Father Chet Artysiewicz and Brother Dennis Craig of the Glenmary Home missioners celebrated the 25th anniversary of their first oaths to Glenmary May 30.

Students in Glenmary’s novitiate together, they are now co-workers ministering in two of Glenmary’s newest missions; Christ Our King Parish, Greensboro, and Christ Our Savior Parish in nearby Eatonton, Ga.

A native of Wilmington, Del, Father Artysiewicz professed his first oath to Glenmary in 1969. His previous assignments include service at missions in Morehead, Ky., Waynesboro, Ga., and West Union, Ohio. He served five years as a vocation counselor in Fairfield, Conn.

He received a bachelor of arts degree from Fairfield University and a master of divinity degree from St. Louis University. He is the son of Chester and Reba Artysiewicz of New Castle, Del.

Commenting on his role as a missionary priest, Father Chet says, “The ministry is extremely challenging – especially in this period of the Church’s history.”

A native of Anthon, Iowa, Brother Craig professed his first oath to Glenmary in 1969.

His previous assignments include service at missions in Grayson, Ky., and West Union, Ohio. Additionally, he served six years as associate director of Glenmary’s house of study in Dayton, Ohio, and four years as associate director of Glenmary’s candidacy program in Hartford, Ky.

Brother Craig has also served as associate director of the novitiate at Glenmary headquarters in Cincinnati.

He attended Loras College and Xavier University and received a bachelor of arts degree from St. Louis University and a master of theology degree from Loyola University (Chicago). He is the son of Walter and Annabelle Craig of Anthon, Iowa.

Brother Craig has been nicknamed a “guardian angel” by the people he serves. This title is fitting and deserving, explains Father Artysiewicz.

“We think of guardian angels as those special messengers God had sent to us – personal companions to help us navigate the rocky shoals of life. Brother Dennis was dubbed ‘angelic’ because of his genuine concern for the welfare of others…He ministers in a calm and unassuming way.”

A Catholic society of priest, brothers and lay associates, Glenmary was founded in 1939 and ministers exclusively in the United States. The society is dedicated to establishing a church presence in areas where less than one percent of the population is Catholic. Members currently operate 75 missions in 12 states, serving the spiritual and material needs of the people in 16 dioceses.