By Father Gerald Peterson

The Lumpkin County Commissioner, J. B. Jones, and the mayor of Dahlonega, Irwin Owen, have issued a joint proclamation declaring Sunday, May 6, as a special community day in honor of Brothers Terry O’Rourke and Paul Wilhelm. These civic leaders want to express the gratitude of the citizens of Lumpkin County to these Glenmary Brothers, recognizing the contribution these men have made in housing for the low-income over the past five years.

Working through Help-in-Housing, Inc., a nonprofit organization, Brothers Terry and Paul have, over the past five years, constructed 19 new low-cost homes for families in the Lumpkin County area. Without the perseverance, Christian witness, and skilled labor of the Brothers, these families had little or no chance of obtaining a home of their own. Terry and Paul’s work has reminded the entire local community of the need for more and better housing for the elderly and for families of limited financial resources.

On Sunday, May 6, the members of St. Luke Catholic Church will join with other citizens of Lumpkin County to honor Brother Terry O’Rourke and Brother Paul Wilhelm. A special Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. to be followed by a community picnic on the church property.

Terry and Paul are members of the Glenmary Home Missioners. They will soon be leaving Georgia to begin a new and larger low-cost housing assistance program in the Glenmary District of Northeast Mississippi and Northwest Alabama.

After the special celebration of May 6, proclaimed “’The Glenmary Brothers’ Day,” we hope to do a full, feature article on the dedicated work of these two men in the program of “Helping-in-House, Inc.”