St. Vincent de Paul

Last weekend members of St. Vincent de Paul Parish celebrated the church's 175th anniversary. But the celebration was more than a historical marker of a building, it's a testament to the faith of its thousands of members.

St. Vincent de Paul, which has 4,496 registered parishioners, of 1,520 households, has had a strong outreach ministry over the years.

Rev. David Hulshof, the parish's pastor, said the Cape Girardeau church has served as a "mother church" or a "church of ministerial outreach" to other Catholic parishes in Southeast Missouri. Parishes the Cape Girardeau church helped establish and develop in the area include Immaculate Conception in Jackson, St. Patrick in Cairo, Ill., St. Henry in Charleston, St. Mary (now St. Denis) in Benton and St. Lawrence in New Hamburg.

The church's outreach ministry continues today as the St. Vincent de Paul Parish School prepares for a $4 million expansion which will add classrooms, a cafeteria and a band room. It will also expand meeting space for the parish.

As we enter Holy Week, we're grateful for the efforts of the parishioners and school workers in spreading the good news of God's love for us.

Congratulations to St. Vincent de Paul Parish on 175 years in ministry.