BEAUFORT — Vincentian missionaries, Fathers Richard and Robert Gielow, will present an Advent mission on “Who are the Faithful in the World Today?” Dec. 13-18. The mission will be held at St. Peter Church, 70 Lady’s Island Drive. A social gathering will follow the evening sessions, and a light lunch will be held after the midday sessions. The twin priests will be speaking at all weekend Masses Dec. 13-14 and will conduct services at 12:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Dec. 15-18.
Fathers Richard and Robert Gielow conduct missions nationwide centering on the Eucharist, with emphasis on the poor and those who are homebound or in nursing homes. The mission priests attempt to model the five virtues of St. Vincent De Paul: humility, simplicity, meekness, mortification and zeal.
Born in LaSalle, Ill., in 1943, the brothers followed separate paths in their journey toward priesthood. After his ordination in 1970, Father Richard Gielow served for five years as director of vocations for the Vincentian fathers and brothers. He served the next six years as rector and principal of St. John’s High School Seminary in Kansas City and was then asked to join the Vincentian Parish Mission Team on which he now serves. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, a master’s of divinity in theology and a master’s degree in religious education.
Father Bob Gielow earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy at St. Mary’s Seminary in Perryville, Mo., and completed his theology studies at DeAndreis Seminary in Lemont, Ill. He was ordained in May 1971. He received master’s degrees in counseling and divinity and religious studies. He was a faculty member of both Regina Cleri Seminary and DePaul University, where he served as director of campus ministry and director of athletics. After completion of another master’s degree in pastoral studies, he joined the Vincentian Parish Mission Team.
Both priests enjoy people, travel and saying Mass for football teams from the NFL, especially the Chicago Bears. (They may be seen on the sidelines at the Bears’ away games.) They look forward to conducting this mission together.
All are invited to participate in this time of special grace when God calls us into a deeper relationship with him.