This article was published in the spring 2026 issue of The Vincentian, the quarterly newsletter of the Congregation of the Mission Western Province.
St. Vincent’s parishioners live the mission for the less fortunate
Fr. Joe Geders, C.M., pastor at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Perryville, Missouri, works with old locomotive steam engines in his spare time.
“As a kid, I loved trains,” he said. “Mostly, I think I’ve always been fascinated by the way things work.”
Ordained in 1984, Fr. Geders said he had always wanted to be a parish priest.
“I started out teaching at the high school seminary, St. Louis Prep,” said Fr. Geders, a native of St. Louis County. “I went from there to treasury work, and after I served as provincial treasurer (from 2003 to ‘06) I got a chance to be a pastor.”
He served in Jackson, Wyoming, for about 4 ½ years before a five-year assignment as Treasurer General for the CM Curia in Rome. Pastor at St. Vincent’s for about eight years now, he has a deep appreciation and connection for the people of this community and their values.
“People here are independent,” he said. “It’s a farming community. People get to know each other and support each other. Grandparents, parents, kids, grandkids—it’s nice to see those family units.”
He appreciates that parts of the Vincentian mission, serving and evangelizing the poor, are carried out in his parish by the parishioners at the Ladies of Charity Food Pantry and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Though separate from the parish, these organizations work closely with it and each other.
Maureen Mattingly, President of the Perryville Ladies of Charity chapter for the last two years, said the food pantry serves 255 families a month. The pantry’s shelves are stocked with donations from local businesses and individuals.
“The parish gives us a lot and partners with us in many ways,” Maureen said. “The school does a fundraiser every year on St. Vincent’s feast day, and we frequently publish information in the bulletin.”
Andy Graf, President of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, proudly shows off the society’s thrift store, where Maureen also volunteers. Store sales fund a variety of assistance, including rent and utilities, medical and dental payments, auto repairs, and much more. The thrift store is in its 25th year and moved into its current facility last summer, built with donations from the community and staffed entirely by 115 volunteers.
“We helped 500 families last year,” Andy said. “We have the same guiding principles as the Vincentians; Fr. Ron Ramson (C.M.) is our spiritual director.”
The Society contributes any additional funds to other charitable organizations, including the Ladies of Charity Food Pantry.
“Reading the history of St. Vincent and St. Louise, I feel like this is what Jesus calls us to do,” Maureen said. “If you can bring a little joy, ease people’s burdens, it seems the thing to do.”