Midwest Vincentian Newsletter

In May, the Congregation of the Mission celebrated the ordination of three priests.

“Priests are called to personify the living, saving presence of Jesus in His Church, offering His life and mercy in and through the Sacraments."

Archbishop Timothy Dolan

Each one comes from a different corner of the world and is embarking on a different path – but they are all grounded in a similar commitment to serve the People of God through the Vincentian way of life.

“Welcoming three new priests to the Western Province is a wonderful way to begin our first year as a new province. It gives us hope for the future,” says Father Perry Henry, CM, Provincial Superior.

“The country is multi-cultural and I like to think we are mirroring the diversity in society. These priests come from different backgrounds and bring a richness of life experiences to our Community,” says Fr. Henry.

The Vincentian is pleased to introduce the newest of our priests through the following profiles. See more detailed responses to our questions online at: www.vincentians.org.

Father Nhan Tran, CM

Fr. Tran was born in Vietnam during the war, the youngest of three sons. Under Communist rule, his family lived a life of poverty in a country village. His aunt, a Daughter of Charity, immigrated to the United States and gradually helped his parents and brothers join her in Oakland, California. Fr. Tran joined his family there in 2001. After working in a Daughters of Charity soup kitchen, he was inspired to contact the Vincentians in Los Angeles.

My aunt, who is a Daughter of Charity, inspired me to become one who could bring Good News to others, especially the most abandoned and the most vulnerable in society. The thirst and the need of sacraments for Catholics who live under religious oppression and discrimination (as I experienced in Vietnam under the Communist regime) is another inspiration for my personal call.

The mission for a Vincentian priest – which is, with God’s grace and the help of community, to sanctify oneself and bring the Good News to the poor – has not changed.However, the way we do it has changed. The Vincentians have adapted to different situations, different cultures, and different needs to live out their mission effectively.

Father James Kairuki, CM

Fr. Kairuki was raised in central Kenya, the second-born son in a devout Catholic family.

Before joining the Congregation of the Mission, he studied with the Salesians from 1995 to 2002. After obtaining a Master’s degree in philosophy, he taught at the diocesan seminary in Nyeri, where he met the Vincentians. After some discernment, he began the Vincentian program of formation in 2006.

I was inspired by my family, especially the commitment of my late mother and the great devotion that my dad had to the Blessed Sacrament. Lastly, I was inspired by my late and very loving and holy pastor, with whom I grew up.

When I met the Vincentians in 2002, I was attracted to the example set by the men. I was challenged especially by Fathers John Richardson and Robert Wood, CMs, and their dedication to the teaching and formation of Kenyan diocesan students.

After my years in formation, at this juncture I just feel humbled that with all my human defects the Lord has never left me, even when I felt I was alone in the search and thought this was my project and not His. It is a humbling experience.

FatherJeremy Dixon, CM

Fr. Dixon was born and raised 90 miles southwest of Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois. After earning a degree in political science from the University of Notre Dame in 1997, he worked at a consulting firm for six years. He was a Gateway Vincentian Volunteer in 2003-2004, after which he entered the seminary. He graduated with a Masters of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in 2010. He will soon begin his ministry as a parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Parish in Patterson, California.

I have felt called to serve other people since I was young, a value instilled in me by my parents and family. My experience of community and serving the poor in southern Missouri at SOMOPRO and the examples of Father John Gagnepain, CM, Brothers Jim Donlevy and Tim Opferman, CMs, and Sister Marie Orf, CPPS, pushed me to think that giving my life in service of the Church was an option. I felt called to the Vincentians because I was drawn to the charism of bringing the Good News to the poor and I felt at home with and welcomed by the priests and brothers that I met.

Part of my role is to remind people of the hope and promise, the Good News that Jesus Christ brings us, to be a sign of God’s grace and love in the world. I don’t know if it is any more challenging to live an authentic Christian life today than at any other time in history, but one particular challenge in ministry today is working across the wide variety of cultures that are present in the Church.


