CONGREGATION OF THE MISSION WESTERN PROVINCE FALL 2018 ST. VINCENT DE PAUL DEEP MARKS OF JESUS’ CARING FOR THE LAND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR 200 YEARS IN THIS ISSUE y heart is or 200 years, Vincentian 2 Letter from Fr. Ray overwhelmed with brothers have farmed 4 Your Generosity thankfulness and joy the land and taken care Changes Lives “ for this ‘gift from of the buildings at St. 5 An Unforgettable M Heaven,’ allowing the F Mary’s of the Barrens in Journey entire Vincentian Family to celebrate Perryville, Missouri. In the early years, the 400th Anniversary of the 6 A Joyful and they provided fresh produce, dairy, Generous Response Vincentian charism. This charism beef and pork to Vincentian has left such deep marks of Jesus’ seminaries throughout the region. 8 Campaign Report unconditional love on the world This year, the farm will be winding throughout the last 400 years and down its operations. The last of the continues to do so today!” These cattle herd will be sold and just words of Fr. Tomaz Mavric, Superior enough equipment will be kept to General of the Congregation of the maintain the pastureland. Mission, at the opening of the worldwide celebration, reflect the Fr. Ray Van Dorpe, C.M., recently sentiments of the Vincentians in the acknowledged the farm brothers’ United States who celebrate 200 efforts and the work of so many years of service in this country. dedicated Vincentians before them (SEE JESUS’ UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, who were instrumental in sustaining PAGE 2) the community’s life in Perryville. “Our Vincentian brothers are known for a wide variety of skills,” Fr. Ray explains. “They give themselves entirely to their work for God’s glory and the spread of His Gospel. The farm in Perryville is a perfect example of their selfless service.” (SEE CARING FOR THE LAND, PAGE 3) Fr. Nhan Tran, C.M., with a parishioner at Sacred Heart Parish, Patterson, CA JESUS’ CARING FOR THE LAND VINCENTIAN TRIVIA #1 UNCONDITIONAL LOVE “ Thank you so very much for joining (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) This Vincentian brother, one of the first (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) us in the celebration of 200 years to travel to the American frontier, was a Since the earliest days in the United States, Vincentian brothers have skilled sculptor and stonemason. He The Vincentians and assisting us in walking with played a central role in supporting the life and ministry of the Vincentian helped build the now-historic Old Cathedral in St. Louis, Missouri. first sent the poor.” community. They take on a diversity of tasks and responsibilities, in service missionaries to to the mission of St. Vincent. Brother Martin Blanka, C.M., was the first A. Brother Martin Blanka C.M. the United States – Fr. Ray Van Dorpe, C.M. “brother to come to the Barrens from Italy in the early 19th century. B. Brother Angelo Oliva, C.M. in 1816 and He served as a cook, tailor, carpenter and blacksmith, and established C. Brother Harvey Goertz, C.M. the farm in Perryville. established their DEAR FRIENDS, (answer on page 11) motherhouse and seminary in Many early Vincentian brothers are known for their unique contributions Perryville, MO, the following year. ll good things must come to an end,” said Geoffrey Chaucer. to the Church in America. One famous example is Brother Angelo Oliva, VINCENTIAN TRIVIA #2 The arrival of these first Vincentians I believe he was right – at least for those good things of the C.M., a talented sculptor and stonemason. He helped build the Church in the U.S. was the beginning of a world that are temporal and passing. People who quote this of the Assumption in Perryville and the now-historic Old Cathedral in Several ongoing projects at historic adventure that would see Vincentian parishes in Kenya will saying usually say it with an air of regret or sadness. However, St. Louis, Missouri. their ministry to the poor take root “ A sometimes it might be a blessing for good things to end, so that provide this necessary resource for from coast to coast and border to even better things might come our way. more than 6,000 people living in border. Their impact on the and around Nairobi. This month we are wrapping up the observance of our Bicentennial Since the earliest days in the United States, Vincentian founding of the Catholic Church in A. Electricity America cannot be overstated. Celebration. For 200 years, the Congregation of the Mission has served brothers have played a central role in supporting the life B. Clean Water the Church in the United States. We began our observance in 2016, C. Wireless Internet commemorating the arrival in Baltimore of Fathers Joseph Rosati, C.M., and and ministry of