This article was published in the December 2025 issue ofThe Vincentian
, the quarterly newsletter of the Congregation of the Mission Western Province.
Couple Values Vincentian Mission to Serve the Poor and Form Tomorrow’s Spiritual Leaders
Mike Brennan “grew up very Catholic.”
The 66-year-old St. Louis native says his parents modeled their faith in word and deed. “Our mom and dad didn’t have much, but they were always giving to others, helping feed the poor, volunteering with Meals on Wheels, and working up at our parish, St. Pius V.”
After Mike’s sister began working for the Western Province of the Congregation of the Mission, Mike and his wife Joan began to learn about the Vincentian ministries and outreach to the poor.
“I hadn’t known the extent of their work –– their missionary outreach overseas and their involvement following the Ukraine tragedy, helping displaced persons and providing other material support. That gave us a vehicle to be involved; Joan and I have real faith that the Vincentians spend our gifts well.”
When Mike’s nephew Brendan returned from a Vincentian missionary trip to Kenya, Mike could see the journey had made an immense impact. “It was life-changing for Brendan, to see how desperate some of those folks were, but also to see the joy he described so many of them as having –– and how grateful they were for any support received.”
Hearing Brendan’s testimony further deepened the Brennans’ appreciation of the work the priests and brothers are doing abroad.
Mike also values and supports the Province’s ongoing vocational formation for seminarians, as well as spiritual formation and leadership training that active CM priests and brothers take part in. Coming from his own corporate background as a long-time CEO of a nonprofit organization serving children, Mike notes, “It’s very important to me to train the next generation of leaders to be compassionate and committed in whatever their vocation may be.”
Underscoring it all, the couple recognize and eagerly support what Mike calls the Vincentians’ “deep level of devotion and respect for people who are poor.”
That, he believes, is essential for tomorrow’s Church. “Right now in our world, we seem to be in an era where we could all use a lot more empathy, a lot more of putting ourselves in others’ shoes. Too many folks don’t seem to be able to do that too well. The Vincentians do that very well.”
Michael Brennan is retired from Every Child’s Hope (ECH) in St. Louis, where he had worked since 1983. Annually, ECH helps more than 1,600 families and children find healing and hope for the future. Joan Brennan is a metallurgical engineer, recently retired from a 40-year career at Olin Brass in St. Louis. They have two grown children and one grandchild.