I’d like to introduce our newest resident of the Apostle of Charity Residence. He’s Father Robert Lamy, C.M., and he just celebrated his 82nd birthday in May.
He comes to us from New Orleans. His residence there had many stairs, and since he suffers severely from arthritis, the single level floor plan of the new Apostle of Charity Residence is an answer to his prayers. He joins 19 other Vincentians living in retirement here in Perryville. He’s enjoyed his first months renewing acquaintances with old friends.
For most of his life, Father Lamy taught young men during all phases of their seminary lives—high school, college, and postgraduate studies in theology. However, he got his greatest enjoyment teaching high school students.
 He taught a bit of everything—Latin, English, and liturgy. He most enjoyed teaching Latin. “The students didn’t care for it,” he says, “so I had to trick them into learning it. I showed them it could be fun and very beneficial.
Learning Latin taught them more about the English language than Latin. I didn’t teach them so they could speak to each other in Latin, it was a mind trainer really, because of the declensions, the endings, conjugations of the verbs, and a lot of memory work.”
When asked what prompted his vocation, Father Lamy responded, “A lot of it was due to my family. My father was a very religious man. He was a man who always went to daily Mass and he’d get me up at six in the morning to serve Mass. In so many ways, my vocation is due to him.
I can remember as a young man going with him when he would visit the homes of the poor and help them, bringing them food, medicine, and things of that nature. It was his example and his diligence in reaching out to others that impressed me and I think that’s where my vocation came from.” |
Father Lamy is retired from active ministry now. He’s had both knees and one hip replaced, and he suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, so his mobility is severely limited. However, thanks to the design of the Apostle of Charity Residence, he’s able to negotiate the hallways easily in a battery-powered scooter. Not all of the priests and brothers living here at the Barrens are retired. Some of us are still very active in many different ministries around the area.
 And all of these men are still active in the ministry of prayer. They pray for those who provided for them during their years of formation as seminarians and through their times of active ministry in teaching, pastoral work, and service to the poor. And they especially pray for those who assist them now in their senior years.
I am sure you are aware of the high cost of healthcare, physical therapy, and medications for your own family. Think of the cost of care for someone you know who resides in a nursing home or critical care facility. Now multiply that by the 20 senior Vincentians at the Apostle of Charity Residence, added to 25 other retired Vincentians who live in other senior residences around the Midwest Province. You can see why I am asking you for your help today.
These men needed the support of Association members when they were young seminarians preparing for lives of service to the Church. Now they need your help again as they suffer the infirmities of old age and many years of tireless service.
So with old age is wisdom, and with length of days understanding.
-Job 12:12 |
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When you make a donation you take part in their priestly lives. Your contribution becomes an essential part of their care and comfort as they quietly continue their ministry of prayer for you.
Any donation you send is important. You make a difference!
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