On Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, the Congregation of the Mission Western Province will celebrate the centennial of its mission to China, along with the Eastern Province and the Curia in Rome with a Mass and graveside service at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, MO.
The Mass will start at 10 a.m. and will stream live on the Western Province Facebook page HERE. It will be followed by a graveside prayer service at the Vincentian cemetery on the grounds of St. Mary’s of the Barrens, where several of the China missionaries are interred. The shrine is located at 1805 W St Joseph St, Perryville, MO 63775, and the Mass and graveside service are open to the public.
Attending the event will be Fr. Hugh O’Donnell, C.M., who served as Superior of the China Province, as well as Fr. Richard Preuss, C.M., who continues to serve in Taiwan.
Fr. Tomaz Mavric, C.M., Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission in Rome, provided a video message for the event, which is available for viewing HERE. Additionally, Fr. Robert Maloney, C.M., who served as Superior General from 1992 to 2004 and notably visited the China province early in his tenure, provided a VIDEO for the celebration.
Over the past year, the Congregation of the Mission Western Province has published a monthly series of articles about the missionaries from the province who have served in China, including their challenges and triumphs, their struggles and ultimately their joy in serving the Chinese people in the tradition of their founder, St. Vincent de Paul.
The series is available in the Western Province blog, “Notes from the Province,” available HERE.