“Chicken line” theology

Beyond church walls

By Father Steven Pawelk

Many religious communities focus on the “preferential option for the poor” or speak of working with the marginalized of today’s society. Glenmary Home Missioners is one community that shares this focus, especially among new immigrants in the rural areas of the United States. The pastoral ministry of Father John Brown and service ministry of Brother David Henley represent this well.

Glenmary, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a society of priest and brothers, who along with lay coworkers work to establish the Catholic Church in rural counties where it has never been present. Currently, Glenmary staffs over 40 missions and ministries in Appalachia, the South, and the Southwest. Glenmary embraces its service among the poor or marginalized not just with prayer and comforting words, but by walking with them in all circumstances and any situation. By going beyond the church walls and into the neighborhoods and work places, the gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed.

Father John Brown, who pastors two Glenmary mission communities in Georgia, also offers Mass and ministers to the migrant workers living and working in Stillmore, Ga., a small rural community without a Catholic Church. When Father Brown started offering Mass for the migrants, he used whatever gathering space could be found—a vacant garage, an outdoor site or the local community center. This year, the fledgling community moved into a pool hall without air conditioning and converted it into a chapel. Father John also assists the workers by providing food, offering translation services, and transportation to the doctor.

A poultry plant is the largest employer in Stillmore. Two years ago the majority of those working at the plant were undocumented. The plant was raided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) two years ago. The raid, which made national news, separated children from parents and people went into hiding and many left the area permanently. Father Brown, with his fellow missioners, worked to reconnect families and helped folks find legal assistance. And most of all, helped facilitate a healing process.

Brother David Henley, who made his Final Oath in 2006, has focused his ministry on social justice, especially those issues affecting Spanish speakers. In all of his mission placements, he has worked as an advocate, translator and interpreter for the Spanish-speaking community. His assignment led him to a job in a Danville poultry plant. He says his religious vocation was an integral part of his work processing and packaging chickens.

“Glenmary brothers live out our vocation in the world, not just in ‘churchy’ settings,” he says. “My coworkers at the plant know I’m a brother and while we’re working, I get questions about religious life, the Church, Mary, the pope—I call it ‘chicken line theology.’” Today, he continues his work at the plant as a chaplain.

Your turn
If God were calling you to a life like this, what do you think would be your greatest satisfactions? Which would be your greatest challenges?