Father Kevin Fausz, CM, Pastor, poses with students from St. Vincent High School in Perryville, Missouri who recently assisted with the 8th graders’ Confirmation retreat.
Our US Beginning
It was 1787 when the first French and English settlers came to Perry County, Missouri and 1812 when the first chapel was built and blessed by Vicar General James Maxwell. It was then in 1814 that Father Marie Joseph Dunand, a Trappist, visited Perryville from his home in Florissant, Missouri, and suggested to the people that they ask Bishop Dubourg to choose Perryville as the site for his diocesan seminary. The Bishop thought the “Barrens,” named by the French pioneers for the “beautiful prairie” amid the surrounding woods (as opposed to what might seem the name for a barren and unfruitful piece of land) an ideal place.
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
January 25 is the anniversary date of the founding of the Congregation of the Mission. On Sunday, January 29, 2006, St. Louis CMs, including youth from the Gateway Vincentian Volunteer program, gathered to celebrate the occasion. Nearly 30 were in attendance to share good food, conversation and fellowship topped off with an anniversary birthday cake.
Pictured are Fathers Ray Van Dorpe and Jim Cormack, CMs.
PROGRESS IN PERRYVILLE…
The Journey Home
Contributed by Father Joseph Geders, CM
With the mild winter weather, workmen have made good progress on our future home at St. Mary’s of the Barrens. One can see visible progress each day as the exterior of the building is finished. As of this writing, the roof is over sixty percent complete and the exterior brickwork is seventy-five percent complete. And, interior finish work has begun under the finished portion of the roof along with the installation of mechanical systems for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning.
In early February, the residents and staff participated in a “sit-in.” Representatives of three furniture companies brought samples of chairs for the common rooms and residents and staff were invited to sit in the chairs and rank their preferences to assist in selection. Thank you for your support of this project.
Obituaries
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Father James Graham, CM
1911-2005 -
Father Thomas Kavanaugh, CM
1914 – 2005 -
Father James A. Fischer, CM
1916 - 2005
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