Midwest Vincentian Newsletter: From the Provincial

Novices

DePaul Centre, Nairobi

On June 24, 2006, the first group of Vincentians to have made their novitiate in the new Damascus House in Nairobi, Kenya, pronounced their Good Purposes with the Congregation of the Mission. Shown below shortly after the ceremony are (l-r)Samuel Waweru, CM; Mathew Nkiria, CM; Father Barry Moriarty, CM (novice master); Graphas Ochola, CM; and Chrisandus Ambale, CM.

New priests. A new home. As I write you this issue, I have much good news to share, especially regarding our new priests and our new home.

During my recent annual visit to our mission in Kenya, I was blessed to participate in the ordination to priesthood of two of our East African Vincentians: Father Alex Isonga and Father Ignatius Mukanzi. The story of that wonderful weekend is told elsewhere in this newsletter. During the days following their ordination, as I joined these young African Vincentians as they celebrated Mass with their families and friends, I could not help but think of how greatly God has blessed our efforts in Kenya.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of our first coming to Kenya. When we arrived in 1981, we helped a local bishop open a seminary in the remote town of Maralal. There, for ten years we taught and formed nomadic Africans, dozens of whom were ordained diocesan priests. In 1991, we moved to another new seminary in a larger town, Nyeri. We continue there today teaching and forming African seminarians especially from the central regions of Kenya.

As has happened in almost every place where we have taught in diocesan seminaries since our founding by St. Vincent de Paul, eventually some seminarians asked about joining the Congregation in order to work with us in our mission. In answer to this call in Kenya, we opened a foundation in Nairobi in 1999, a house of formation to train East Africans desiring to be Vincentians. Last year we ordained the first four such priests, and this year we ordained another two. Our seminary there has some 25 more men in various stages of formation.

As I said, how blessed we have been in our Kenya mission, where we are helping to announce the Gospel in a country where Christianity itself is slightly more than 100 years old.

At the other end of the age spectrum, as it were, is our new residence
at St. Mary’s of the Barrens in Perryville. The dedication of this beautiful new home is also told elsewhere in this newsletter. Again, as I participated in the three days of celebration, I could not help but reflect on how greatly God has blessed us here in America.

St. Mary’s of the Barrens is where we Vincentians first began in the United States in 1818. From that mother house, Vincentian priests and brothers were sent out to announce the Gospel. They did so throughout the Midwest, to both coasts, and beyond in our missions in China, Taiwan, and now East Africa.

We Vincentians from the Barrens at Perryville went on to become the first or second bishops of St. Louis, Texas, Los Angeles, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, and Toronto. And that’s just bishops! Class after class of Vincentian priests and brothers were sent from the Barrens to evangelize in parishes, seminaries, universities, as chaplains, on home missions, forming the laity, working in charitable agencies, collaborating with Daughters of Charity, the Vincentian Marian Youth, the Ladies of Charity, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, and so much more.

St. Mary’s of the Barrens is the mother house not only of Vincentians but also of so much evangelization in the United States and beyond. In considering our future need of residence for our aging and senior members, how could we not have recommitted to St. Mary’s? There we began. It is the place of our living heritage.

Admittedly the pace at the Barrens has slowed down from prior generations. It is less apostolically busy, more attentive to the senior and infirm priests and brothers. But do not be deceived. St. Mary’s remains a spiritual powerhouse. The prayers and sufferings offered up by our elders there, the devotion of the pilgrims who come to the Shrine to pray – these and more continue the great legacy which makes the place not just historic ground but holy ground.

There is one more blessing among so many which I want to mention, and that is you. As you will see in the newsletter, in what is only our second year of having a development office, over 1,000 donors contributed $1,865,718. The generosity of so many of you is what enables us to foster our mission in Kenya, to build a new home in Perryville, and to continue all the other services and ministry we offer in our Vincentian tradition.

Thank you for all you do for the Church and for us Vincentians. You are
in my daily prayers.


