FROM THE PROVINCIAL

All Things in Jesus

Dear friends,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

In my last two columns, I have shared with you the story of our foundation here in the United States 190 years ago and how God has blessed our efforts in the Western region as we continue the mission St. Vincent gave us. Today we find ourselves at a new crossroad. After much prayer and discernment, we Vincentians of the Western region have decided to merge our three Provinces into one, new Province. This merger will take place in just a few months on January 25, 2010. The new Province will be called the Western Province.

Designate Provincial Superior Father Perry Henry, CM, (left), with Father James Swift, CM, who has served as Provincial Superior for the last seven and a half years.

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A new Province means new leadership also. In this issue, I am happy to introduce to you the new leadership team who will take over in January.

The new Provincial Superior will be Father Perry Henry, CM. Last fall, in anticipation of the new Province, all of us engaged in a process of reflection, discussion, and prayer leading us to nominate a number of our brother Vincentians in the Western region as the possible first Provincial Superior of the new Province. We sent our nominations to our Superior General in Rome and, after further consultation, he with his Council selected Fr. Henry to lead the new Western Province. Fr. Henry has shared with us how he was on a trip, in fact, in his car and driving, when he received the phone call from the Superior General asking him to accept this position. He pulled over to avoid wrecking the car, took a deep breath, and told the Superior General yes. As those of us who have served as Provincial Superiors can tell you, it is never the same from that moment on. Please join me in thanking Fr. Henry for accepting this appointment and in promising him our prayers and support.

Fr. Henry wasted no time in making use of this interim period before he takes over. A few weeks after his own appointment, he asked Fr. Mark Pranaitis, CM, to work with him as his closest collaborator in the role of Assistant Provincial. Fr. Pranaitis accepted as did also the members of the new Provincial Council, Fathers Richard Benson, James Cormack, Patrick McDevitt, and Thomas Stehlik, CMs. To one and all, our best wishes.

This is my last column. Fr. Perry Henry will write the December column just a few weeks before he begins his service as Provincial Superior. Seven-plus years ago, when I wrote my first column for this newsletter, I began by explaining why I start my reflections with the phrase, “May Jesus Christ be praised!” This simple prayer was for a long time the standard way many Eastern Europeans would greet each other, much like we say, “Hello.” When Pope John Paul II was elected and first appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s basilica, his first words were, “May Jesus Christ be praised!” All through his long pontificate, he would begin his homilies and other talks with these words of praise and worship of Jesus Christ.

We Vincentians are called to follow Jesus Christ, especially in announcing the good news of salvation to the poor, and so our lives and work are really focused on Jesus. Along with you, this is what we are about – to give praise to Jesus Christ in all that we say and do.

As I conclude my time as Provincial Superior and look forward to my first ever sabbatical, I do praise and thank Jesus Christ for all the blessings of these seven and a half years. Of course, I especially thank him for you, our faithful supporters and friends. As I have written many times in this column, we Vincentians could not do so much for others without your prayers, collaboration, and financial support. You are an important part of who we are and what we do. I thank you for your generosity to us and those we serve, and I know you will continue your generosity under Fr. Henry’s leadership.

May God bless each of you and those you love. Once more, in all that we say and do, may Jesus Christ be praised!

Blessings,

James Swift, C.M.