Province News

“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
 – Mt. 25: 35 “This Gospel quote describes how the Vincentians live every day,” says Bob Shadduck, long- time supporter of the Western Province. “The priests and brothers recognize people as individuals and share whatever they have with those they serve.” Bob and Catherine Shadduck first encountered Vincentians at Padre Serra Parish in Camarillo, California. Fr. Kevin McCracken,
C.M., was working as a professor at the nearby seminary and served in the parish on weekends. […]

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 […]

Nearly 15 years ago, a wave of immigrants, mostly from Mexico, moved north from Texas through Oklahoma to Arkansas, where many of them settled. Fr. Tom Stelik, C.M., and the other priests serving at St. Anne Parish in North Little Rock, recognized that the new immigrant community was underserved and in need of assistance. The Vincentians set about finding new, innovative ways to serve and minister to the Hispanic population in the region. “The Church in North Little Rock is thriving with the tireless energy and deep faith of the Vincentian lay missioners. They are on fire with the love […]

An Interview with Mark McGreevy, OBE, Chief Group Executive, Depaul International By Fr. J. Patrick Murphy, C.M. What is Depaul International? Depaul started as a partnership within the Vincentian Family. We develop that partnership through governance and our practical work on the ground. Our services for homeless are cradle-to-grave, including mother-and-baby service in Ukraine, caring for street drinkers in Ireland, teens on the streets in the U.K., people striving to find their way back into society in the U.S., and hospice care for elderly homeless in Slovakia. We intend to follow Vincent sending us to the poorest of the poor. […]

In the back-seat of a small Toyota SUV, Fr. Paul Golden, C.M., rode white-knuckled to visit a Vincentian parish outside Nairobi. “Driving in Kenya is a nightmare,” Fr. Paul chuckled. “The roads are rough and, in the Nairobi area, there is so much traffic – cars, trucks, motorbikes, taxis and bicycles. It’s quite an experience!” But Fr. Paul did not travel more than 6,000 miles from Denver, Colorado, to Kenya, East Africa, to survey road conditions. He was there to visit Vincentian parishes and outstations, and to lead strategic planning meetings for the growing Region of Kenya. The program attracts […]

“Growing up, we attended the novena every Monday night at the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal,” Rita Esselman recalls. “Our faith and the Vincentian ‘way’ were central to our family life – I wanted to pass it on to our children.” Born and raised in Perryville, Mo., Rita and her future husband, Eugene Esselman, knew Vincentian priests and brothers since their early childhood days. Eugene worked at the local newspaper and, in his free time, helped to publish the seminary paper, The DeAndrein. Rita was active in the parish and school, and worked as a full-time mother – instilling a […]

In 1988, Martin and Madeline White began attending Holy Trinity, a Vincentian parish in Dallas, Texas. The couple was immediately drawn to the Vincentian outreach
ministry that 
was central to 
parish life. As a physician, Martin saw firsthand the overwhelming and pressing needs of many people in his local community.
 He began searching for ways to meet these needs outside of his medical practice. Promoting social justice and advocating for underserved populations became his passion. “Madeline and I had such a wonderful life,” recalls Martin. “We wanted to find ways to share our gifts with those in need.” After retiring from […]

Antoine-Frederic Ozanam was an ordinary guy with extraordinary talent who lived an ordinary life but loved in extraordinary ways. St. Vincent de Paul was Frederic’s inspiration, exemplar, patron and star. Frederic was born in Milan, Italy, on April 23, 1813, but he was thoroughly French. He grew up in Lyon, France, was homeschooled until nine, and then attended the Royal Academy of Lyon. There Frederic started to write prose and poetry on a wide range of subjects. Frederic suffered a crisis of faith between 15 and 16 years old. The doubts disappeared when he dedicated his life to the service […]

“We see ourselves as companions on a journey with those we serve,” says Mary Frances Jaster, co-director of Colorado Vincentian Volunteers. “Our volunteers learn to see the face of Jesus in everyone they meet, especially the poor and the marginalized.” This Vincentian ministry, established 30 years ago, provides faith formation opportunities to young adults from across the country, while they serve in the Denver area. The Colorado Vincentian Volunteers has received generous support from the Western Province in the form of grants, donations and, above all, the selfless service of priests and brothers. Since the beginning, the Vincentian charism has […]

When the Vincentians first arrived in the United States in 1816, the nation consisted of only 19 states and Abraham Lincoln was only seven years old. Within a year of their arrival, the Vincentian pioneers had made their way to Bardstown, Kentucky, and by 1818 they had established their home in Perryville, Missouri. A small country town on the American frontier, Perryville proved to be a spiritual hub for the Vincentians in the United States. Before long, a vibrant ministry to the poor took root from coast to coast and from border to border. Vincentian priests and brothers established colleges […]