 In 1818, Father Joseph Rosati, C.M., led a small band of missionaries from Europe to build the Church in this new land. The United States was barely 40 years old when the first Vincentians journeyed to Perryville, Missouri, to evangelize on what was then America's western frontier and constructed the Shrine Church and Saint Mary's Seminary. In its long and distinguished history, Saint Mary's sent missionaries across the United States and throughout the world to promote the Catholic faith.
One of the far away places where Vincentian missionaries minister today is Kenya. The Church in Kenya and other parts of Africa is growing faster than anywhere else on earth. A critical need exists there for well-trained native priests and religious to serve the needs of the faithful, and Vincentians are there hard at work teaching and training them.
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 Today, Father Jerome Fortenberry, C.M., ministers as one of your Vincentian missionaries in Kenya. Father Fortenberry teaches young men at the Christ the King Seminary in Nyeri, which is located about 70 miles north of Nairobi. As he approached his 80th birthday, he volunteered to travel to Kenya to teach, thinking that he was too old to be selected. Much to his surprise, his offer was accepted.
He says his teaching assignment has been a wonderful experience. The seminarians he teaches range in age from 18 to their mid 30’s. He finds them eager students, very anxious to learn about their faith and to be about the Lord’s work.
Vincentian missionaries like Father Fortenberry need your help. Lay people have been vitally important in the missionary history of the Church. Many lay people take time from their own lives and travel to foreign lands to volunteer in missionary work for the Church. But most people do not have the time or ability to leave their families and their jobs to work as missionaries in other countries. However, you can help members of the Vincentian Family who do work as missionaries to bring the word of God to others. |
| Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, February 21. Supporting the missions is a wonderful Lenten sacrifice you can make as a member of the extended Vincentian Family. You can help people in genuine need who cannot help themselves. This is true charity in the spirit of Saint Vincent de Paul. |
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mission prayer and
calendar as a reminder. Pray each day of Lent, set aside your mission sacrifice, and mark the day on your Lenten calendar.
But no matter what you do—even if it is only a short, daily prayer—your Vincentian missionaries will be very grateful. |
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