Pilgrims honor retired priest for faith, friendship

August 17, 2023

For each of the last eight years, Father Ray McHenry has led a group of about 20 people on a pilgrimage to South Africa to witness their faith by sharing meals, handing out shoes and eyeglasses, and playing with some of the poorest children in the world.

The former pastor of the largest parish in Iowa, St. Francis of Assisi in West Des Moines, makes his annual pilgrimage to a rural area around Limpopo Province and the town of Mokopane in the northeastern part of South Africa.

Father McHenry travels at the invitation of former Mercy One family medicine physician and pain specialist, Dr. Jim Blessman, who left his medical practice in Des Moines to devote his life to helping the poor in South Africa.

As Father McHenry has come to know South Africa - he occasionally drops an African term or two with friends, rode an elephant and walked with lions - the people in and around the villages there have come to know him.

“He’s like a celebrity,” said St. Francis parishioners Mark and Joy Kellerman. When Father McHenry arrives at a missionary church in a small village, the children run to him.

“They love it when Father Ray comes,” said Blessman in agreement. “He’s a super star!”

The Kellermans asked Blessman, founder of the Blessman International charity, if there was a way to honor Father McHenry for building friendships and support of South Africans.

In fact, there is. Some of the people he’s grown to love will soon have a new place to experience God’s love with the construction of a new worship space in honor of the retired Iowa pastor.  

The new church will be built for a small but growing parish of about 40 people near a platinum mine in a rural area. Their current space is too small, about the size of a one-car garage. It has no water and no toilet in or near the church.

“I think truly, it was the Holy Spirit that spoke to me and it was like, this is what we’ve been looking for,” Blessman said.

Those who have traveled with Father McHenry and supporters of Blessman International have raised about $150,000 of the $175,000 needed for the new simple but larger church, including $15,000 by the parishioners who will benefit. 

Dr. Steve Craig and his wife, Mary Beth, traveled to South Africa twice with a group from St. Francis led by Father McHenry.

“It’s been so rewarding to witness his passion to serve the underserved in South Africa,” he said. “Our teams have helped build toilets, create wells, build needed housing and provide shoes, clothing and eyeglasses to those in need.

“On each of these trips, Father Ray has tried to also serve the Catholic communities we visit across Limpopo Province. We celebrate daily Mass during our 10-day trips, often with different local Catholic communities in the area,” he said.

“I can think of no more fitting tribute to Father Ray and his many years of service to the people of South Africa than to build a new church in his honor,” Craig said. 

Joy Kellerman said Father McHenry has made it his mission to serve the people of South Africa not just through charitable work but through his position as a priest.

“He leads daily Mass for the group in what is an amazing setting at the Blessman Lodge of Dreams. Praising God while in the midst of his beautiful creation is just perfect.

“In addition, he leads Mass at different parishes in the villages around Mokopane. It is just a blessing for the people there. They may go weeks or months between Masses depending on the availability of priests in the area,” she said. 

“It’s a big event when Father Ray is in town. The singing and worship is amazing. They are so appreciative of being able to celebrate the Eucharist and hold Mass with Father Ray. You can’t help but be moved by the passion the local people have for Jesus.”

To contribute to the buildng of the new church, contact Blessman International at 515-343-5920 or email office@bless maninternational.org.

Blessman says if the parish agrees to an expanded vision, his charity – which focuses on feeding 60,000 children a day – will raise funds for a preschool that also functions as a feeding center at the church. It will build a separate toilet building, which is common in that part of South Africa. 

People have been generous when Blessman calls and invites them to be a part of the project.

“People say this is great. We want to be a part of it,” he said. He hopes funds are in place so the parish can break ground in November and when Father McHenry visits in January, he can celebrate Mass in the new church.

Father McHenry feels humility in a couple of respects.

“I am humbled that so many people have followed me to South Africa and have been moved to help the people of St. Mark’s parish in the village of Masodi to build a church,” he said.

 “Where they’re worshipping now, there’s no beauty or dignity,” said Father McHenry. “Churches are signs of the pilgrim church on earth. They want a place where people know Christians are here.”