Jubilee Celebrations

Jubilee

Top: Father Francis Agnew, CM; Brother Mark Argus, CM; Father Kevin Collins, CM
Bottom: Brother Paul Joseph, CM; Father Roy Persich, CM; Brother Matthew Teel, CM

A jubilee is a special occasion celebrating a milestone anniversary. We are blessed to have six Vincentians celebrating jubilee anniversaries this year. We are grateful for their devotion to the mission of St. Vincent de Paul and their contributions to the Vincentian community.

Father Francis Agnew, CM

50th Anniversary of Ordination

Father Francis (Frank) Agnew was ordained a priest on June 5, 1960 and immediately began a series of studies that took him to The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, the University of Fribourg in witzerland, and the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. In his first few years as a Vincentian, Fr. Agnew traveled far beyond his birthplace of Perry County, Missouri, where he had spent the first 27 years of his life.

After studies in Europe, Fr. Agnew was appointed to Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, where he taught and served as academic dean from 1967 to 1970. He then moved to St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colorado, where he served for seven years as rector while also teaching scripture and theology.

In 1977 he began service to the bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau while also ministering at Immaculate Conception Parish. He held these positions until 1981 when he returned to Kenrick Seminary to teach sacred scripture for six years, and then moved to Houston to teach sacred scripture at St. Mary’s Seminary until 1994. After some time for sabbatical, Fr. Agnew began 11 years of service to the people of the parish of Our Lady of Victory Church in Sereno, Missouri.

Since 2007, Fr. Agnew has twice served at the Vincentian mission in Kenya, once at the seminary in Nairobi and another time at Christ the King Seminary in Nyeri. He will return to the United States this summer to discern his next assignment.

Brother Mark Argus, CM

60th Anniversary of Vows

Brother Mark Argus is one of the Apostles of Prayer of the Western Province of the Congregation of the Mission. The Vincentians began this ministry in 2005 to serve the People of God by engaging retired Vincentians who live at St. Mary’s of the Barrens in Perryville, Missouri in prayer for the needs of many people. Bro. Mark has lived at the Barrens since 1993.

In his 60 years as a Vincentian, Bro. Mark has poured concrete, hammered nails, laid brick, and more. He was a “maintenance brother” for most of his career. Over the years Bro. Mark helped maintain the buildings and grounds at several seminaries including St. Vincent’s in Lemont, Illinois; St. Mary’s of the Barrens in Perryville; and St. Vincent’s College in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He also served for eight years in the missions in Taiwan and for several years at St. Vincent DePaul Parish in Chicago, where he helped serve food to poor people and repaired homes in the neighborhood around Marillac House, a service agency run by the Daughters of Charity.

Bro. Mark fondly remembers some projects, specifically rewiring the student building at Perryville. It was a huge project that kept him busy for quite a while. Helping to design and build the drainage system for the lake at the Barrens is another project that makes him smile as he recalls it. In those same years, long before Interstate 55 was built near the Barrens, Bro. Mark would hunt rabbits. One year he was dubbed “The Great White Hunter” as he bagged 60 rabbits—more than any other hunter that year.

Father Kevin Collins, CM

25th Anniversary of Ordination

Father Kevin Collins was born in Lynwood, California, and grew up in Downey, California. He graduated from St. Vincent’s Seminary in Montebello, California, and then entered the Vincentian novitiate in Santa Barbara in 1976. Following novitiate, Fr. Collins moved to Perryville, Missouri, where he entered St. Mary’s of the Barrens Seminary and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in 1981.

Fr. Collins continued his preparation for ordination at DeAndreis Seminary in Lemont, Illinois, completing it at St. Thomas Theological Seminary from which he was awarded the Master’s of Divinity degree. He was ordained a priest on June 8, 1985 at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Montebello.

In his 25 years as a priest, Fr. Collins has served in a variety of ministries. He began his service as a priest at the same church at which he was ordained. He served there for three years.

His next assignment took him to Sacred Heart Parish in Patterson, California, where he ministered for another three years. After that he entered the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkley, California and later was accepted into the University of Chicago, where he pursued a Doctorate in ethics.

