education and evangelization
Directed by Fr. Ron Hoye, C.M., Catholic TeamWorks is a Vincentian ministry of evangelization to inspire and empower people of faith. It includes Vincentian Parish Missions, the popular The God Minute app and podcast, and Catholic Home Living, where visitors can obtain books, electronic resources, and other merchandise.
Based in Perryville, MO, at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, the Association of the Miraculous Medal brings Jesus Christ to the world by inspiring devotion to Mary, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, through whom we unite ourselves in prayer to grow in holiness while supporting the apostolic mission and charitable work of our Vincentian priests and brothers.
Dedicated in August 2023, Vincentian Mission House in South St. Louis is the home of the Western Province’s Vocations and Formation Programs. It serves as a residence for our seminarians and our Vocations and Formation personnel, as well as a location for recruitment and formation events and other activities. For more information about vocations with the Congregation of the Mission Western Province or contact information for our vocations director, click HERE.
Based in Kansas City, MO, the Vincentian Parish Mission Center team conducts missions at parishes around the country in the tradition of St. Vincent de Paul, the founder of the Congregation of the Mission. While you are on the site, be sure to check out Monday Morning Coffee Break with Fr. Bob Gielow HERE.
Mass can be a time out of your busy week to focus on you and the world around you. Homily Week, organized by the late Fr. Mike Boyle, C.M., utilizes modern technology to help you open the door to wisdom – to the past and the growing wisdom of the present – to help you listen and reflect on the Scriptures for the weekend.
This monthly newsletter is distributed by the Congregation of the Mission Curia Communications Office in Rome.
Our Parishes and Missions
UNITED STATES
Christ the Savior Church, Brewer, MO.
Holy Redeemer Church, San Antonio, TX.
Holy Trinity Church, Dallas, TX.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Cathedral, Anchorage, AK.
Our Lady of the Lake, Big Lake, AK
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, San Antonio, TX.
Our Lady of Victory Church, Sereno, MO.
Sacred Heart Church, Patterson, CA.
Sacred Heart Parish, Wasilla, AK
St. Bernard of Menthon Parish, Talkeetna, AK
St. Catherine Laboure Church, St. Louis, MO
St. Christopher Parish, Willow, AK
St. Joseph Church, New Orleans, LA
St. Michael Church, San Antonio, TX.
St. Peter’s Vietnamese Church, Dallas, TX.
St. Phillip Benzini Parish, Trapper Creek, AK
St. Pius V Parish, St. Louis, MO
St. Vincent de Paul Church, Chicago, IL.
St. Vincent de Paul Church, Los Angeles, CA.
St. Vincent de Paul Church, Perryville, MO.
St. Vincent de Paul Church, St. Louis, MO.
KENYA
Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Indagalasia, Kenya
St. Kizito Church, Matisi, Kenya
Notes From the Province
The Class of ‘82–Six Vincentians Celebrate 40 Years of Priestly Ministry
On June 11, 2022, the Congregation of the Mission Western Province will gather at 10 a.m. (CDT) at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, MO, to honor six priests who celebrate their 40-year jubilees: Fr. Tony Dosen, C.M., Fr. Miles Heinen, C.M., Fr. Gerard Kelly, C.M., Fr. Kevin McCracken, C.M., Fr. Binh Nguyen, C.M., and Fr. Ray Van Dorpe, C.M.
Mental Health Awareness–Fr. J. Patrick Murphy, C.M.
I found this on Facebook, written by a friend whom I admire greatly. I am passing it along for more of us to learn her lesson during the month of mental health awareness.
Lives of the Vincentian Saints–St. Jeanne Antide Thouret (1765-1826)
Daughter of Charity St. Jeanne Antide Thouret endured endured persecution and danger during the French Revolution and the years that followed to follow the Vincentian ideal to care for the poor, sick, and abandonned.
The Comfort of a Fable–Fr. J. Patrick Murphy, C.M.
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye… Men have forgotten this truth,” said the fox. “But you must not forget it.”
UKRAINE: THE UNITED NATIONS’ ROLE–Jim Claffey
Why didn’t the United Nations prevent the war in Ukraine? Isn’t it supposed to keep the peace? And why isn’t it using its army now to stop the violence and destruction?
Moments–Fr. J. Patrick Murphy, C.M.
We remember the good times, the blessings in life and the moments wherein we share those memories that refresh us, sometimes for years to come.
Address to the Serra Club of St. Louis—Fr. Patrick McDevitt, C.M.
There is no doubt that we face great challenges in our world and in our Church. It always gives me solace to know that every age of our world and church has confronted similar or even greater challenges than we have today.
Hospitality in the Manner of St. Vincent de Paul–Fr. J. Patrick Murphy, C.M.
What do Howard Schultz of Starbucks, Steve Jobs of Apple, Walt Disney, and Bill Marriott, Jr., have in common with Vincent de Paul? They demanded excellence in serving their customers—defining ridiculously high standards and exhorting their people to exceed expectations, take swift action and strive constantly for improvement.
Lives of the Vincentian Saints–St. Louise de Marillac (1591-1660)
St. Louise de Marillac (1591-1660) was a great friend and valuable collaborator of Vincent de Paul and co-founded the Daughters of Charity with him.
Homily for Fr. John Richardson, C.M.–April 27, 2022
At his very core, John Richardson was a humanitarian, a progressive, a Christian, and a Vincentian Catholic priest. Later in his career, John became a missionary in Kenya after a full life at the age of 73; he went to serve in Nyeri, Kenya. We all remember the wonderful letters he wrote from Kenya. Those beautiful letters showed us the depth of the man, his values, and what was important to him.