Your support means so much to those we serve, including our Vincentian priests and brothers living in retirement. Your prayers and generosity help provide quality health services and 24-hour care in a community setting at the Apostle of Charity Residence in Perryville, Missouri. For more than five decades, these Vincentian priests have dedicated their lives to provide for the poor they served. Now, you help provide for them in their senior years through your generous support. Thank you!
Fr. Tom Hinni, C.M.
Fr. Tom Hinni, C.M., was ordained a Vincentian priest in 1963. During his years of active ministry, he taught high school, served as the first full-time campus minster at DePaul University, worked in parishes from 1973 to 2005 and was superior at Lazarist Residence in St. Louis until his retirement in 2011.
“Even in retirement, I serve as a confessor at St. Vincent Parish… I am still active in my ministry even here at the Apostle of Charity Residence.”
“Look at the variety of ministries Vincentians take on… we are all willing to serve – we are willing to say ‘yes’ to the needs of those we serve. I am so impressed by the younger Vincentians’ passion for the poor. They have a passionate love for those who are in need.”
“Every night, about a half hour after supper, 10 or 12 guys meet in the T.V. room to pray the rosary – it’s really neat.”
Fr. George Weber, C.M.
Fr. George Weber, C.M., was ordained in 1954. He worked as an educator until 1980, when he devoted himself to full-time parish work. Fr. George served for 9 years as provincial of the Western Province before returning to parish work. He now resides at the Apostle of Charity Residence in Perryville.
“I love what is called the Vincentian Family… they are focused more on the concerns of the poor and all aspects of caring for the poor. They have influenced the priests, and what we do – they have pushed us to get back to our main charism of caring for those in need.”
“The Vincentian Family has really brought us back to who we should be. As Vincentian priests decline, we need lay people to take on the mission more and more. This place used to be a booming seminary, now it’s a booming retirement center.”
“I think our role is to support the laity who are involved in serving the poor… We should be of service to them and help them in any way we can. That could be a great thing we can do moving forward.”
Fr. Walter Housey, C.M.
Fr. Walter Housey, C.M., was ordained a priest in 1956. He taught in high school seminaries, served as a pastor in several parishes throughout the Western Province and traveled the country preaching and leading parish missions.
“I enjoyed the parish work most. I met so many people in need – financial, emotional or spiritual – whatever it might be. You do the best you can within the context of your ministry to meet their needs.”
“I enjoy living at the Apostle of Charity Residence – it’s a good place to be. I am with a lot of people I’ve known for many years, and that makes a big difference. They take good care of us here.”
“The Vincentian charism is continued here at the Apostle of Charity Residence. You are together with people who are your dear friends, but who you haven’t seen for a while. We can reconnect with after years of active ministry.”
Fr. Charles Shelby, C.M.
Fr. Charles Shelby, C.M., was ordained in 1968. His most notable service to the Western Province was his leadership of the Association of the Miraculous Medal for more than 25 years. During his tenure, the Association grew in extraordinary ways, reaching more than 200,000 members each year.
“One of the great joys of my life is working with the people who are part of the Association of the Miraculous Medal whose lives have been touched by Our Lady.”
“The Association of the Miraculous Medal is a spiritual center of devotion to Our Lady in the United States. The Association is an important way to reach out to so many people throughout the world. I loved being a part of that spiritual work.”
Fr. Jack Shine, C.M.
Fr. Jack Shine, C.M., was born in Kansas City, where he attended high school and a year of college before entering the novitiate in Perryville. Fr. Jack spent his years of active ministry promoting vocations, preaching and serving in parishes, most recently in a Vincentian parish in Los Angeles.
“Being at Apostle of Charity Residence is God’s gift to us – the icing on the cake.”
“The people in parishes mean so much to me – the people save you, when you see their faith in action. You learn that every one of us is poor in some way. Who are the poor? People who need God.”
“I don’t think I’m unique – I learned to care for the poor from masters in the Vincentian community, the priests working in the field. They taught me how to walk with those in need.”
Fr. Ron Ramson, C.M.
Fr. Ron Ramson was ordained in 1959. He earned an advanced degree in spirituality, served as the last Vincentian rector of Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, helped develop the formation program in Kenya, and most recently served as spiritual director at Holy Trinity Seminary in Dallas. Today, he is living in retirement at the Apostle of Charity Residence. He still regularly hears confessions for diocesan seminarians and assists at St. Vincent Parish in Perryville.
“I’ve been blessed, I’ve really been blessed. I’ve done just about everything you can do as a priest. That has really helped me in my formation work with the young seminarians studying for the priesthood.”
“We started a Young Vincentian group in the worst high schools and slums in Kenya – the young people loved learning about Vincentian spirituality and the five Vincentian virtues. They lived mortification every day – they had nothing… they were so poor – no electricity, no water.”
“People will teach you what priesthood is. You think you know what it is, but if you’re open the people will teach you what priesthood should be.”