In 1999 Fr. Collins was appointed to St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California, where he served as director of students. In 2001, Fr. Collins accepted a position at DePaul University in Chicago where he served in a variety of administrative roles over the next ten years. In 2009, Fr. Collins was transferred to DePaul Evangelization Center in Montebello where he currently offers workshops and retreats while also providing pastoral service to parishes around the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Brother Paul Joseph, CM

50th Anniversary of Vows

Prior to entering the Vincentian novitiate, Brother Paul Joseph had traveled far beyond his native Chicago during his two years in the U.S. Army. His basic training was in Fort Dix, New Jersey, and he served in Yokohama, Japan. Bro. Paul entered the Congregation of the Mission hoping to serve in Formasa (Taiwan). While he never was assigned there, he was able to share his missionary spirit in many places over his many years of service.

Bro. Paul’s first assignment was to St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Lemont, Illinois, where he worked in maintenance and grounds keeping. In 1967 he was transferred to the Vincentian novitiate in Santa Barbara, California, where his work was similar. After thirteen years in seminary work, Bro. Paul was transferred to St. Leo’s Parish in San Antonio, Texas, where he ministered until 1979. He then moved to St. Thomas Seminary in Denver to work in maintenance.

In 1981, Bro. Paul’s desire to minister in the foreign missions was finally fulfilled. He was assigned to Good Shepherd Seminary in Marallal, Kenya, where he served for three years. Bro. Paul then returned to his native Chicago where he served at DePaul University until his retirement. He recently moved to the Apostle of Charity Residence in Perryville, Missouri, where he enjoys the quiet and closely follows the Cubs.

Father Roy Persich, CM

50th Anniversary of Ordination

Father Roy Persich was ordained a priest on June 5, 1960. He was connected to the Vincentians from his earliest days at St. Joseph’s Parish in New Orleans. It was there that his vocation was nourished along with the vocations of his late brothers Nick and Harold, both of whom were also Vincentian priests.

His first assignments as a priest were to St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Lemont, Illinois; St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Montebello, California; St. Louis Preparatory Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri and at St. Mary’s of the Barrens Seminary in Perryville, Missouri. During these years he began work on a Master’s degree in French, which along with his Master’s degree in Latin, he put to good use teaching. While on the faculty at the Barrens, Fr. Persich also served in the parishes of nearby towns, particularly Silver Lake and Crosstown.

In 1968, Fr. Persich moved to Santa Barbara, California, where he completed a Master’s degree in French at the University of California at Santa Barbara and taught at the Vincentian novitiate there.

With his second Master’s degree completed, in 1973 Fr. Persich was appointed to the faculty of St. John’s Seminary College in Camarillo, California, where he served for 17 years as academic dean and vice rector.

In 1991, he moved back to Santa Barbara to be director of the Evangelization Center. At the same time, he served the Province of the West as its director of On-going Formation. During these years he was active with the National Organization for Continuing Education of the Clergy, which led him to giving workshops and retreats starting in 2001, when he officially retired. Since then he not only has traveled the country helping renew the clergy, but has been active in serving at nearby parishes and convents.

Brother Matthew Teel, CM

60th Anniversary of Vows

In a world in which mobility is highly valued, Brother Matthew (Matt) Teel stands out as an exception. He has lived on the same plot of ground, St. Mary’s of the Barrens in Perryville, Missouri, since entering the Vincentians in 1952. Now celebrating 60 years of life in permanent vows, Bro. Matthew hasn’t strayed.

A native of Indianola, Nebraska, Bro. Matthew and his nine brothers and sisters didn’t have it easy. Because of the early death of their mother, many lived part of their childhood at St. Vincent’s Home, an orphanage in Denver, Colorado. Once old enough to work on the farm, they could move back home. It was at St. Vincent’s Home that Bro. Matthew first encountered the Vincentian charism through the ministry of the Sisters of Charity who ran the orphanage. It was there that he heard the call to be a Vincentian brother.

He has held several titles over the years: grounds man, poultry man, and laundry man. Thousands of seminary students and visitors can attest to his perfectionist streak, as they enjoyed the beauty he helped to nurture as groundskeeper. Through his labors, Bro. Matthew served the needs of generations of Vincentian seminarians and faculty members.

At the age of 78, Bro. Matthew is now one of the Apostles of Prayer at the Barrens. While he still keeps a careful eye on the grass, shrubs, and trees, he lifts up the needs and petitions of the collaborators and friends of the Vincentians, all while standing on the same holy ground that has been his home for 63 years.


