Around the Provinces: Confrere News and Updates

Fr. Harry Slowey, CM		Fr. Tom McKenna , CM		Fr. Dennis Martin , CM		Fr. Jack Cawley , CM		Fr. Miles Heinen, CM

Midwest Province

Nairobi, Kenya – DePaul Centre

Currently, DePaul Centre is home to 42 students in various phases of formation. In January, eight new candidates entered the formation program under the guidance of Father Harry Slowey, CM. The new men are: David Ndicho, Leonard Kochwa, Wilfred Orina, Jude Mroso, Anthony Simba, Mathew Baluku, Saturday Vincent, and Bosco Mutinda.

The novices departed for their six-week apostolic interval on January 31. They served
at our parishes in Kamulu and Thigio, as well as with the Daughters of Charity at their mission in Chepynal, Kenya. Others went to Chipereria, Kenya, and to the countries of Tanzania and Ethiopia.

Father Tom McKenna, CM, the former provincial of the Eastern Province, has joined the confreres in Nairobi for the second semester. He is teaching Christology at Tangaza College and enjoying his first look at Kenya.

Father George Busieka, CM, has departed for St. Louis to begin his course of studies
in finance and management. Brothers Tim Opferman and Jim Donlevy, CMs, have been overseeing the rehab of the rectory in Kamulu at St. Vincent de Paul Parish. They report that the rehab is nearing completion.

Chicago – Perboyre Mission House

Mr. Jeremy Dixon, CM, took permanent vows with the Congregation of the Mission during Mass on the morning of January 24, 2009, at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Chicago. About 100 people joined the Vincentian community as Mr. Dixon made
his life-long commitment to remain in the Congregation. Congratulations!

Chicago – DePaul University

DePaul University is making its vast international collection of texts relating to the life and work of St. Vincent de Paul available through a new on-line digital repository, titled “Via Sapientiae.” The collection can be accessed at http://via.library.depaul.edu. Debuting with more than 20,000 pages of text, the initial content areas on the site are from the university’s extensive Vincentian collections, the most comprehensive in the world, reflecting DePaul University’s role as the premier international site for Vincentian studies. The site’s content will expand exponentially over the next several years as tens of thousands of additional pages are uploaded, and hundreds of thousands more pages of Vincentian texts in numerous languages are continually added.

The School of Public Service and Vincent on Leadership: The Hay Project are collaborating on two opportunities to offer the Values-Centered Leadership Certificate abroad. In April, the certificate will be offered in Manila, Philippines, in collaboration with Adamson University and the Vincentian Center for Asia Pacific. In July, All Hallows College in Dublin, Ireland, will offer the certificate as part of the “Leadership Week” component of the Community and Voluntary Services Management Summer School. Father Patrick Murphy, CM, will present at both programs. Online retreats featuring aspects of St. Vincent de Paul’s leadership and spirituality are available on the Hay Project’s website at http://leadership.depaul.edu.

Southern Province

Father Dennis Martin, CM, continues as resident fulltime chaplain to the Daughters of Charity at their care facility in Evansville, Indiana. Fr. Martin stays very busy with his daily visits, spiritual direction, and short courses to the Daughters.

Father Jack Cawley, CM, completed the 100 day program at Sangre de Cristo Renewal Center in early December then spent time with his family in Chicago. He is now in California as fulltime faculty member at St. John’s Theological Seminary at Camarillo, where he is Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education.

Father Perry Henry, CM, completed his program at All Hallows Renewal Center in Dublin, Ireland, and was sighted around Christmas in Beaumont, Texas, before traveling to Africa, India and other locales.

Father Miles Heinen, CM, completed his transitional time at Holy Trinity Residence in Dallas. He has been a great help at the parish, leading a novena in preparation for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. He has also teamed up with Benny Ruiz at the Provincial Office to finish archiving and shipping the Southern Province’s financial records to their new home in St. Louis. He has now taken residence in Philadelphia as the next Director of the Vincentian Solidarity Office (VSO).