Jubilarians Celebrate Milestones

Spring is a time of celebration for many families, including the Vincentians. Like other
graduates, many priests and brothers were ordained or took their final vows in the late spring or early summer. Those celebrating milestone anniversaries of their ordination (for our priests) or their vows (for our brothers) are called Jubilarians – from the word “jubilee” – meaning a year of special grace and celebration. These milestones can be compared to those celebrated by married couples: 25, 50, 60 years or more. This year, the Midwest Province is delighted to have six Jubilarians. Congratulations to all on your many years of service!

Celebrating 70 Years

Reverend Jules G. Yallaly, CM

Father Jules Yallaly was born in 1909 in St. Mary’s, Missouri. He entered the Congregation of the Mission in 1927 and was ordained a priest in 1936 by Bishop C.H. Winklemann at St. Mary’s of the Barrens in Perryville, Missouri.

Fr. Yallaly taught Latin for many years in seminaries around the country, including St. Louis Prep Seminary from 1948 to 1949, and again from 1952 to 1957. He earned a doctorate in Latin language and literature from St. Louis University in 1952. After a distinguished teaching career, he took up hospital ministry. He gave faithful and distinguished service at DePaul Hospital in St. Louis from 1969 to 2000. He is now retired and living at the Vincentian residence at St. Mary’s of the Barrens. Father Yallaly loves music, and is often heard humming and singing as he moves about the building. He currently holds the distinction of being the oldest member in the Midwest Province!

Celebrating 60 Years

Reverend Edward Hartrick Sullivan, CM

Father Hartrick Sullivan was born in San Francisco, California, and entered the Congregation of the Mission in 1938. He was ordained a priest in 1946 by Bishop George Donnelly at St. Mary’s of the Barrens in Perryville.

Fr. Sullivan has had a long and multi-faceted career as a Vincentian. His first assignment after ordination was to the mission fields of China, but after only two years he was expelled by the Communists. Undaunted by this experience, he returned to the mis­sions from 1960 to 1975, serving in Taiwan. He served as a Navy chaplain for five years and put his military experience to use some years later as a chaplain for the Veteran’s Administration. Fr. Sullivan also taught on the seminary faculties in Denver, Colorado and Montebello, California. Parish assignments over the years took him to Denver; Lubbock, Texas; Cheyenne Wells, Colorado; and Newcastle, Wyoming. In 2004, Fr. Sullivan retired to the Vincentian residence at St. Mary’s of the Barrens, where he entertains confreres and staff alike with tall tales.

Celebrating 50 Years

Reverend Kenneth E. Grass, CM

Born in Perryville, Father Kenneth Grass entered the Congregation of the Mission in 1947 and was ordained a priest in 1956. In his years of priestly ministry, Fr. Grass has been assigned almost equally to both parochial and educational ministries. He served as associate pastor at St. Catherine Laboure Parish in Sappington (1973-1981), St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Perryville (1981-84) and St. Vincent de Paul Parish in St. Louis (1993-94). He also taught at seminaries in San Antonio, Texas; Perryville; and Santa Barbara, California. In 1994, Fr. Grass was assigned to St. Mary’s of the Barrens in Perryville, where he is a senior priest in residence.

Celebrating 50 Years

Reverend Alphonse X. Hoernig, CM

Father Al Hoernig, born in Zell, Missouri, entered the Congregation of the Mission in 1947 and was ordained a priest in 1956. Fr. Hoernig has spent most of his priestly ministry assigned to seminary education. He has taught at seminaries in San Antonio, Texas; Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Tucson, Arizona; and San Fernando, California. He also served as the local superior at the Vincentian residences in Cape Girardeau (1979-1985) and Perryville (1985-1994). Since 1994, Fr. Hoernig has enjoyed senior priest status at St. Mary’s of the Barrens in Perryville, where he is known as an avid woodworker. On weekends, he continues to give faithful service at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Silver Lake, Missouri.

Celebrating 50 Years

Reverend Arthur L. Trapp, CM

Father Art Trapp, born in Peoria, Illinois but raised in Los Angeles, entered the Congregation of the Mission in 1947 and was ordained a priest in 1956. After ordination, Fr. Trapp was assigned to the seminary apostolate. He earned master degree in history from St. Louis University in 1956 and a licentiate in sacred theology from Catholic University, Washington, D.C., in 1965.

Fr. Trapp taught for many years at the various Vincentian seminaries of the Midwest Province, and was the Rector of Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis from 1978 to 1985. For six years (1970-1976) Fr. Trapp was the Provincial Director for the Daughters of Charity, West Central Province, based in St. Louis. Most recently, he taught theology and did spiritual formation at Christ the King Seminary in Nyeri, Kenya. Fr. Trapp is now a senior priest in service at the Saint-Lazare Vincentian residence in St. Louis.

Celebrating 50 Years

Reverend Robert E. Wood, CM

Father Robert Wood, born in Chicago but raised in Bonne Terre, Missouri, entered the Congregation of the Mission in 1947 and was ordained a priest in 1956. All
of Fr. Wood’s assignments have been connected with the seminary apostolate. During his years of priestly ministry, he has taught at seminaries in Cape Girardeau; Los Angeles, California; Perryville; Maralal, Kenya; and Nyeri, Kenya, where he is currently assigned. He received a master’s degree (1967) in physics from St. Louis University, then a master’s (1969) and a doctorate (1986) in philosophy from DePaul University. Hundreds of seminary students have experienced Fr. Wood’s enthusiasm for teaching and often innovative ways of engaging his students. Those lucky enough to visit him at the seminary in Nyeri, Kenya benefit from his knowledge of African flora and fauna.