the Vincentian community. (answer on page 11) The arrival of these first Felix DeAndreis, C.M., accompanied by a dozen other priests and brothers. Vincentians in the U.S. In 2017, we remembered their sojourn across what was then the American In a letter to another Vincentian priest, Bishop Rosati highlighted the great wilderness to Bardstown, Kentucky, where they stayed for quite a while before benefit of having Brother Angelo and the other brothers participate in the was the beginning of a pushing westward again. This year, we are honoring the arrival of those first life of the Church in America. He wrote: “Brother Oliva is a treasure in every historic adventure that pioneer Vincentians in Perryville, Missouri, and their first establishment in respect; he has won the esteem of all those whom he knew at New Orleans, the United States: St. Mary’s of the Barrens. From those humble beginnings, and here at the Barrens, all of the community” (Spring 1989, Notable would see their ministry hundreds of priests and brothers would fan out to spread the Gospel in the Vincentians (3): Brother Angelo Oliva, C.M.; John E. Rybolt, C.M., Ph.D.). to the poor take root from vast lands of America – work that continues to this day. Hurray for them! As the farm in Perryville winds down, we acknowledge with gratitude the coast to coast and border Hurray for us! But is that all? Has this “good thing” come to an end? Hardly! legacy of the current farm brothers – John Magogna, C.M., Richard to border. For the Vincentians, it has not been enough to simply cheer the trailblazers of Hermann, C.M., and Harvey Goertz, C.M. – and all those throughout the the past and relish our longevity. From the very beginning, we set out to make years who have served humbly in the spirit of St. Vincent. our Bicentennial more than a celebration of our American founders, not primarily about us. We launched the Walking with the Poor campaign so that The Vincentians we might celebrate with something that will make a real difference in the lives of the Western of the poor we serve. We set out to raise $1 million to build schools at our Province marked parishes in Kenya and to assist ministries in the United States in which our the anniversary confreres collaborate with others in direct service to the poor. with the successful I am happy to tell you that your generosity far exceeded our expectations! completion of the Walking with We are on track to surpass our goal by at least 50%! This will help to ensure the Poor capital campaign to better that the work Vincentians began 200 years ago will continue for many, many serve the poor. We not only years to come. commemorate the founding of our charism in America, rooted in One “good thing,” our celebration, must come to an end. So be it! But the Perryville, MO, but we also celebrate good work initiated during this Bicentennial will continue, as long as the the distinctive spiritual way of life Vincentian charism that first brought those pioneers is kept alive by all of us. created by the priests and brothers, Thank you so very much for joining us in the celebration of 200 years and together with our lay collaborators, assisting us in walking with the poor! in parishes, shrines and schools, in communities and through Fraternally, devotions, in preaching and in teaching. Fr. Ray Van Dorpe, C.M. 2 3 Provincial Superior “ The dedicated work of the “ We trust the Vincentians to Vincentians brings the message make the maximal and most of the Gospel to people most appropriate use of our gift AN UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY in need. We know that our in their work of mission. contribution will be used wisely We are blessed to be able to his summer, 13 Vincentian volunteers The volunteers spent the day building a base for a new to achieve the support their traveled more than 7,000 miles to the greatest good.” cement floor and painting the exterior of the structure. important work.” Vincentian region in Kenya, East Africa, to They also provided funds for the family to purchase – Anthony and Joan Clark – Martin and Madeline White serve the poor. For months leading up to furniture for their home. T the trip, the volunteers raised funds to cover the cost of their travel and to The volunteers also ventured provide supplies to the people they into the Kibera Slum to work at “ The Vincentians accompany “ We support the Vincentians would meet. From their headquarters St. Vincent’s Rescue Center. They and embrace the poor. They because serving the poor is in Nairobi, the Vincentian painted the facility inside and out. respond to the needs of those at the core of our beliefs as In June, the group made the long Later in the week, the missioners living in poverty, while also Catholics.