Global Fellows: A Parish Homily Program

In August of 2005 four seminarians from Saint Mary Seminary and two priest speakers from the dioceses of Paterson and Milwaukee traveled to Madagascar with the Global Fellows Program. During the ten-day formation journey the Global Fellows met with Church officials, local villagers, and brother seminarians. Seminarian (now Fr.) Mike Denk wrote the following reflection:

We had showed up to the shelter late so they quickly put us to work. They began bringing us big metal bowls of food, rice, chicken, and broth.I just stood back and watched in awe as over a hundred homeless people gratefully received food (all provided by CRS).I found out that they were supposed to eat around 11, but waited for us to come so that we could serve it. It was almost 2:00.The brother had guitars in his hands and a big smile on his face.Apparently he heard that I could play guitar.He said that after they all ate I would play for them along with Mike.When I got back out there Christine handed me a bowl with broth in it and I got to serve it to them.It was a very strange experience because I was down on my knees serving the same people that I had walked by on the streets.I looked at each person as I scooted up next to them and saw children with noses running, barely any clothes on... mothers with missing teeth, weak and skinny... and men with grey beards, straw hats, and glazed eyes.They all gratefully accepted what was given and not one asked for more.It is all they will have to eat for the next day or so.

When they were all fed we sang while Jared played the drum, Mike and I on guitars, and Christine with a rice shaker. H. Paul has been a trip – he is constantly reaching out to the people, doing whatever they are doing, and trying to interact with them however he can – he is non-stop in your face, in a good way. He picked this old lady up who didn’t even look like she could walk and they began dancing.In a moment the whole place was on their feet.For me it was an image I will never forget: playing and singing while homeless people danced and clapped their hands praising God.I watched as Christine danced with a lady, swinging her back and forth, and H. Paul’s smiling face popping up from the crowd, and before I knew it one hand grabbed the guitar and another pulled me into the motion.I experienced the beatitudes being lived out, a glimpse of what the kingdom of God will be like, a moment where I lost myself and became one with the poor.It was like a wedding feast – where all were fed, all were welcome, and all dance and sing with joy.What a privilege for me to be with them, to serve them and to dance with them.

The Living Man The Glory of God is the Living Man (St. Irenaeus)

In 2006, six seminarians inspired by a quote from St. Irenaeus ran the Cleveland Rite-Aid Marathon, and Half-Marathon and 10-K. They raised $1690 that was donated to an orphanage in Madagascar run by the Missionary of Charity Brothers. The orphanage was one of the places visited by the four Global Fellow Seminarians in 2005. That money was used to purchase notebooks and writing utensils for the students.

In 2007, for the third year a group from the seminary, seven seminarians and a member of the faculty again ran in the Cleveland Rite-Aid Marathon and Half-Marathon. $1620 was donated to the orphanage and $810 to the West Side Catholic Center that serves the poor and homeless in downtown Cleveland.