listen to, and to hear stories from.

“And yes, there are sometimes I get down,” Father Vic admits. “I see something on the other side of the room, and I can't get that; I’m in my bed.”

“But I pray here,” he says.

Another thing that gives him joy is connecting on the phone with friends and former parishioners. He’s had visitors from Lafayette and Celina, Tennessee, where he was pastor for many years. Others want to come from Alabama and farther, but Father Vic objects that it’s too far for them to travel, so they visit over the phone instead. “People come to visit and support me, and it’s just amazing,” he says.

“I wish I could be with them,” says Father Vic, “but I definitely have been in prayer for them.”

Continuing ministry

Another milestone that Father Vic has reached is receiving senior membership in Glenmary, which was granted to him this summer. “It feels so funny being a senior member,” he says. “But that's what I am; I can't do ministry in our missions.”

Although he won’t be physically in the missions, at least not anytime soon, he is still involved in plenty of ministries. He’s currently on three boards or committees to share his wisdom and expertise: The Glenmary Challenge board, the student formation committee, and the committee for Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation.

And he continues to bring the Glenmary spirit to everything he does—even if he’s confined to a bed in a rehabilitation center. “I think that’s so important: the ministry of presence,” Father Vic says. “Being there. So, I continue that even now. I can’t leave anyway, but I do that now. Try to be present to people and to listen to them and lift them up.”

by Omar Cabrera

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

POPE FRANCIS

ˮHow I would like a church that is poor and for the poor.” —Pope Francis The last page of the Summer 2025 issue is awe-inspiring. I would like to see it in a smaller version so that I could use it as a bookmark. Thank you.

Mary Pillar Enterprise, OR

THANKS FOR VISITING

Claire and I want to thank you (Father Chet) for your invitation to join you at a Mass on July 19, 2025, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Keller, Texas. We met you after your 5:30 p.m. Mass presentation and introduced ourselves. John wears hearing aids. Although he can hear very well, he rarely can understand the words being said. Your homily was the first he has been able to hear and understand in a long time, from the beginning until the end of your homily.

Thank you! It was a fairly long drive in the evening traffic from Arlington to Keller, but we felt it was well worth our time and effort. We also want to commend the editors and writers of your Glenmary Challenge periodical.

John has followed your organization’s efforts in ‘Anticatholic Appalachia,’ in particular at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Erwin, Tennessee.

Your article in the Spring 2025 issue by editor John Feister was well done. Our John grew up in Bristol, not far away from Erwin, and became a Roman Catholic while stationed overseas with the US Air Force 55 years ago. Keep up your organization's outstanding work in rural areas.

John and Claire Miller, Arlington, TX

GOOD WORK

Working in the USA, I enjoy the Glenmary Challenge magazine I do my best to make sure it gets read. Please keep up the good work.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Chapman, Oelwein, IA

A LASTING INFLUENCE

From January to March 1974, I lived with my brother in Glenville, WV. At the time, I was not a person of faith and had never been inside a Catholic church.

One evening, walking past the little church, I was drawn in by the sound of an organ and voices singing. I didn’t know the hymn then but later learned it was “Humbly We Adore Thee.” Sitting in the back, I felt comforted somehow.

I spoke with the priest a few times during those months. I remember asking if Catholics believed in reincarnation.

WE WANT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR!

He gave me a prayer card with the Our Father and suggested I pray it. Another time, I asked about the Church’s attitude toward women.

He responded with Dorothy Day’s autobiography, The Long Loneliness—a good answer. I still have that copy.

In March, I left Glenville for Alaska but never arrived. Through a series of events, I ended up in St. Louis, where I met the Jesuits, was baptized, and entered the Church. I earned a theology degree from Saint Louis University and a graduate degree in pastoral studies from Aquinas Institute.

The Saint Louis Jesuits, just beginning to launch their music, invited me to sing with them, and my husband and I still sing in the choir. I now work as an associate editor with Liguori Publications.

I have often thought of that young priest and wondered if he is still among us. Mostly, I wanted to say thank you and let you know that your ministry made a difference in my life.

After reaching out, Lucy Putnam of your staff discovered that the priest at that time was Glenmary Senior Member Father Dave Glockner.

Thank you, Father Dave.

Paige

Byrne Shortal, Rural MO

Send to: Editor, Glenmary Challenge, PO Box 465618, Cincinnati, OH 45246. Email: challenge@glenmary.org. Comments are printed at the discretion of the editor and may be edited for clarity and space. Please include a postal address with your letter.

Join Glenmary’s effort to provide hope to others through participating in our Adult Volunteer Week, October 26 – November 1.

Visit volunteer.glenmary.org for more information.

DID YOU KNOW?

Since 1939, Glenmary priests and Brothers, along with coworkers, have successfully nurtured and/or established

Today, our missioners continue to staff missions and ministries in Appalachia and the South.

However, we still need more support to fully meet the material and spiritual needs of those living in the region.

BELOW: Father Aaron Wessman proudly displays a US map highlighting Glenmary’s growth since 1939 to fellow missioners, novices, and friends.

MORE THAN MISSION

Is God calling you to help meet this need?

As our Founder Father William Howard Bishop said, “There was never a time when missionary activity was more needed in our beloved country than it is today.”

by Theresa