June 2010		“He has sent me to evangelize the poor”
Front Page Our New Priests Jubilee Celebrations From the Provincial Meet: Father Bernie Quinn, CM Obituaries Vocations News Memorials & Tributes Birthdays Contact The Vincentian The Vincentian Archive Western Province Home Page		Meet our New Priests In May, the Congregation of the Mission celebrated the ordination of three priests. “Priests are called to personify the living, saving presence of Jesus in His Church, offering His life and mercy in and through the Sacraments." Archbishop Timothy Dolan Each one comes from a different corner of the world and is embarking on a different path – but they are all grounded in a similar commitment to serve the People of God through the Vincentian way of life. “Welcoming three new priests to the Western Province is a wonderful way to begin our first year as a new province. It gives us hope for the future,” says Father Perry Henry, CM, Provincial Superior. “The country is multi-cultural and I like to think we are mirroring the diversity in society. These priests come from different backgrounds and bring a richness of life experiences to our Community,” says Fr. Henry. The Vincentian is pleased to introduce the newest of our priests through the following profiles. See more detailed responses to our questions online at: www.vincentians.org. Father Nhan Tran, CM Father Nhan Tran, CM Personal History Fr. Tran was born in Vietnam during the war, the youngest of three sons. Under Communist rule, his family lived a life of poverty in a country village. His aunt, a Daughter of Charity, immigrated to the United States and gradually helped his parents and brothers join her in Oakland, California. Fr. Tran joined his family there in 2001. After working in a Daughters of Charity soup kitchen, he was inspired to contact the Vincentians in Los Angeles. Who or what inspired you to become a Vincentian priest? My aunt, who is a Daughter of Charity, inspired me to become one who could bring Good News to others, especially the most abandoned and the most vulnerable in society. The thirst and the need of sacraments for Catholics who live under religious oppression and discrimination (as I experienced in Vietnam under the Communist regime) is another inspiration for my personal call. How do you see your role as a priest in current times? The mission for a Vincentian priest – which is, with God’s grace and the help of community, to sanctify oneself and bring the Good News to the poor – has not changed.However, the way we do it has changed. The Vincentians have adapted to different situations, different cultures, and different needs to live out their mission effectively. Father James Kairuki, CM Father James Kairuki, CM Personal History Fr. Kairuki was raised in central Kenya, the second-born son in a devout Catholic family. Before joining the Congregation of the Mission, he studied with the Salesians from 1995 to 2002. After obtaining a Master’s degree in philosophy, he taught at the diocesan seminary in Nyeri, where he met the Vincentians. After some discernment, he began the Vincentian program of formation in 2006. Who or what inspired you to become a Vincentian priest? I was inspired by my family, especially the commitment of my late mother and the great devotion that my dad had to the Blessed Sacrament. Lastly, I was inspired by my late and very loving and holy pastor, with whom I grew up. When I met the Vincentians in 2002, I was attracted to the example set by the men. I was challenged especially by Fathers John Richardson and Robert Wood, CMs, and their dedication to the teaching and formation of Kenyan diocesan students. What does your ordination mean to you and your family? After my years in formation, at this juncture I just feel humbled that with all my human defects the Lord has never left me, even when I felt I was alone in the search and thought this was my project and not His. It is a humbling experience. FatherJeremy Dixon, CM Father Jeremy Dixon, CM Personal History Fr. Dixon was born and raised 90 miles southwest of Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois. After earning a degree in political science from the University of Notre Dame in 1997, he worked at a consulting firm for six years. He was a Gateway Vincentian Volunteer in 2003-2004, after which he entered the seminary. He graduated with a Masters of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in 2010. He will soon begin his ministry as a parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Parish in Patterson, California. Who or what inspired you to become a Vincentian priest? I have felt called to serve other people since I was young, a value instilled in me by my parents and family. My experience of community and serving the poor in southern Missouri at SOMOPRO and the examples of Father John Gagnepain, CM, Brothers Jim Donlevy and Tim Opferman, CMs, and Sister Marie Orf, CPPS, pushed me to think that giving my life in service of the Church was an option. I felt called to the Vincentians because I was drawn to the charism of bringing the Good News to the poor and I felt at home with and welcomed by the priests and brothers that I met. How do you see your role as a priest in current times? Part of my role is to remind people of the hope and promise, the Good News that Jesus Christ brings us, to be a sign of God’s grace and love in the world. I don’t know if it is any more challenging to live an authentic Christian life today than at any other time in history, but one particular challenge in ministry today is working across the wide variety of cultures that are present in the Church.

The Vincentian is published bimonthly by the Western Province 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. Congegration of the Mission, The Vincentian Attn: News Editor 13663 Rider Trail North Earth City, MO 63045 phone: 314-344-1184 fax: 314-344-2989 Contact the News Editor Online

Meet our New Priests