Around the Provinces: Confrere News and Updates

Fr. Dan Borlick, CM		Fr. Ed Murphy, CM		Fr. Otto Schneebeck, CM		Fr. Ray Van Dorpe, CM

Midwest Province

St. Mary’s of the Barrens, Perryville

Some of our recent blessings have been physical improvements. A new sign indicating “St. Mary’s of the Barrens Campus” directs visitors to the National Shrine of the Miraculous Medal, Vincentian Residence and our service entrance.
We received a new asphalt driveway to the residence building. In addition, a new van with a wheelchair left was purchased, which primarily will be used for transporting the senior confreres to and from medical appointments.

St. Lazare House, St. Louis

Seven young adults have joined the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers Program for 2007-2008. Father Jim Swift, CM celebrated the opening mass, inviting each of these young people to take on the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul during their year of service. After Mass, the new volunteers, the program directors, a number of former volunteers, and Vincentians living at St. Lazare enjoyed a delicious dinner together. After a week of orientation, the new volunteers began working at their sites. Please pray for these young adults as they learn how to serve and be served by people living in poverty.

St. Vincent de Paul Parish, St. Louis

The administration of Guardian Angel Settlement Association and Hosea House (headed by Father Ed Murphy, CM, with the able assistance of Father Romain Morales, CM) has moved into office space at St. Vincent De Paul Parish. The pastor, Father Otto Schneebeck, CM, says the arrangement is working well and has given an infusion of life into the office space at the parish.  He points out that since Guardian Angel was founded by the Daughters of Charity in 1859 in the same neighborhood, this is something of a "return to roots."

In September, the Ladies of Charity celebrated their 150th anniversary and convention in St. Louis.  The first chapter of the Ladies of Charity was founded at St. Vincent DePaul Church on December 8, 1857.  This is another "return to roots."

On September 30, the parish hosted a (delayed) celebration of the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul.  All the confreres in the area were invited to attend and concelebrate.  Also invited were friends of the Province, along with the Daughters of Charity and the leadership of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul conferences in the area. At the Mass, Mr. Paul Heidemann was honored as a new affiliate of the Congregation.

Lazarist Residence, St. Louis

We were happy to welcome Father Stephen Gallegos, CM, to our house. Fr. Gallegos is returning to the Midwest Province after 30 years of missionary work in Taiwan.

St. Catherine Labouré Parish, St. Louis

Thanks to the generous response of our parishioners to the “Faith Builds” capital campaign, the renovation of the parish campus is in full swing. The “Father Ray Ross Playground” is complete; there is a convenient new parking lot located behind the old convent; the asbestos abatement and demolition of the Parish Center (the old convent) is completed and the new multipurpose building is nearly finished. The Church renovation also is well underway. Finally, renovations to the school, including new administrative offices and additional classrooms, will begin after the end of the present school year.

DePaul Vincentian Residence, Chicago

The international flavor of our house has changed over the past few months. Vincentians from many different provinces who come to DePaul for advanced degrees stay in our residence while working on their studies. Recently, Father Firmin Mola Mbalo, CM, (Congolese, working in Algeria) returned to his mission after completing his coursework. Newly arrived student-priests are Father Abenet Abebe, CM, (Ethiopia) and Father Augustinus Marsup, CM, (Indonesia). Welcome to Chicago and DePaul University! Finally, we celebrated the return of Father Robertus Wijanarko, CM, (Indonesia) who returned to defend (successfully!) his dissertation. Congratulations Father/Doctor Robertus!

Provincial Office, St. Louis

Provincial Treasurer Tom Beck, traveled to Kenya at the beginning of September to review the financial situation there in light of the tragic loss of Father Tom Kloppenborg in July. Beck spent most of his time working with Mr. Peter Mureithi, the accountant for DePaul Centre. He also visited the parishes in Kamulu and Thigio, as well as the confreres at Christ the King Seminary in Nyeri.

Father Ray Van Dorpe, CM, attended the regional meeting of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men. The second day of the meeting was a mini-workshop given by Praesidium, Inc. They addressed the ongoing work of child protection accreditation.

Father Jim Swift, CM, attended the dedication of the new “River Campus” of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, which was the former St. Vincent’s College. During the ceremonies, Fr. Swift offered remarks on the history of St. Vincent’s College and the presence of the Vincentians in southeast Missouri for the past 160-plus years.

Southern Province

Our annual gathering of confreres took place October 22-25 at the Cenacle Retreat House in Metairie, just outside New Orleans. Besides those attending from the Southern Province, there were several guests invited to make presentations on our collaborative works. We welcomed: Ms. Adriana Douglass, Assistant Provincial Treasurer from the Province of the West; Ms. Teresa Manna, Director of Development from the Midwest Province; Fathers Ray Van Dorpe, David Windsor, Richard Benson, John Rybolt, William Piletic, CMs; as well as Fathers James Swift and Andrew Bellisario, CMs, Provincials of the Midwest and West. Your faithful reporter of this article, Mr. Benny Ruiz, was there to assist with songs for the prayer and Eucharistic celebrations held each day.

Father Dan Paul Borlik, CM, Provincial, began the week with a presentation on the State of the Southern Province, highlighting the works of the confreres in Arizona, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana and even Cuba, as well as the collaboration taking place among the three western US provinces. Other presentations included Finance, Development, Vincentian Heritage, Formation, Ongoing Formation, and Peace & Justice. Another session was devoted to Reconfiguration of the provinces and there was a workshop on Safe Environment, which is a continuation of the Praesidium, Inc. accreditation completed last year.

Not all the time was spent meeting indoors. For one afternoon, everyone took a “Come & See” tour of the city to view the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina and the recovery efforts which have taken place in the past two years. This was followed by a guided visit to the new Rebuild Center, located downtown on the grounds of St. Joseph Church. Several collaborators in this endeavor greeted us in person and then joined us at the Cenacle for an evening of sharing about their experience helping the poor, especially those returning home to New Orleans.

Of course, no trip to New Orleans would be complete without a visit to the Mississippi River, right next to the French Quarter. There was a jazz dinner cruise aboard the paddle-wheel steamboat Natchez, which provided an enjoyable evening to relax and socialize. We send our thanks to the New Orleans confreres who hosted us in their city. Special thanks to Fathers Louis Arceneaux and Perry Henry, CMs, for making the arrangements for a memorable gathering!

Participants in the Southern Province’s annual retreat gather
in front of the Cenacle Retreat House in Metairie, Louisiana.