Inside this issue:
Outgoing Outreach At DePaul University
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Around the Provinces: Confrere News and Updates
MIDWEST PROVINCE:
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| John Rybolt | Jack Minogue | Stan Conner | John Gagnepain |
Kenmore Residence:
Father John Rybolt, CM, has been patrolling the world in search of Vincentian historical tidbits. He is currently searching Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. One might guess there is little to be found in these places, but Fr. John will certainly return with stacks of notes, photos, and maybe even some relics.
Father Jack Minogue, CM, is still on sabbatical, but managed to be chosen to receive the prestigious Polish Cross of Merit from the government of Poland this year. The award is given to individuals who have made a particularly meaningful contribution to Polish citizens and society. Fr. Jack was instrumental in establishing DePaul’s relationship with the Higher Business School in Nowy Sacz, Poland, where the School of Computer Science, Telecommunications and Information Systems maintains a master’s program in computer science.
St. Mary’s of the Barrens, Perryville, Missouri:
We extend a Happy Founders Day to all from The Barrens. We promise prayers for all and ask yours. We had a great retreat by Father Bob Schwane, CM. Father Jim Fischer, CM, is doing fine with his chemotherapy. It has slowed him down a bit, but still he is taking care of business at the Campus Ministry Center in SEMO. Father Charlie Saunders, CM, has had a low grade infection that we are doctoring and Brother Stan Conner, CM, had to have his port for dialysis replaced when it failed to function properly. The construction project now has a fence around it; the Novitiate Building is asbestos free and they are taking out the wood before razing it. The same process is taking place in the Student Building. There is an album of pictures, updated frequently of the campus and construction activity. Take a peek: http://home.amm.org/barrens/
Provincial Office:
Recent travelers to our Kenya mission at different times during November and December were Father Joe Geders, CM, (Provincial Treasurer) and Father Ray Van Dorpe, CM, (Assistant Provincial). Besides visiting most of the confreres and Daughters of Charity in the region, both Fr. Joe & Fr. Ray went to Kenya with specific assignments to fulfill. Fr. Joe presented the financial report that had been given to all the other regions of the Midwest Province during the Fall, and was brought up-to-date on improvements to the treasurer’s office at DePaul Centre. Fr. Ray led the associate students (those who have not made their novitiate) on their annual five-day retreat, and met individually with the confreres about personnel and apostolate issues. Both Fr. Joe & Fr. Ray returned with many travel stories and many pictures of wild animals.
DePaul House, Denver, Colorado:
The confreres of the Colorado region met at DePaul House to celebrate the 380th birthday of the Community. Some suffered from ailing bodies (human or vehicular) and could not make it. However, nine of us gathered for prayer followed by a social and a dinner at Il Fornaio in the Denver Tech Center. We were all seated at an oval table and the conversation was lively.
Father Bob Schwane, CM, went to Perryville on January 9 to give the retreat to the confreres of the Barrens. An added benefit for Fr. Bob was to see the Novitiate and Student Buildings before they were demolished. He managed to squirrel away some samples of brick and a corner of the mensa of the Novitiate altar (generously provided by Father John Gagnepain, CM). Fr. Bob’s greatest satisfaction was spending time with all the confreres of the house.
Father Larry Christiansen, CM, reports that on January 13, the parish of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Fort Collins, Colorado celebrated the dedication and blessing of the their new Parish Hall and Educational Center. Archbishop Chaput celebrated the dedication Mass along with priests of the Fort Collins Deanery. Confreres attending included FatherPaul Golden, C, and Brother Joe Hess, CM. The new parish hall seats 350 at banquet tables or 750 for meetings. It also has a nursery and two meeting rooms.
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| Larry Christiansen | Barry Moriarty | Rod Crowley | Ron Ramson |
DePaul Centre, Nairobi:
At the beginning of January, DePaul Centre admitted eight new initiates into the formation program. Over the next seven months, they will be given an introduction to the history and the spirituality of the Congregation and will attend a variety of courses to prepare them to enter the philosophy program in August. Father Barry Moriarty, CM, is heading the program, with assistance from Father Rod Crowley, CM, Sr. Alice Daly, DC, and Professor Chacko. Chacko is an Indian layman and a long time collaborator with us here in the Vincentian mission. With the admission of the initiates, DePaul Centre now has 31 seminarians in formation at various stages.
Beginning January 16, DePaul Centre hosted Father Ron Ramson, CM and Joseph and Nancy Mueller. Joseph Mueller is an international Vice-President for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the former National U.S. President of the Society. They were invited to mark the promulgation of the most recent revision of the Rule of the Society. While taking up residence at DePaul Centre, they moved around Kenya. By the end of their visit, they met over 15 conferences in both Nairobi and along the coast in Mombasa. At the closing Vincentian Family Celebration on January 29 at DePaul Centre, Mr. John Ndar, the National President of Kenya, expressed his thanks to Fr. Ron for coming to Kenya to speak about Blessed Frederic Ozanam and to train members of the Society. He also thanked Joseph Mueller for the instrumental role he played in moving the Society toward reform, revival and expansion. In addition, he expressed thanks to the Congregation of the Mission Midwest Province for providing an Impact Grant of $20,000 to revive the Kenyan national office, to purchase training supplies and equipment, sponsor workshops and publish the new rule.
