Welcome
to the web site of
Saint Vincent Ferrer Church
A Roman Catholic Community of Faith and Good
Works
Begun as a Mission in 1971
Established as a Parish in
1975
1006 New
Haven Road (Route 63)
Naugatuck, Connecticut 06770-4731
USA
Visit our new Gallery and Bulletin pages. Enjoy!
Contact us:
(Note:
convert the [at] to @ in the addresses below)
Church email:
stvincentfer[at]sbcglobal.net
Pastor
email: KevinJForsyth[at]hotmail.com
Telephones:
Church: 203-723-7497
Fax: 203-729-2978
Child Care:
203-723-9094
Religious Education:
203-723-0782
Youth Ministry:
203-723-8735
Family
Center:
203-723-7591
Parish web site:
www.saintvincentferrerchurch.org
Our Patron Saint:
Vincent Ferrer
was born in Valencia, Spain
on 23 January 1350 of English and Scottish parents who instilled in him a
deep devotion to the Lord Jesus and the Blessed Mother and a great love for
the poor. He joined the Dominicans,
receiving the habit in 1367 at age 18 against his family’s wishes. He was a brilliant preacher and speaker
(and for being quite handsome).
Everywhere crowds flocked to hear him, innumerable conversions and
miracles occurred. He converted
thousands in Spain, France, Italy,
Germany, Holland, England,
Scotland, and Ireland. He had the gift of tongues. He was offered an appointment as bishop,
but declined it.
During
an illness, the Lord Jesus appeared to him along with Saints Dominic and
Francis and was told he would live to preach repentance like the two
saints. After the three departed
from him, Vincent was instantly restored to health.
His
titles include: Doctor of theology, Priest, and Missionary. He taught theology. He was an Adviser to the King of Aragon
and a Counselor to Pope Benedict XIII.
He traveled throughout Spain,
France, Switzerland and Italy to end the Great Schism,
and was instrumental in reconciling the divisions in the Church at the time
of “the three popes.”
He
died Wednesday of Holy Week in 1419 at age 70 at Vannes, Brittany, France. In 1455 (or 1458) he was canonized a
saint. His feast day is April 5th. In addition to being our parish’s patron
saint, he is also the patron saint of brick
makers, builders, construction workers, pavement workers, plumbers, and
tile makers.
In art, he is often represented in his Dominican
habit, holding an open book while preaching; or with a cardinal's hat; or
with wings, a pulpit, a trumpet, a crucifix; or with a flame on his head;
or on his hand.
In his
book, “On the Spiritual Life”, he writes:
If you truly want to help the soul of
your neighbor, you should approach God first with all your heart. Ask Him simply to fill you with charity,
the greatest of all virtues; with it you can accomplish what you desire.
Photo by Tom Jablonowski
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