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		Jubilee Celebrations Top: Father Francis Agnew, CM; Brother Mark Argus, CM; Father Kevin Collins, CM Bottom: Brother Paul Joseph, CM; Father Roy Persich, CM; Brother Matthew Teel, CM A jubilee is a special occasion celebrating a milestone anniversary. We are blessed to have six Vincentians celebrating jubilee anniversaries this year. We are grateful for their devotion to the mission of St. Vincent de Paul and their contributions to the Vincentian community. Father Francis Agnew, CM 50th Anniversary of Ordination Father Francis (Frank) Agnew was ordained a priest on June 5, 1960 and immediately began a series of studies that took him to The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, the University of Fribourg in witzerland, and the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. In his first few years as a Vincentian, Fr. Agnew traveled far beyond his birthplace of Perry County, Missouri, where he had spent the first 27 years of his life. After studies in Europe, Fr. Agnew was appointed to Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, where he taught and served as academic dean from 1967 to 1970. He then moved to St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colorado, where he served for seven years as rector while also teaching scripture and theology. In 1977 he began service to the bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau while also ministering at Immaculate Conception Parish. He held these positions until 1981 when he returned to Kenrick Seminary to teach sacred scripture for six years, and then moved to Houston to teach sacred scripture at St. Mary’s Seminary until 1994. After some time for sabbatical, Fr. Agnew began 11 years of service to the people of the parish of Our Lady of Victory Church in Sereno, Missouri. Since 2007, Fr. Agnew has twice served at the Vincentian mission in Kenya, once at the seminary in Nairobi and another time at Christ the King Seminary in Nyeri. He will return to the United States this summer to discern his next assignment. Brother Mark Argus, CM 60th Anniversary of Vows Brother Mark Argus is one of the Apostles of Prayer of the Western Province of the Congregation of the Mission. The Vincentians began this ministry in 2005 to serve the People of God by engaging retired Vincentians who live at St. Mary’s of the Barrens in Perryville, Missouri in prayer for the needs of many people. Bro. Mark has lived at the Barrens since 1993. In his 60 years as a Vincentian, Bro. Mark has poured concrete, hammered nails, laid brick, and more. He was a “maintenance brother” for most of his career. Over the years Bro. Mark helped maintain the buildings and grounds at several seminaries including St. Vincent’s in Lemont, Illinois; St. Mary’s of the Barrens in Perryville; and St. Vincent’s College in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He also served for eight years in the missions in Taiwan and for several years at St. Vincent DePaul Parish in Chicago, where he helped serve food to poor people and repaired homes in the neighborhood around Marillac House, a service agency run by the Daughters of Charity. Bro. Mark fondly remembers some projects, specifically rewiring the student building at Perryville. It was a huge project that kept him busy for quite a while. Helping to design and build the drainage system for the lake at the Barrens is another project that makes him smile as he recalls it. In those same years, long before Interstate 55 was built near the Barrens, Bro. Mark would hunt rabbits. One year he was dubbed “The Great White Hunter” as he bagged 60 rabbits—more than any other hunter that year. Father Kevin Collins, CM 25th Anniversary of Ordination Father Kevin Collins was born in Lynwood, California, and grew up in Downey, California. He graduated from St. Vincent’s Seminary in Montebello, California, and then entered the Vincentian novitiate in Santa Barbara in 1976. Following novitiate, Fr. Collins moved to Perryville, Missouri, where he entered St. Mary’s of the Barrens Seminary and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in 1981. Fr. Collins continued his preparation for ordination at DeAndreis Seminary in Lemont, Illinois, completing it at St. Thomas Theological Seminary from which he was awarded the Master’s of Divinity degree. He was ordained a priest on June 8, 1985 at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Montebello. In his 25 years as a priest, Fr. Collins has served in a variety of ministries. He began his service as a priest at the same church at which he was ordained. He served there for three years. His next assignment took him to Sacred Heart Parish in Patterson, California, where he ministered for another three years. After that he entered the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkley, California and later was accepted into the University of Chicago, where he pursued a Doctorate in ethics. In 1999 Fr. Collins was appointed to St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California, where he served as director of students. In 2001, Fr. Collins accepted a position at DePaul University in Chicago where he served