Caring for our Senior Priests and Brothers
Serving Men Who Have Served Others
Our senior Vincentian priests and brothers have experienced the blessings of a lifelong journey from Perryville to every coastline in America, and across the seas to China and Africa.
Now they return home to St. Mary’s of the Barrens, a place that is holy ground. Here the Vincentians were established in 1818, and here many priests and brothers joined the community. At the recently established Apostle of Charity Residence, these men, who have devoted their lives to Jesus Christ’s work on earth, have come home to a life of dignity, peace and compassionate care.
These men continue to live out their vocation through their participation in the celebration of the Eucharist and their prayers for the needs of others. As seniors, their physical energy may be diminished from what it once was, but they will always posses the spiritual energy and vitality of missionaries, pastors, educators, ministers of the Gospel of Christ, and leaders of prayer for the community of the Church.
“It is wonderful to be at St. Mary’s of the Barrens where our Vincentian Community was first established. It was here at the Barrens that I joined the Community and was ordained. It is hallowed ground. Here I find great companionship with confreres who have labored long and hard, and have many stories to share! And I have a lot of time to pray, to realize Jesus invites me to place my life in His hands – a great comfort when simple tasks become more difficult,” said Father Robert Wood.
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“It is necessary to be firm but not harsh in one’s conduct, and to avoid an unsavory sweetness that serves no purpose.”
