Inside this issue:
Midwest Province Ordains Rev. Derek Swanson
Perboyre Mission House Opens Its Doors in Chicago
The Partnership Against Poverty
Gateway Vincentian Volunteers 2003-2004
Also visit:
Vocation TeamWorks
by Ronald J. Hoye, CM
Summer Images
The summer months of vocation work are filled with activities of service and retreat for young people. The usual demands of school that excuse so many during the academic year are suddenly suspended and there is time to commit to other things. Here are a few events that brought young people together in the Vincentian spirit of service and prayer during the summer of 2003. More images & news online at: www.cmvocation.org/summer.
SOMOPRO
The Southeast Missouri Project (SOMOPRO) is an annual trip to New Madrid, Missouri -- one of the poorest counties in the United States -- where young people from all over the country spend five days roofing and painting the houses of the poor. Living in community (which is code for "sleeping on the floor") we begin our day at 4:45 a.m., work until 3:00 p.m., celebrate Eucharist at 5:00 p.m. and spend the rest of the evening playing cards, eating and enjoying one another. Hard work-prayer-service-community. What more could you ask for?
Vincentian Mission Trip
Every year, between 50 and 65 youth from Southeast Missouri gather at a Vincentian apostolate and volunteer five days in service to the poor. Coordinated by the Vocation TeamWorks office, this year’s outing was held in New Orleans, Louisiana. St. Stephen’s parish was the host for meals and St. Joseph’s parish provided the direction of outreach which included yard work, painting, youth services and ministry to the elderly. It ended with the obligatory Swamp Tour. "Oh, look, an alligator!" Next year’s site is currently being planned.
Vincent Experience 2
The Eastern Province Youth Committee spent the last two summers hosting a gathering of young people from across the nation who were interested in celebrating their Vincentian identity and roots. Called "The Vincent Experience," after our founder St. Vincent de Paul, this year’s gathering included 180 youth and young adults and over 20 Vincentian priests, brothers, and Daughters of Charity. The Vocation TeamWorks office sponsored 18 young people including students from DePaul University and Youth from Southeast Missouri (see above). It was a weekend of prayer, reflection, presentations and yes, karaoke! The summer of 2004, another Vincentian gathering will take place at DePaul University. (More information when available at www.VincentiansUSA.org.)
Please let me know how I might help you call others (or yourself) to discern a vocation as a Vincentian! And please, as always, pray for vocations.
The Vocation TeamWorks group of young people attending the Vincent Experience 2 in New York this summer.
Vincentian is published bimonthly by the Midwest and Southern Provinces of the Congregation of the Mission, the Vincentian Priests and Brothers, to promote the apostolic works of its members and those of the larger Vincentian Family.
Congregation of the Mission, Vincentian
Attn: News Editor
13663 Rider Trail North
Earth City, MO 63045
phone: 314-344-1184
fax: 314-344-2989
email: info@vincentian.org
web: www.vincentian.org