in a variety of administrative roles over the next ten years. In 2009, Fr. Collins was transferred to DePaul Evangelization Center in Montebello where he currently offers workshops and retreats while also providing pastoral service to parishes around the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Brother Paul Joseph, CM 50th Anniversary of Vows Prior to entering the Vincentian novitiate, Brother Paul Joseph had traveled far beyond his native Chicago during his two years in the U.S. Army. His basic training was in Fort Dix, New Jersey, and he served in Yokohama, Japan. Bro. Paul entered the Congregation of the Mission hoping to serve in Formasa (Taiwan). While he never was assigned there, he was able to share his missionary spirit in many places over his many years of service. Bro. Paul’s first assignment was to St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Lemont, Illinois, where he worked in maintenance and grounds keeping. In 1967 he was transferred to the Vincentian novitiate in Santa Barbara, California, where his work was similar. After thirteen years in seminary work, Bro. Paul was transferred to St. Leo’s Parish in San Antonio, Texas, where he ministered until 1979. He then moved to St. Thomas Seminary in Denver to work in maintenance. In 1981, Bro. Paul’s desire to minister in the foreign missions was finally fulfilled. He was assigned to Good Shepherd Seminary in Marallal, Kenya, where he served for three years. Bro. Paul then returned to his native Chicago where he served at DePaul University until his retirement. He recently moved to the Apostle of Charity Residence in Perryville, Missouri, where he enjoys the quiet and closely follows the Cubs. Father Roy Persich, CM 50th Anniversary of Ordination Father Roy Persich was ordained a priest on June 5, 1960. He was connected to the Vincentians from his earliest days at St. Joseph’s Parish in New Orleans. It was there that his vocation was nourished along with the vocations of his late brothers Nick and Harold, both of whom were also Vincentian priests. His first assignments as a priest were to St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Lemont, Illinois; St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Montebello, California; St. Louis Preparatory Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri and at St. Mary’s of the Barrens Seminary in Perryville, Missouri. During these years he began work on a Master’s degree in French, which along with his Master’s degree in Latin, he put to good use teaching. While on the faculty at the Barrens, Fr. Persich also served in the parishes of nearby towns, particularly Silver Lake and Crosstown. In 1968, Fr. Persich moved to Santa Barbara, California, where he completed a Master’s degree in French at the University of California at Santa Barbara and taught at the Vincentian novitiate there. With his second Master’s degree completed, in 1973 Fr. Persich was appointed to the faculty of St. John’s Seminary College in Camarillo, California, where he served for 17 years as academic dean and vice rector. In 1991, he moved back to Santa Barbara to be director of the Evangelization Center. At the same time, he served the Province of the West as its director of On-going Formation. During these years he was active with the National Organization for Continuing Education of the Clergy, which led him to giving workshops and retreats starting in 2001, when he officially retired. Since then he not only has traveled the country helping renew the clergy, but has been active in serving at nearby parishes and convents. Brother Matthew Teel, CM 60th Anniversary of Vows In a world in which mobility is highly valued, Brother Matthew (Matt) Teel stands out as an exception. He has lived on the same plot of ground, St. Mary’s of the Barrens in Perryville, Missouri, since entering the Vincentians in 1952. Now celebrating 60 years of life in permanent vows, Bro. Matthew hasn’t strayed. A native of Indianola, Nebraska, Bro. Matthew and his nine brothers and sisters didn’t have it easy. Because of the early death of their mother, many lived part of their childhood at St. Vincent’s Home, an orphanage in Denver, Colorado. Once old enough to work on the farm, they could move back home. It was at St. Vincent’s Home that Bro. Matthew first encountered the Vincentian charism through the ministry of the Sisters of Charity who ran the orphanage. It was there that he heard the call to be a Vincentian brother. He has held several titles over the years: grounds man, poultry man, and laundry man. Thousands of seminary students and visitors can attest to his perfectionist streak, as they enjoyed the beauty he helped to nurture as groundskeeper. Through his labors, Bro. Matthew served the needs of generations of Vincentian seminarians and faculty members. At the age of 78, Bro. Matthew is now one of the Apostles of Prayer at the Barrens. While he still keeps a careful eye on the grass, shrubs, and trees, he lifts up the needs and petitions of the collaborators and friends of the Vincentians, all while standing on the same holy ground that has been his home for 63 years.

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