Mark Your Calendars! Deacons Angelus Njagi, CM, George Busieka, CM, Lennoxie Lusabe, CM and Philip Njenga, CM are scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Anthony Ireri, IMC on Saturday, May 28, 2005, at Holy Family Basilica in downtown Nairobi. Please pray for the deacons over these next several months as they prepare for this important day.
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| John Richardson | Christopher Robinson | George Weber | Bob Lamy |
DePaul University:
On Saturday, November 20, Vincentians from around the United States joined the extended DePaul University family at the inauguration of Father Dennis Holtschneider, CM, as the 11th President of the University. More than 1,300 guests witnessed the official installation of DePaul’s new president in a celebration that included prayer, song, dramatic readings, reflection, applause and laughter. Guests included Francis Cardinal George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago, and DePaul’s two living past presidents - Father John Richardson, CM, and Father John Minogue, CM. Attendees included governmental representatives, church and civic figures, faculty, staff, students and delegates from 80 different academic institutions worldwide.
DePaul University’s Hay-Vincentian Leadership Project is working with Father Kevin Collins, CM, and the University’s division of student affairs to roll out all four of its leadership assessment tools over the upcoming months. This will mark the largest roll out of the tools to date. Recently, DePaul’s Fraternity and Sorority Executive Council, comprising student fraternity and sorority leaders, took the VLA-SELF individual leadership assessment and will be using the Hay Project’s materials and resources to develop their leadership development skills. The Council will also be taking other assessments and receiving mentoring throughout the spring and fall quarters. Visit the Hay Leadership Project’s updated website at: http://leadership.depaul.edu.
Perboyre Mission House:
Perboyre Mission House celebrated the Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton this year with a special commemoration of the 30th anniversary of her canonization and the 200th year of her conversion on Friday, January 7, 2005. This occasion brought together more than 60 confreres, Daughters of Charity, Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, DePaul University faculty and students, Vincentian Marian Youth, and friends and benefactors of Perboyre Mission House.
The celebration began with Father Christopher Robinson, CM, presiding. During the service, Sister Marlene Mondelek, SC, General Superior of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, offered a reflection on the life and spirituality of Elizabeth Ann Seton. The Chicago chapter of the Vincentian Marian Youth prepared and served the meal that followed vespers.
Perboyre Mission House observes First Fridays from September until June with Eucharistic Adoration, Sung Vespers, and Benediction at 5:00 p.m. followed by a simple meal. All are welcome to join us in prayer and fellowship.
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| Jerome Calcagno | Dennis Martin | Jim Steinbach | Miles Heinen |
SOUTHERN PROVINCE
Provincial Reappointed:
From Father Dan Borlik, CM: Let me first thank you for your confidence and support over the last few years and especially in the recent Provincial elections. Superior General, Father Greg Gay, CM, called me early one morning (mid-afternoon for him!) to tell me that he and the Curia had accepted the wishes of the confreres and confirmed my reappointment as Visitor, if I agreed. I did agree and promised to serve you to the best of my ability for the next three-year term, which began January 25, 2005. I also ask your prayers and find myself grateful for such generous and collaborative members and lay collaborators as well as our competent Councils.
Senior Men in New Orleans:
After a month of health leave in the fall, Father George Weber, CM, has returned to full duty as pastor of St. Stephen Parish – the parishioners are of course delighted and hopeful. Fr. George still suffers from a blood clot in his leg and we are monitoring his situation with his doctors.
Father Bob Lamy, CM, has learned to live with pain while still showing his zest for life and, occasionally being the life of the party! He continues his regular visits to Long Beach.
Father Jerome Calcagno, CM, at Our Lady of Wisdom Retirement Facility, has limited mobility but is doing well. I am grateful for the steady support given to our ailing confreres in New Orleans, especially to Father Dennis Martin, CM, for his visits and updates and Brother Jim Steinbach, CM, who is always so willing to provide transportation and hospitality to these men and to anyone visiting the area.
ex Visitatore verba varia:
I was delighted to see Father Miles Heinen, CM, and our seminarian Chad Howat, in an altogether too brief visit on December 6. They are both doing exceptionally well, in good spirits, and send their best to you. As you may know, Chad will soon be up for consideration to enter next year’s Internal Seminary in Philadelphia and Miles is half-way through his Masters of Arts in Theology program. Please keep them both in your prayers.
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.
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