Projects
Kenya Woodworking with Brother Jim Donlevy
What is Kenya Woodworking? Brother Jim Donlevy learned his carpentry skills as a boy from his father and improved them over the years. Almost 20 years ago he responded to the call to serve in the Vincentian mission in Nairobi, Kenya where he designed and started Kenya...
Fr. Mark’s 30th Anniversary of priesthood!
Thirty years ago, in mid-May 1993, I was busy preparing for two major events, the first would lead to the other. Two years prior, while on a year-long internship at Annunciation Parish in Denver, CO, I started an affordable housing program. You see, there was this...
Lessons from our mothers.
Lessons from our mothers. Mothers Day 2023 Fr. Mark Pranaitis, Founder of VIMS - Most of you reading this know who I am: Fr. Mark Pranaitis, the founder and executive director of VIMS. Chances are you never met my mother, Florence LeDonne Pranaitis. She went to heaven...
Vincentian School for the Deaf
It has been a while. I hope this finds you well. Things here are VIMS are, well, a little hectic. Let me catch you up. Since I last wrote I went to Rome for a big meeting of Vincentians and came home with Covid. I recovered and immediately moved to a parish where I am...
Who doesn’t love goats?
Goats are great! And what is clear is supporters of VIMS think so too. For those of you who are new to VIMS, let me explain. Vincentian priests and brothers serve in very poor countries. We encourage them to raise goats themselves or develop relationships with...
VIMS Update on Ukraine
A statement from Matthew Carter, Group CEO of Depaul International, on the current situation in Ukraine: As another week passes, we have seen the number of people fleeing their homes continuing to rise. Around 7.1 million people have been displaced internally, and 4.3...
2020 Annual Report
We are pleased to share with you the VSO's 2020 Annual Report. Your support of VIMS has helped make possible some of the really good work that is reported here. So, thank you! 2020 Annual Report
What’s cooking in Sierra Leone?
It was another rainy morning at the Vincentian missionary house. A puddle was forming on the kitchen floor from the rain. The cook struggled to keep the fire alive on the floor of the kitchen. The priests moved their chairs to keep the rainwater from disturbing their...
Give the gift of shoes & socks this Valentine’s Day
Dear Friends, In less than one week, you put us more than half-way towards our goal of $1,632.16 (404 friends giving $4.04 each) in celebration of the 404th anniversary of the founding of the Vincentian mission. These gifts will be used to purchase new shoes and...
A Strong Year End – 2020 Recap
Over the last 5 months, Vincentian priests, brothers, and their collaborators in the poorest provinces of the Congregation used financial resources provided by VIMS donors and the Curia (headquarters) of the Congregation to respond to the crises caused by COVID-19. In...