Septermber 2006		“He has sent me to evangelize the poor”
Front Page Serving the Mission in Urban Chicago Depaul University Oil & Water Kenya: Furthering Our Mission Young Adults Walk in St. Vincent's Shoes Around the Provinces Midwest Provincial Vocations Memorials & Tributes Birthdays Contact The Vincentian The Vincentian Archive Midwest Province Home Page		FROM THE PROVINCIAL New Priests. A New Home. DePaul Centre, Nairobi On June 24, 2006, the first group of Vincentians to have made their novitiate in the new Damascus House in Nairobi, Kenya, pronounced their Good Purposes with the Congregation of the Mission. Shown below shortly after the ceremony are (l-r)Samuel Waweru, CM; Mathew Nkiria, CM; Father Barry Moriarty, CM (novice master); Graphas Ochola, CM; and Chrisandus Ambale, CM. Dear friends, May Jesus Christ be praised! New priests. A new home. As I write you this issue, I have much good news to share, especially regarding our new priests and our new home. During my recent annual visit to our mission in Kenya, I was blessed to participate in the ordination to priesthood of two of our East African Vincentians: Father Alex Isonga and Father Ignatius Mukanzi. The story of that wonderful weekend is told elsewhere in this newsletter. During the days following their ordination, as I joined these young African Vincentians as they celebrated Mass with their families and friends, I could not help but think of how greatly God has blessed our efforts in Kenya. This year marks the 25th anniversary of our first coming to Kenya. When we arrived in 1981, we helped a local bishop open a seminary in the remote town of Maralal. There, for ten years we taught and formed nomadic Africans, dozens of whom were ordained diocesan priests. In 1991, we moved to another new seminary in a larger town, Nyeri. We continue there today teaching and forming African seminarians especially from the central regions of Kenya. As has happened in almost every place where we have taught in diocesan seminaries since our founding by St. Vincent de Paul, eventually some seminarians asked about joining the Congregation in order to work with us in our mission. In answer to this call in Kenya, we opened a foundation in Nairobi in 1999, a house of formation to train East Africans desiring to be Vincentians. Last year we ordained the first four such priests, and this year we ordained another two. Our seminary there has some 25 more men in various stages of formation. As I said, how blessed we have been in our Kenya mission, where we are helping to announce the Gospel in a country where Christianity itself is slightly more than 100 years old. At the other end of the age spectrum, as it were, is our new residence at St. Mary’s of the Barrens in Perryville. The dedication of this beautiful new home is also told elsewhere in this newsletter. Again, as I participated in the three days of celebration, I could not help but reflect on how greatly God has blessed us here in America. St. Mary’s of the Barrens is where we Vincentians first began in the United States in 1818. From that mother house, Vincentian priests and brothers were sent out to announce the Gospel. They did so throughout the Midwest, to both coasts, and beyond in our missions in China, Taiwan, and now East Africa. We Vincentians from the Barrens at Perryville went on to become the first or second bishops of St. Louis, Texas, Los Angeles, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, and Toronto. And that’s just bishops! Class after class of Vincentian priests and brothers were sent from the Barrens to evangelize in parishes, seminaries, universities, as chaplains, on home missions, forming the laity, working in charitable agencies, collaborating with Daughters of Charity, the Vincentian Marian Youth, the Ladies of Charity, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, and so much more. St. Mary’s of the Barrens is the mother house not only of Vincentians but also of so much evangelization in the United States and beyond. In considering our future need of residence for our aging and senior members, how could we not have recommitted to St. Mary’s? There we began. It is the place of our living heritage. Admittedly the pace at the Barrens has slowed down from prior generations. It is less apostolically busy, more attentive to the senior and infirm priests and brothers. But do not be deceived. St. Mary’s remains a spiritual powerhouse. The prayers and sufferings offered up by our elders there, the devotion of the pilgrims who come to the Shrine to pray – these and more continue the great legacy which makes the place not just historic ground but holy ground. There is one more blessing among so many which I want to mention, and that is you. As you will see in the newsletter, in what is only our second year of having a development office, over 1,000 donors contributed $1,865,718. The generosity of so many of you is what enables us to foster our mission in Kenya, to build a new home in Perryville, and to continue all the other services and ministry we offer in our Vincentian tradition. Thank you for all you do for the Church and for us Vincentians. You are in my daily prayers. Blessings. James Swift, C.M.

The Vincentian is published bimonthly by the Midwest and Southern Provinces 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

New Priests. A New Home.