from our confreres

Our day is full and exciting but the sub-story is all the calls, emails and worry we do about our people in Ukraine and the staff in other countries who are raising money, receiving refugees and sending supplies.

The Vincentians first came to the Archdiocese of Denver in 1908, beginning their ministry at St. Thomas Seminary when the first seminarians arrived for formation as priests. Last fall we said goodbye to two Vincentians who have served in the Archdiocese of Denver since 1977 and are retiring to the Apostles of Charity Residence in Perryville, MO, and the Lazarist Residence in St. Louis, MO. 

We cannot fix all the world’s ills. We can, however, work on our own lives and get our heart right with ourselves, our God and others.

I believe in tact and realize just how much this world needs it. The interpersonal incivility and anger we witness threaten our society and peacefulness.

I wonder sometimes whether, if we live our lives as Christians and behave in accord with our beliefs, would anyone notice?

We cannot stop building bridges. We cannot stop trying to make the bridges we build withstand everything we know that could happen.

A while back, one of my students retired from her job in the government sector. At the retirement party, signs appeared around the room quoting one of her mantras, “Hire no jerks.” She learned that from me in class at DePaul University.

The COVID crisis is entering its third year of wreaking havoc in the United States. A common concern of many pastors has been, will the people return to church once the crisis has passed. This is not an idle concern.

Each year on the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle, we remember the beginning of the Congregation of the Mission (C.M.). According to St. Vincent de Paul, this happened in Folleville, France, on January 25, 1617, when he preached his “first sermon of the Mission.” His experience with a dying man transformed Vincent’s heart and imbued him with a desire to serve those in need.