Brother Edward David Graham, CM 1929-2010

Edward Graham CM Brother Edward Graham entered into eternal life on April 16, 2010. Bro. Graham was the son of the late Andrew and Mary (Benne) Gomborski and the brother of the late Paul Graham. He was born on July 17, 1929, in Chicago and was raised in St. Catherine of Genoa Parish. Bro. Graham entered the Congregation of the Mission Western Province on August 15, 1953, and took the name George by which he was known until he reverted to his baptismal name on January 15, 1970.

Bro. Graham served the Congregation in the business offices of its houses and apostolates.

He served in various treasury
roles at St. Mary’s of the Barrens Seminary in Perryville, Missouri; DePaul University in Chicago; St. Vincent’s Seminary in Cape Girardeau, Missouri; St. Thomas Seminary in Denver; and the (former) Province of the West in Los Angeles.

In 1989, Bro. Graham moved from provincial administration to St. Vincent’s Parish in Los Angeles where he assisted the business administrator. He served there until his move to DePaul Evangelization Center in Montebello, California, in 1997, where he served until he moved to Apostle of Charity Residence in Perryville in March 2010.

Bro. Graham had a life-long love of classical music,
as a 1959 note to the Provincial suggests: “May I please have permission to purchase a radio for my room?” Permission was granted.

Bro. Graham asked the following passage from
Psalm 26 be included at his funeral: “One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after; that I may
dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.” He added this addendum: “The Lord has granted my request.” May Bro. Graham rest in peace.

Father Felipe J. Martinez, CM 1929-2010

Father Felipe Martinez CS Father Felipe Martinez entered into eternal life on March 24, 2010. He was 80 at the time of his death.

Fr. Martinez was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 29, 1929, where he and his family attended St. Stephen’s Parish. He was the son of the late Juan and Juanita (Fernandez) Martinez. He is survived by two sisters.

Fr. Martinez entered the Vincentian novitiate in Perryville, Missouri, on May 18, 1948 and pronounced vows two years later. He was ordained a priest on May 29, 1955.

During his many years as a priest, Fr. Martinez accepted a variety of assignments. From 1955 through 1965 he taught Latin and English at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, Texas. From there he moved to St. Vincent
de Paul Seminary in Beaumont, Texas, where he served for three years before spending two years of study at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

He also served at Cardinal Glennon College in St. Louis, Missouri, and St. Vincent’s College in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, as well as St. John’s Seminary in Kansas City, Kansas. In 1983, Fr. Martinez began serving in parishes. His first parish assignment was at Immaculate Conception Church in Poteau, Oklahoma. While that assignment was only for three years, Fr. Martinez served as pastor of Christ the Savior Parish in Brewer, Missouri, for 20 years, from 1987 to 2007.

Fr. Martinez spent the last three years of his life at Apostle of Charity residence in Perryville, Missouri, where he served as an Apostle of Prayer.

Special Note: Father Louis Derbes, CM, passed away as this issue went to press. We will print his obituary in our next issue, or you can find it online at www.vincentian.org.


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		Brother Edward David Graham, CM 1929-2010 Brother Edward Graham entered into eternal life on April 16, 2010. Bro. Graham was the son of the late Andrew and Mary (Benne) Gomborski and the brother of the late Paul Graham. He was born on July 17, 1929, in Chicago and was raised in St. Catherine of Genoa Parish. Bro. Graham entered the Congregation of the Mission Western Province on August 15, 1953, and took the name George by which he was known until he reverted to his baptismal name on January 15, 1970. Bro. Graham served the Congregation in the business offices of its houses and apostolates. He served in various treasury roles at St. Mary’s of the Barrens Seminary in Perryville, Missouri; DePaul University in Chicago; St. Vincent’s Seminary in Cape Girardeau, Missouri; St. Thomas Seminary in Denver; and the (former) Province of the West in Los Angeles. In 1989, Bro. Graham moved from provincial administration to St. Vincent’s Parish in Los Angeles where he assisted the business administrator. He served there until his move to DePaul Evangelization Center in Montebello, California, in 1997, where he served until he moved to Apostle of Charity Residence in Perryville in March 2010. Bro. Graham had a life-long love of classical music, as a 1959 note to the Provincial suggests: “May I please have permission to purchase a radio for my room?” Permission was granted. Bro. Graham asked the following passage from Psalm 26 be included at his funeral: “One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.” He added this addendum: “The Lord has granted my request.” May Bro. Graham rest in peace. Father Felipe J. Martinez, CM 1929-2010 Father Felipe Martinez entered into eternal life on March 24, 2010. He was 80 at the time of his death. Fr. Martinez was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 29, 1929, where he and his family attended St. Stephen’s Parish. He was the son of the late Juan and Juanita (Fernandez) Martinez. He is survived by two sisters. Fr. Martinez entered the Vincentian novitiate in Perryville, Missouri, on May 18, 1948 and pronounced vows two years later. He was ordained a priest on May 29, 1955. During his many years as a priest, Fr. Martinez accepted a variety of assignments. From 1955 through 1965 he taught Latin and English at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, Texas. From there he moved to St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Beaumont, Texas, where he served for three years before spending two years of study at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He also served at Cardinal Glennon College in St. Louis, Missouri, and St. Vincent’s College in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, as well as St. John’s Seminary in Kansas City, Kansas. In 1983, Fr. Martinez began serving in parishes. His first parish assignment was at Immaculate Conception Church in Poteau, Oklahoma. While that assignment was only for three years, Fr. Martinez served as pastor of Christ the Savior Parish in Brewer, Missouri, for 20 years, from 1987 to 2007. Fr. Martinez spent the last three years of his life at Apostle of Charity residence in Perryville, Missouri, where he served as an Apostle of Prayer. Special Note: Father Louis Derbes, CM, passed away as this issue went to press. We will print his obituary in our next issue, or you can find it online at www.vincentian.org.

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