Province News

What do a former seminarian and a postulant to the life of a religious sister have in common? 48 years of marriage! Bill and Mary Tarnow of Lombard, Illinois, have deep roots in their Catholic faith. Bill was a student at St. Vincent Seminary in Lemont, Illinois, and Mary was discerning a vocation with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Together they followed the vocation of married life, and they remain enthusiastic supporters of the religious life. God has blessed their marriage with four children and eleven grandchildren. “We have a special commitment to supporting the educational mission and […]

He grew up a farm boy in a rural area of Japan, 150 miles north of Tokyo. The nearest city is Fukushima the site of the nuclear reactor disaster caused by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that killed more than 20,000 people. His father was a leader at the local Buddhist temple. Every morning his grandmother faithfully said her prayers and invited the boy to sit next to her as she chanted before the Buddhist shrine in her home.  This family was a traditional rural farming family growing rice. The boy’s name is Toshio Sato. He was an excellent student […]

Students and faculty at DePaul University spent a night sleeping on the streets of Chicago in solidarity with the poor, raising more than $30,000 to support the homeless. The Sleep Out was part of a global initiative to raise awareness of the increasing homelessness problem in the United States and around the world. The president of DePaul, Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban, and his wife joined the students in the cold Chicago winter. “The spirit of the Vincentian Family worldwide has the breadth and reach to impact homelessness in every part of the globe, and is part of the unifying vision […]

Fr. Pat McDevitt, C.M., recently was assigned to the Vincentian Region in Kenya, where he serves as Director of Formation. In his new role, Fr. Pat oversees and supports the education and formation of more than 30 seminarians at the DePaul Centre in Nairobi. Since his ordination in 1986, he has been involved in parish ministry, seminary formation, spiritual direction, counseling, teaching and preaching retreats. He holds a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy, Masters of Divinity, Masters of Science and Ph.D. in Pastoral Counseling Psychology.

On the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul, more than 250 people from across the country came together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Colorado Vincentian Volunteers. For two and a half decades, the ministry has fostered a community of faith and action that responds to the Gospel call in the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul. Young men and women, ages 22 to 30, volunteer for the year-long program, living in community and serving the elderly, homeless, disabled, troubled youth and those who are poor. The program focuses on building relationships between the volunteers, leaders and those who […]

Since beginning his Vincentian formation in 2015, Scott Jakubowski, C.M., has experienced the great joy and peace that come with a life of selfless service. Beyond his philosophy and theology classes, Scott has grown through ministry work here in the United States and abroad. “I’ve had incredible opportunities to serve in a variety of settings: prisons in Panama, Catholic seminaries in Vietnam and among the migrant communities in Arkansas,” Scott recalls. “Each experience has opened me to new ways of stretching my understanding of the Gospel and serving those I encounter.” Earlier this year, Scott took another key step toward […]

Our work of serving the poor often seems like a small offering in the face of overwhelming need. But what might seem insignificant has the power of a seed, sown and cultivated, that explodes into new life and grows into something unimaginable. “The Father of the Poor scatters you throughout the world like seeds that sprout in arid land, like a balm of consolation for the wounded, like a fire of charity to warm so many hearts cooled by abandonment and hardened by rejection.” — Pope Francis to all who live the Vincentian charism on the occasion of the commemoration […]

Women in prison and in re-entry are among the most neglected members of our society – the very people Vincentians are called to serve. This past year, grants from the Walking with the Poor Ministry Fund have been awarded to help provide a mentoring program for women transitioning out of prison. With your support, this new
collaboration with the Center for
Spirituality at Work helps to respond
to the pressing needs of this
population by fostering the
development of decision-making and
life skills. Originally established by Fr.
Gary Mueller, C.M., Fr. Bob
Schwane, C.M., and Fr. Mark Pranaitis, C.M., this work has flourished under the leadership of Dr. […]

Your generosity directly impacts
the poor who come to the Rebuild Center at St. Joseph Parish in New Orleans. For nearly two decades, the Center has been a source of hope for many in the community, including Juston, whose life was changed by the care he received. Juston became
homeless at a
young age. He
never thought it
could happen to
him. He was
unemployed and
living on the
streets. Every day
was a struggle to
survive. On cold
nights, he would
drape a blanket
over his tent and
light candles for
warmth. He avoided homeless shelters, afraid that someone would steal his legal documentation or belongings. He was losing hope that he could turn his […]

“A land developer creates something from damn near nothing,” says Joe Kelley, business leader and longtime supporter of the Vincentians. “You look at a cornfield and say, ‘I can build a neighborhood here’ – it takes a unique kind of vision and leadership.” For many years, Joe has used his vision and leadership to advance Vincentian projects to serve the poor and address homelessness in St. Louis. Joe worked with Fr. Ed Murphy, C.M., to expand programs at the Guardian Angel Settlement, a social service organization serving more than 2,000 low-income children and families.
He also is an active supporter and […]