Glenmarian Assumes Presidency of Religious Brothers Conference
Brother Jack Henn: 'The work of brothers needs to go from invisible to visible'
CINCINNATI----Glenmary Brother Jack Henn was installed as the president of the Religious Brothers Conference (RBC) on July 21 at the organization's annual conv ention in New Orleans. He will lead the national organization of religious brothers in promoting an awareness of and the calling of brothers in the Church and society. Brother Henn, who currently serves on Glenmary's leadership team as second vice president, says he is humbled by his election. As president of the RBC, he hopes to encourage members to become self-promoters so others might see and appreciate the importance of brotherhood and might want to share in that calling by dedicating their lives to the vocation. "Typically brothers are not highly visible in their ministries," Brother Henn says. "In order for people----including men discerning a vocation----to better understand brotherhood, the work of brothers needs to go from invisible to visible." That's also one of the goals of a national group that has become known as the "Brothers Think Tank," of which Brother Henn is a member. The leaders and representatives of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, Religious Formation Conference, National Religious Vocation Conference and RBC met for the first time in November 2012 to brainstorm ways to enhance and promote vocations to religious brotherhood. "This is the first time that all the major conferences of the United States have joined together as one body to address the issue of declining numbers of brothers and to promote brotherhood as a vocation," he says. "As president of the RBC, I very much look forward to working with members of this group over the next three years." A native of Bellevue, Ky., Brother Henn spent from 2007-2011 ministering to those living in Bertie County, N.C., as a member of the Glenmary pastoral team serving The Catholic Community of Bertie County mission. In 2009, he was recognized as the Citizen of the Year by the Bertie County Chamber of Commerce for his contributions in caring for the county's elderly population and his other civic involvement. Thirteen of his 39 years in Glenmary have been dedicated to vocation and formation ministry. He has served two previous terms in Glenmary leadership and has ministered as a parish brother in Sylvania, Ga., and as an evangelization minister in Sautee, Ga. He completed a Master of Pastoral Studies degree at Loyola University (Chicago) in 1994. Before entering Glenmary in 1974, Brother Henn completed a bachelor's degree in accounting at Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Ky., and pitched for the college baseball team. Brother Henn still enjoys playing and watching sports for relaxation. -30- A digital or hard-copy photo of Brother Henn is available by contacting Glenmary's communications office at 513-881-7442. |