The Vincentian Family in St. Louis marks 350th anniversary of the deaths of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac with charity acts and prayer. Celebrations are planned for upcoming weekend, August 21 and 22. Saturday will be the day of service at more than a dozen sites across the St. Louis, Missouri, area and East St. Louis, Illinois. On Sunday there will be special Mass at Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.
St Louis is the birthplace of the Vincentian Family in North America. Fr. Felix de Andreis CM and Fr. Joseph Rosati CM were the first priests from the Congregation of the Mission who arrived to American soil in 1816 invited by bishop Dubourg. In 1818 they settled in Perryville, Misouri. In 1826 Rev. Joseph Rosati, CM was named the first Bishop of St. Louis (1826-1843). The Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph (Daughters of Charity since 1851) from Emmitsburg, Maryland arrived in 1828 to staff DePaul (Mullanphy) Hospital; a few years before the cholera outbreak in 1832. Both the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (1845) and the Ladies of Charity (1857) began their United States foundations in St. Louis. In 1859 Guardian Angel began and in 1907, St. Vincent’s School in Perryville where National Shrine of Miraculous Medal is located, too.
Today there are nearly 3,000 members of the Vincentian Family in the region. Most numerous are 2,600 members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in 143 conferences in St. Louis. The Society and the Daughters of Charity minister in East St. Louis and Belleville. Vincentian priests, Ladies of Charity, Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Vincentian youth minister in Perryville, St. Vincent’s Parish in St. Louis and St. Catherine Laboure Parish in St. Louis County. Ladies of Charity national head office and residence of CM Western Province is in Louis, so is for West Central Province of Daughters of Charity. They are engaged in ministries with children, youth, families, elders and in administration of the Province. They are sponsors of Ascension Health. In recent years, the charism of Vincent and Louise has found expression in the works of Affiliate, Vincentian Service Corps, Gateway Vincentian Volunteers, Vincentian Marian Youth and Former Daughters.
The day of service – Saturday, August 21. It will be celebrated at more than a dozen sites across the St. Louis area and East St. Louis, Illinois, including St. Vincent Children’s Home, Cosgrove Soup Kitchen, Our Lady’s Inn, Our Little Haven, St. Elizabeth Mother of John the Baptist Parish in North St. Louis, St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores, St. Patrick Center and Holy Angels Shelter, among other locations. Complete list of locations can be found at www.famvinstl.org.
The day of liturgy – Sunday, August 22. At 2:00 PM Archbishop Robert J. Carlson of St. Louis will celebrate Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis (Lindell Boulevard and Newstead Avenue in the Central West End). Concelebrants include Superior General, Father Gregory GayCM, Auxiliary Bishop of St.Louis Most Rev. Robert Hermann; Rev. Msgr Joseph Pins, Rector of Cathedral Basilica, Father Perry Henry CM, Provincial of the Western Province of the Congregation; and other priests. The Archdiocesan Choir under the direction of John Romeri (organist of the Cathedral) will provide the music.
Watch the video from the Anniversary Mass
(including homily by Most Rev. Gregory Gay CM)
Special collection will be held dedicated to ZAFÈN (in Creole “it’s our business”) — the microfinance project in Haiti supported by international Vincentian Family. The project allows individuals to invest online to support projects that are administered by Haitians. A special collection at the liturgy will support the work of ZAFEN. Visit their website for more details and how you can join the project.
Greetings to you, Fr Perry Henry CM, from New Zealand. Was thinking of you and found you in good form on this site and clip. Well done.
Your confrere at All Hallows, John Craddock sm, now based in Christchurch.